BMW X5 E53 DIY OEM Hitch Installation Notes and factory installation PDF

[AquilaBMW]

I installed my hitch kit yesterday - LIKE WOW! This is not a job for the faint hearted.

It took me almost seven hours when it was all said and done and I still messed up a little. I mounted the bumper (by myself) and then realized as I was packing up my tools that there was an unsightly fender gap - ugh! Bumper gotta come off again.

I really, really want to thank the guys that posted the DIY's. DO NOT attempt this without reading them and you should print them and have them with you or have immediate access to them. I can see why BWM dealers charge so much to install these things.

On a level of difficulty, I would put it at around 7 out of 10 - mainly because of how involved this job is. You also have to stay focused as you might miss things like torquing down bolts, etc. (Ask me how I know... )

I am happy with the kit, it is sturdy and well built with the typical BMW redundancies which I am sure adds to it's ability and safety, etc. I did most of it pretty much by myself - I am typically a one man army. However, I did get help to mount up the hitch itself. Thing is as heavy as a tank!

I found something interesting. The hitch's label says Westfalia American Hitch. That company is or was located in South Carolina. I say was as their number is now answered by a different company name:

Westfalia American Hitch, Inc
161 Rock Church Road Se
Greenwood
SC 29649-8775
Phone: (864) 223-5519

I was going to call them to ask if customers can buy direct from them and if they still made this hitch kit as BMW was out of stock. I can see how the stock is intermittent as BMW is using outsource manufacturers for this.

There is also another Westfalia in New Zealand that is making hitches for BMW.

Anyway.... thanks so much again guys for posting your DIYs and also that BMW PDF was very, very helpful.

[JCL]

Originally Posted by AquilaBMW

I found something interesting. The hitch's label says Westfalia American Hitch. That company is or was located in South Carolina. I say was as their number is now answered by a different company name:

It isn't just outsourced (as many parts on modern vehicles are....) it is an accessory, not an original factory part. That relates back to the hitches being different in each geography and so each BMW marketing organization (Europe, NA, Australia) deals with it locally to some extent.

My hitch in 2003 was built by Westfalia. When the hitches became unavailable some years back, there was discussion here and elsewhere on how Westfalia was going out of business due to a death of one of the owners (family business, apparently). That appeared to get eventually resolved, but the hitch is still sourced in batches that leave it out of stock from time to time.

I would be surprised if Westfalia has the design rights to the hitch and can sell it directly.