Spare tire "special tools" ---> What/where are they?
 

I have a 2003 4.6L WITH the retractable cargo floor, and I can't seem to find any of the "special tools" that are supposed to help me remove the spare tire without me having to lift it out by my pure muscle alone. There is supposed to be some "tool" that fits under (?) the spare to help pull it out onto the tailgate, but I can't seem to find it. Also, there is some sort of device/tool that keeps the tailgate held open - I can't seem to find this either.

Granted, I just bought my X5 and it IS used, but all of the other tools for jacking up the car are present. Did my X possibly NOT come with the aforementioned "tools" since I have the retractable floor?

Thanks for the help! :thumbup:

it is two straps that are connected to the wall by the floor jack. they go under the tire and the other end is attached to a plactic handle that will fit in the latch hole on the tailgate . it's pretty obvious so it sounds like its not there. picture of it here ( page 157) http://www.analogstereo.com/pdf/om/2003Manual-X5.pdf

p.s. I have retractable floor also.

P.S. you need some muscles and forget about the tool that isn't there.

What about the tool for keeping the tailgate open? It's like a foot long-ish piece of plastic. I don't seem to have this either, but it does exist, right?

keep your tailgate open or the retracable load floor open?

According to the tech manual (pg 158), it's called the "support rod" and it keeps the tailgate open while extracting the spare tire. I think this would be an excellent tool for driving around with the tailgate down as well, since this "support rod" would keep the tailgate from bouncing at all.

Speaking of the "support rod" - does anyone have the Part Number for it?!

:drinking:

Its a metal bar along the right side under the retractable floor. It pops out and folds down. Mine has a little orange stopper on it. I have no idea how one of those could be missing, it looks like it would be a PITA to remove, and why someone would remove it is beyond me, so double check under your retractable floor.

looks like #8 to me.

http://realoem.com/bmw/showparts.do?...=51&fg=65&hl=4