Pictures of hitch on 2011's

[matthewmiller01]

Sorry to potentially hijack... I have searched and have found no answer yet. I am an older M3 owner and a new 2007 X5 (as of yesterday) owner and I have a couple of questions about the towing package.

First off, very clean install. It looks very nice.

Second, I want to know about the tow package.
Are there transmission or oil coolers for towing?
Are they needed?
I traded my Suburban for the X5 and I need to add the towing package to continue pulling the boat.
Would you be so kind as to list all of the parts and install things needed to add the towing package after-the-fact?
Is it more than hitch, bumper cutout and trim pieces, wiring harness, and programming?
What, exactly, is the reprogramming changing?

Thanks in advance.

[mgbmwx5]

Originally Posted by matthewmiller01

Sorry to potentially hijack... I have searched and have found no answer yet. I am an older M3 owner and a new 2007 X5 (as of yesterday) owner and I have a couple of questions about the towing package.

First off, very clean install. It looks very nice.

Second, I want to know about the tow package.
Are there transmission or oil coolers for towing?
Are they needed?
I traded my Suburban for the X5 and I need to add the towing package to continue pulling the boat.
Would you be so kind as to list all of the parts and install things needed to add the towing package after-the-fact?
Is it more than hitch, bumper cutout and trim pieces, wiring harness, and programming?
What, exactly, is the reprogramming changing?

Thanks in advance.

All the BMW stealers carry a do-it-yourself kit for the E70 X5, which consists of the hitch receiver, electronic module, wiring harness, etc. This kit retails for about $500. You can either contact your local BMW stealer or buy it online. Installation time is about 5-8 hours if you are familiar with the vehicle, otherwise it may turn into a weekend project. I'm not aware of an oil cooler kit and I don't think one is required.
Here's one the BMW stealers on eBay:

BMW X5 TRAILER HITCH KIT CLASS III BMW X5 W/WIRING E70: eBay Motors (item 290283838668 end time Sep-09-10 03:43:42 PDT)

[BMWREXPENSIVE]

Thanks for the pics. It really is a shame they have to cut the trim. The ML hitch sits up under the rear bumper. You think they make a cover to put over the cut out? Also, I assume if you don't want the wiring (I will never tow anything, just need it for bike racks) the cut out would be much smaller.

[scollins]

Originally Posted by BMWREXPENSIVE

Thanks for the pics. It really is a shame they have to cut the trim. The ML hitch sits up under the rear bumper. You think they make a cover to put over the cut out? Also, I assume if you don't want the wiring (I will never tow anything, just need it for bike racks) the cut out would be much smaller.

You can make the cutout any size you want really, you just won't have a nice trim piece to cover the cut edges. Since they only make one size trim piece, the cutout would be the same regardless of whether you use the electrical or not.

[phatr1s]

Originally Posted by matthewmiller01

Sorry to potentially hijack... I have searched and have found no answer yet. I am an older M3 owner and a new 2007 X5 (as of yesterday) owner and I have a couple of questions about the towing package.

First off, very clean install. It looks very nice.

Second, I want to know about the tow package.
Are there transmission or oil coolers for towing?
Are they needed?
I traded my Suburban for the X5 and I need to add the towing package to continue pulling the boat.
Would you be so kind as to list all of the parts and install things needed to add the towing package after-the-fact?
Is it more than hitch, bumper cutout and trim pieces, wiring harness, and programming?
What, exactly, is the reprogramming changing?

Thanks in advance.

The reporgamming specially for older x5 (2007) is for the lighting system, there is no more "after-the-fact' things that you need to do.

[JCL]

To add to that, the standard vehicle has a transmission oil cooler, there are no additional coolers needed.

Reprogramming is required on some models because the vehicle doesn't recognize all of the modules installed, and so the trailer towing module for lights doesn't function correctly. It is similar to Windows not working correctly with Plug and Play, and needing to be told that you have installed a new DVD drive. Once the vehicle knows the module is there, it works fine.

[JKashat]

Nice looking hitch. No chance they make this for X5's equipped with the M-Sport Package, do they?

[roadkillrob]

Originally Posted by JKashat

Nice looking hitch. No chance they make this for X5's equipped with the M-Sport Package, do they?

I did an aftermarket hitch which I like much better as it does not require cutting of the bumper and would then also fit under the msport bumper so you didn't have to butcher it! I have one of the hitch steps in it, but you can still see how it is lower than the bumper itself!

[gerrypd]

looks great. $1100 for parts & labor? And that's OEM, right?

[roadkillrob]

If your referring to mine, aftermarket - Hidden Hitch/Drawtight model with the tow ready circuit isolating wiring kit - total was $260 and 4 hours of my time - looks better than the BMW and works great.

I just pull a small trailer, but if I was pulling something a bit bigger, I would have done the BMW harness which is pre-wired, so a 2 minute install and then have the car programmed so that you get the stability control programming for the trailer, but I would still use the same hitch as it works and looks better than the OEM one. Price would end up being the same approx if you did this hitch and bmw wiring and programming.