Anyone with a hitch on the e70?

Denalio · #1 01-29-2007, 08:30 PM

Has anyone had the hitch installed on thier e70 yet?

Praetorian · #2 01-29-2007, 09:04 PM

My car is due this week. I'm hoping they install the hitch before I pick it up (I want to go sledding this weekend).

Denalio · #3 01-29-2007, 09:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Praetorian

My car is due this week. I'm hoping they install the hitch before I pick it up (I want to go sledding this weekend).

Congrats...when you get it can you post some pics and let us know how long it took to install, any tips and the cost. I get mine in 3 weeks and the dealer said that it is a 5 hour install...?

Praetorian · #4 01-29-2007, 11:41 PM

My dealer told me that he wasn't sure how long it would take - or how big a deal it would be. In the previous X5, the removed the entire fender and replaced it. It was time consuming and expensive. Dealer is hoping BMW did it differently this time so the job isn't as big.

Will let you know.

Cairns · #5 01-31-2007, 01:40 PM

I have specified a hitch on the car ordered yesterday. Nearly every dealer in this area was synonymous when it came to pricing- about $1,200 total. $555.80 for the parts and $600 (about five hours) for labor. I would advise that anyone ordering a car insist it be installed before delivery and included in the price. You won't take it back and wait and you'll have more leverage.

Also I regularly tow a Porsche 993 on an aluminum trailer (about 4,000 lbs total) with the current X5 (2001 4.4). It tows like a dream and the fuel economy runs right around 16.5.

We had that hitch installed before taking delviery and it was around $1,100. No need to remove the fender just the bumper fascia to make cut out for hitch and make room for installation. It's a little more difficult on PDC equipped cars but still a relatively easy yet time consuming job.

The harness is prewired from the factory on the new ones and may have been on the old one too.

Praetorian · #6 01-31-2007, 07:41 PM

My car arrived at the dealer today, I pick it up tomorrow but no hitch. They're backordered.

Denalio · #7 01-31-2007, 07:43 PM

Thank goodness I ordered my hitch 8 weeks ago along with the cargo liner, first and second row floor liners. It's at the dealer and paid for. I get my e70 in two weeks.

pseto · #8 01-31-2007, 08:43 PM

doesn't sound like the install is very hard since you don't have to remove the bumper. plus if its already wired, why is it a 5 hour install by stealer? does something need to be programmed?

Cairns · #9 02-01-2007, 09:54 AM

Actually you really do have to remove the rear bumper to have any room to work. It's laborious- vertical links connect with the frame about a foot plus up and that connection is a pain. Once those links are made a horizontal hitch bar with the receiver is bolted on, the wiring is connected and the bumper (cut out) goes back on. A monocoque is not like hanging a Reece on your Suburban's frame rails one Saturday morning.

pseto · #10 02-01-2007, 11:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cairns

Actually you really do have to remove the rear bumper to have any room to work. It's laborious- vertical links connect with the frame about a foot plus up and that connection is a pain. Once those links are made a horizontal hitch bar with the receiver is bolted on, the wiring is connected and the bumper (cut out) goes back on. A monocoque is not like hanging a Reece on your Suburban's frame rails one Saturday morning.

OK, if the bumper needs to be removed, I can see how much work it can be, and probably requires the help of another person to get the bumper off with any care.

however, what about the wiring harness, after install does anything need to be coded by the dealer? I know that when/if I get an alarm on my e92, even if I DIY, I have to bring it in to the dealer for programming. Thats ridiculous!