ADDING A TOW HITCH
 

I'm looking at adding a hitch to my X5. It appears that I remove a cross member from the back of the car and replace it with a new one that has the receiver welded on. Is that correct?

Remove bumper cover.
Remove support.
Install tow hitch.
Reinstall bumper cover.

I looked under my X5 and there is no obvious place to bolt on the tow hitch, and the photo of the hitch looks like it might actually be the part I was looking at on my car.

It looks like I will take Item 14 off and replacing it with the factory tow hitch. RealOEM.com - Online BMW Parts Catalog

If you're referring to installing an aftermarket tow hitch, then YES - Item 14 gets replaced with the tow hitch

I'm actually planning to install the factory tow hitch. I think I found one on Craig's List. The goal is to get a bike carrier to take my beach cruisers to -- wait for it -- the beach.

I was looking to bolt the hitch directly to something that's already there, but now I think I have to take something off and mount the hitch in its place. I was hoping for confirmation that I see this properly.

The OEM Westfalia tow hitch is like a unicorn. If you found one, and it's complete, BUY it.

+1

It sounds to me like you've got someone who will sell you the hitch receiver only. That's about 25% of what is needed to install the complete kit.

The hitch bolts through the unibody of the x5. You have to remove the bumper mounts that mount through the frame and replace them with hitch mounts. Those hitch mounts will bolt directly through the unibody frame. You need to look up OEM hitch threads that will show you all the components that are in that hitch kit.

My Craigslist seller listed his hitch in January, and has not replied to email, text, or voice mail.

The hitch has a wiring harness attached, I assume this to plug into my car without any trouble.

The main goal for me is to carry a couple of bikes, but since it is a Class III hitch, there's always a chance that somebody will expect it to hold a trailer, so the wires need to work.

Come on you need to move on and find a new source of hitch. A craigslist seller that has not responded to your inquiry from January??? At a minimum that is almost over 30 days ago. I found my hitch through an auto dismantler that advertised the vehicle on line, I looked it over noticed the OE hitch and then called and made an offer. $350 later it was at my doorstep. You are going to have to did far and deep to find the OE hitch but well worth the process.

you'll need the trailer module too, it sits in the battery compartment, along with the PDC module. there is a wiring harness that attaches to it and runs out the back to the hitch connector.
With my hitch, I had to remove the cross bar that goes between the bumper supports. and replace it with my hitch assembly. the hitch retrofit installation instructions are great!
I agree with the other posters, no response since January?? time to contact a wrecker, they are pretty good with stuff like that! (up in Canada anyway!!)
good luck! :)

True about the trailer hitch module and other particulars. This is why I encouraged the OP to look carefully at one of the Westfalia kits discussed in this forum before to get a greater understanding what is needed to make the system complete.