I put my name down at the dealer up here, like $440 with CCA discount... Still on backorder, so it could be a while. Does anyone know the factory/company that produced them?

there maybe some light at the end of this tunnel. i heard from a source at bmwna that they are expecting test units from an alternate vendor in a few weeks. of course that means they won't be in production for another few months and then the usual distribution delays will ensue.. !!

Dont beleive the hype i have spoke to mutiple BMWNA reps and they all said that there are no plans at this time to produce a trailer hitch assembly for a non current models that r&d,fabrication,and demand are not that great. 400 on backorder times $500 equals 200,000 just fabrication of dye set and material to produce would cost that i mean i hope i am wrong but i have been on the phone alot with BMWNA to no avail just" im sorry sir i dont have answer for the problem" or " we only handle warranty and maitance issues here at bmwna" there just a bunch of jerkoffs in a office in nj with no clue. oh yeah beleive BMWNA spys on this board would have quelled this post along time ago with the others by now but instead they just sit there with their thumbs uptheir asses while us the customers become victims of a hardship they created pricks

Well, they didn't "create" this hardship, the owner of the company that made them died and the company went under... at least what I have been told from different sources on the inside.

I am either today or tomorrow going to fab up my own internal braces similar to the OEM, that the aftermarket hitch(s) don't have to carry load into the frame instead of just at the end flanges... If it comes out as good as I'm hoping it will, I will keep the measurements and a template to maybe make some more :)

Okay,

Here is a crazy thought. Its a chunk of metal for god sake. All we need to do is find a good fabricator (shop), and they should be able to duplicate it, no? It doesn't seem that complicated (which means it probably is, but).:dunno:

Someone has got to know a resouce capable and willing, then we just need someone willing to pull their hitch and let the fabricator duplicate it.

The wiring harness/ Control module is a seprate issue. Did Westfalia make this as well, or just the metal hitch? Are these unobtainium as well??

Add me to the list of X5 owners looking for a factory hitch solution..

i've heard this from the person evaluating vendors for this so i tend to think its credible but like i said will be months before it hits dealer inventory. as for bmw not creating the hardship, i simply don't care. they sold a vehicle to us and the onus is on them to provide support for it. as a customer i am not concerned with their internal supply issues.

The module is currently available to be ordered from any dealer. Last time I checked the harness was on backorder, but not indefinitely since it is not made by the same people as the hitch.

On the items for sale forum there is a vendor that claims to have the wiring harness available - this would allow you to use the Curt hitch or another like it and still get the oem harness. I also don't care about BMWs supply chain problems - this one has caused me huge problems!

I couldn't wait any more. I ordered the Curt hitch.
I was persuaded by the prior discussions to choose the Curt over the Hidden Hitch and Drawtite. (no the OEM is not available!) Hopefully it will not be a problem to knock out all the bumper shock mount attachment bolts and properly upgrade them. Some one posted their installation and was not able to.

Also ordered the light module made buy TowReady. I saw the OEM control module is available separately, but it sound like this will work. If anyone has experience with this module?

GENERAL INFORMATION on TowReady Module
The Ultimate in Connection Hardware. Works with LED and Standard Bulbs
Splice in Module has Integrated Re-Settable Short Circuit and Overload Protection
Meets or Exceeds Most Vehicle Manufacturers Requirements for Devices to Power Trailer Lighting.
Powers Trailer Lights Directly from Tow Vehicle Battery NOT Through Vehicle Wiring Circuits.
Protects Your Vehicle's Computer and Wiring from Trailer Shorts or Mis Wiring.
Interprets/Decodes Multiplex Signal Inputs (BMW & Mercedes applications)
Acts as a Converter when Necessary. Eliminates Need for a Heavy Duty Flasher.

I would use (and am using) the OEM module simply for the integration and functionality level of it. If I was hooking up anything other than a BMW, then that module looks like it would be the hands down winner, but the BMW module communicated with the lamp control module, PDC module, DSC module, etc... But it seems ahtt is the best aftermarket option at least.

I recently installed the curt hitch, and had no problem installing it other than a few of the bolts supplied could have been longer... The problem I had was that I used that opportunity to bring my bumper cover to the paint shop for repair from when someone backed into me and knocked off a large section of paint........... so didn't have it to re-install then and there.

And when I re-installed the bumper cover I couldn't put the two center PDC sensors back in as their plugs contacted the hitch...!(straight back plug design) What I am having to do rather than cut reliefs in the hitch body is I bought 2 of the PDC sensors with 90 degree plugs that will aim up and am having to cut reliefs in the main bumper support for that! Here's a pic of the old vs the new sensors:

http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r...116_203600.jpg