Installed my Euro Hitch yesterday

kakalika · #1 08-12-2011, 09:20 PM

I installed my Witter Euro hitch yesterday. Took me about 6 hours working at a slow pace with a lot of breaks. The hitch has holes for US style safety chains. That was a nice surprise. I thought I would have to weld some brackets for the chains. The electric plug swivels up and out of sight when not in use, and the tow bar itself is detachable for a completely stealth look. You still have to notch the bumper underneath, but that's fine. You don't have to cut out a section of the bumper like you do when you install the US spec hitch. Removing the bumper was a PITA but I managed to get it done, thanks to info on this forum. I used the US spec wire harness, so I will have to get it coded soon.

Hitch replaces the bumper. Look how thick the hitch is compared to the bumper. I pity the fool who rear ends me.

Locking detachable tow bar.

Towbar removed, showing holes for safety chains. There are two positions for the towbar, I chose the lowest position to make sure my trailer is level.

Bumper back in position. No need to cut upper part of bumper. Yaay!!!

Towbar removed, electric plug swivels up and out of sight.

This is what you see with towbar removed. You have to get down to see it.

All in all, I am very pleased with it. The trailer lights work, except the brake lights. That will be resolved with coding.

AtomiX · #2 08-12-2011, 09:34 PM

awesome job. love the trailer and bike!

kakalika · #3 08-12-2011, 09:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AtomiX

awesome job. love the trailer and bike!

chiplee · #4 08-14-2011, 04:27 PM

Sweet. Thanks for posting. Can you provide details about the supplier, cost, wiring options you considered, need for programming. I've been browsing the dozens of threads on adding a hitch to the new X5s and it's all mixed up. Seems completely unnecessary to get a computer reprogrammed for some simply turn signals and brake lights.

kakalika · #5 08-14-2011, 06:50 PM

I ordered the hitch from the UK. Cost about $550 shipped. My wire harness is OEM. You have to get it coded so it will turn off the PDC when you select reverse and the trailer is hooked up, plus some other features like being able to zoom in the rear camera on the hitch ball when backing up to the trailer. Right now all lights except the brake lights work on mine. Coding will hopefully resolve that. You can use an aftermarket harness from etrailer.com if you want. I just prefer to use the original BMW harness.

a500marcos · #6 09-22-2011, 08:54 PM

Hi,
I would like to know some more details, like where to buy and price of this nice looking european hitch.
Does it works in your US SUV? It is feasable for a regular guy to install? Any special tools for this?

Thank you so much,

Regards,

Antonio

blue dragon · #7 09-22-2011, 10:17 PM

What are you going to do about the mounting points for the safety chains? That technically isn't legal without those.

kakalika · #8 09-22-2011, 10:51 PM

It has holes for safety chains. Look at the pictures again. I showed a close up of the safety chain holes. I use them all the time for my utility trailer and boat trailer.

blue dragon · #9 09-23-2011, 09:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kakalika

It has holes for safety chains. Look at the pictures again. I showed a close up of the safety chain holes. I use them all the time for my utility trailer and boat trailer.

I see them now! Wow, they are small, I know that the clamps on my boat trailer wouldn't fit on them.

kakalika · #10 09-23-2011, 03:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blue dragon

I see them now! Wow, they are small, I know that the clamps on my boat trailer wouldn't fit on them.

I see your point, luckily mine fit fine.

Got the hitch from these guys: PF Jones Witter Tow bars, Westfalia Towbars, Price Promise all Tow bars. Eberspacher Main Dealer