E53 X5 Tow Hitch Assembly Purchase Drama! Have a few questions.
 

Long story short...I purchase which I thought was a complete assembly and provided them pictures of everything and emphasized multiple times I need everything from bolts and nuts to wiring, etc which they stated is no problem. Drove to the shop and they couldn't find anything other than the bumper re-enforcement. Waste of a trip out there. Promised me they would get me everything and ship it free of charge. Almost 2 months later still haven't received anything nor a call! Finally reached out when I had time and now they are blaming the shipping company for losing it! Asked for the tracking information which they couldn't provide! I call BS! A few days later they said they have everything and will ship it. Said screw that Ill come out and pick it up! But emphasized does it have everything? He's now stating he only has the bumper re-enforcement and tow bar assembly. WTF!!

So now for my questions!?!

First question should I back out of the purchase or should I just say screw it and pick up what they have? From what I hear finding these parts are getting extremely hard to come by now a days. Which leads to my next question.

Second question is it going to be near impossible to find the rest of the pieces to get this mounted to the X? Bolts can be purchased at any hardware store right? Would prefer factory but if I cant get those will hardware store grade work just fine?

Third question how much more am I looking to spend just for the other parts? The good part is that I have the main two pieces and the other parts could be purchased online and shipped.

Thanks for taking the time to read this and letting me vent!
Any guidance would be greatly appreciated!

You can get decent metric bolts from some hardware stores and online. Look for the grade mark stamped on the head - get at least grade 10.9

Sounds like a terrible run around. Not sure I'd be willing to drive any distance to discover the next half truth.

This.

Yea I figured worst case thats what Ill have to go with but the main concern is the rest of the OEM pieces I need like the mounts, wiring, etc...that Im worried about if Ill be able to track those down!

Im a bit to trusting I guess and always giving people benefit of the doubt and second chances and is probably why I keep getting screwed over! They are a few hours away to which sucks but I Im really wanting a tow hitch assembly on the X so Ill drive out tomorrow and see what they have. Im just praying its OEM at least but if not getting an actual receipt of the refund is better than getting verbal over the phone is the way I look at it!

I hear ya!

If you do not have the two mounts that go inside of the frame rails that allow the hitch mount to hook up to it then you should forget buying this hitch.

Look in the long DIY OEM hitch install thread for my posts on getting the fasteners from boltdepot dot com, a good source; you use the parts diagram from the installation .pdf attached early in the thread. As Jay notes, the two 'posts' mounts are key, as is the electronic module. Without the posts, you are buying a long door stop ......

Thanks for the replies! Just a heads up I drove out there Saturday and once again the guy screwed me. No surprise! What he stated was a OEM Hitch Assembly ended up being aftermarket. Even with all the pictures and descriptions I sent he still couldnt get it right! I just said screw them and asked for my full refund!

Too bad. These things are certainly getting as rare as unicorns.

Don't give up they are out there. just have to be patient. Keep Looking. Next time have a picture sent to first to identify the hitch before going out to see it.