Trailer Hitch...Does it have to be OEM?
 

Ok i know that I would rather install an OEM Hitch on my 2003 4.4 but i cant seem to find one at a good price. Does any one have any info/advise for another brand? i did find this web site that looks very similar to OEM BMW

http://www.bavauto.com/shop.asp

i cant get a link right to the hitch but just type in "Trailer hitch" and it will come up!

thanks for any in put:thumbup:

Nope. There are options. http://www.xoutpost.com/search.php?searchid=955243

Barry's search link doesn't work for me, but if you search on trailer hitch you will find lots of discussion.

No, you don't have to use the OEM hitch. Entirely up to you. You don't have to use the OEM wiring harness either, you can decide to use tap connectors.

However, the vast majority of X5 hitch installers on here go OEM. It has to do with the structural integrity of the rear of the X5, since it has a unibody design. The OEM hitch reinforces that structure, instead of just bolting to sheet metal like many of the aftermarket hitches do. If it had a frame, any hitch would work fine. It also has to do with the electrics, and problems that some have had. There are enough electrical gremlins on the X models without giving them a reason to occur, or a reason for the dealer to blame the hitch wiring for an electrical problem.

If you buy the two parts together, they are not much more than the $400 that your link shows for an aftermarket hitch, and the BMW electrical connection. You can install it yourself using the instructions on the home page, or hire an independent. Using the dealer can be expensive.

Or, you can buy an aftermarket hitch and tap the lights in. It won't blow up. It won't be as solid, or as reliable electrically, but it is entirely your call, since it is your wallet.

If you can't guess, I bought the OEM hitch for my X5, installed it myself, and am about to buy the OEM hitch for our new X3 and install it myself.

Good luck.

well that is really what i needed to here. I will just shop for the best deal for an OEM hitch and harness and then do the install myself. Thanks man!

I wanted to go the cheaper route until I actually examined the OEM hitch.......Aftermarket didn't even come close to the structural stability of the OEM....worth the money for a firm piece of mind

Didn't work for me either the 2nd time. Hmmmmm. Oh well :confused:

Edit: now it works

I will not put anything other than OEM. Some dealers give upto 25% off on hitch. Good luck.

be sure to read the DIY instructions on this website - install requires rear bumper removal - a 2-person job - definitely one of the most labor intensive DIY jobs of the X5 - Good luck!

I bought a hitch, not OEM but good quality and it is mount as solid as OEM. Everything was working fine and I tow a 4800 lbs boat almost every week in the hills with my x5 3.0. All lights worked fine except that the Brake light warning used to appears on my dash computer about 3 minutes after my headlights are open even if everything looks normal. Now I think I have a bad connection somewhere because some weird things started to occur recently.

1.The brake lights on the truck are not working anymore. I was thinking it was the socket of the bulb (Had some trouble with this in the past) but I made some tests and found some symptoms that says to me that the problems comes from the wiring.

When I plug the trailer but DO NOT pin the trailer on the ball, the truck brake light on the right goes ON but nothing on the trailer !!!
As soon as I pin the trailer, all lights on it works fine but no more brake lights on the truck !!!! Probably the contact of the trailer hand with the ball makes a contact ground or kind of ....

Also, I smell a light burnt plastic odor in the sides compartment where the brake lights are located...

I suspect that I have 2 problems and the second may be caused by the first. If my left socket doesn't work properly (the bulb is OK), is it possible that the whole circuit is affected and makes all those things happen ?

nuff" said