Towing 5000-5500 #'s without the air suspension option (rear). Need Exp Feedback...

ninekrpm · #1 03-18-2012, 01:08 AM

Hi Guys,

Jumping up from an E53 48is which has served me well for 3 years towing my open alum trailer / race_car...the self-level option really helps balance the car.

That said, I have commited to a 2010 48i, but I am now realizing that the self-level option (rear on E70's) only comes if ordered individually or by default if the car has the 3rd seat option...

This was a standard on all 48is E53's...

That said, how many are towing with an E70 that does not have the rear self-level air suspension...'

How important is this? Looking for some solid experiance...

(This car does have the sports activity package)

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RickM5X3 · #2 03-18-2012, 09:10 AM

Is it absolutely too late for you to back out and find another with adaptive drive/air sus?

ninekrpm · #3 03-18-2012, 09:20 AM

Unfortunately, it may be!!!!

I could not sleep last night as I was too stressed out about this...I read a lot of the E70 towing posts on here, but could not tell if most are towing with or without the rear self-level suspension option.

RickM5X3 · #4 03-18-2012, 09:34 AM

I think if you search posts here, you might be able to confirm that if you get adaptive drive, you also get the air suspension (rear).

Even if it costs you a bit to back out of a deal, it might be worth it long run to find 4.8i with adaptive drive/air suspension since you are towing such a heavy trailer.

Hopefully some others can weigh in here though who have towed w/o the air suspension. I would imagine it will be fine with a WDH, but I don't have that experience.

wsybert · #5 03-18-2012, 10:08 AM

Not exactly sure, but I believe all the 4.8's have the rear air suspension.
I don't have 3rd row, but mine has the air suspension.

bluetec · #6 03-18-2012, 10:10 AM

Does adaptive drive = self-leveling suspension? It would be nice to get a confirmation of this.

Obviously the best solution is the self-leveling suspension but there may be an alternative. Do you know the tongue weight of your trailer (gross)? You will probably have a Class III hitch, which is rated for a gross tongue weight not to exceed 500 lbs. Even if your tongue weight is below 500 lbs. the back end would definitely be sagging. If you do end up with this vehicle and it is equipped with the standard suspension, you could look into a weight distributing hitch which would help significantly. I've used them on other vehicles and they really do work well.

bluetec · #7 03-18-2012, 10:49 AM

Wsybert, do you have the adaptive drive option?

Quote:

Originally Posted by wsybert

Not exactly sure, but I believe all the 4.8's have the rear air suspension.
I don't have 3rd row, but mine has the air suspension.

ninekrpm · #8 03-18-2012, 11:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wsybert

Not exactly sure, but I believe all the 4.8's have the rear air suspension.
I don't have 3rd row, but mine has the air suspension.

I have just learned that rear air suspension can be ordered as an individual option...so your car may have it as a result of that...

Did you buy it new or CPO/used?

ninekrpm · #9 03-18-2012, 11:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bluetec

Does adaptive drive = self-leveling suspension? It would be nice to get a confirmation of this.

Obviously the best solution is the self-leveling suspension but there may be an alternative. Do you know the tongue weight of your trailer (gross)? You will probably have a Class III hitch, which is rated for a gross tongue weight not to exceed 500 lbs. Even if your tongue weight is below 500 lbs. the back end would definitely be sagging. If you do end up with this vehicle and it is equipped with the standard suspension, you could look into a weight distributing hitch which would help significantly. I've used them on other vehicles and they really do work well.

I will be using a class III oem hitch...

And my trailer setup has a WDH. I used it with my E53 and worked out quite well...

The tongue weight is around 500-600 when fully loaded...

Would love to know from others if the WDH is a viable option that can balance the car (front/rear) with just a WDH...

blue dragon · #10 03-18-2012, 11:36 AM

^^ BMW instructions for the hitch says not to use a WDH. The car is unibody construction, not body on frame like a pickup. I don't think unibodies like the twisting action too much.
I tow 6000 lbs with the self levelling suspension + adaptive drive with the OE hitch. Its an easy tow. I've never found the back to get squirilley, but the first time you try a panic stop, your eyes will bulge out of your head when you see just how much the braking distance has increased over not towing anything. My trailer has 4 wheel discs with brakes on each axle too.

There was a member "withdl" who used to pull an 8k lbs airstream trailer with a hensley arrow WDH with sway control, you might want to search for his posts. AFAIK, he is the only one using a WDH.

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