Hitch Installed
 

Just have to put the bumper back on now. Wasn't that bad really except that it was probably 110 in my garage so I was sweating like a pig. Took me a good 5-6 hours I probably lost about 5 pounds in water weight at least. Some of the bolt locations are difficult to get torque wrench in there. I used a combination of the home page diy article (would be great if it had pics and correct bolt/tool info) and the included instructions. I was able to do this without any assistance either. I would recommend when taking the bumper off position your legs underneath it to let it down slow and have some towels spread out to lay the bumper on so you dont scratch the painted surfaces.

http://we350z.com/cpg/albums/userpic...l_IMAG0062.jpg

I must say I am fully impressed with the X5 4.4i towing capabilities. I pulled a 2000 lb trailer with a 4000 lb car packed to the gills with stuff. I estimate I was pulling 6500+ lbs. which is over the 6000 lb. rating. To top it off the X5 was a packed to the gills AND I had the cargo carrier packed too. No problems whatsoever.

Man, I still want a hitch. Unfortunately, whenever I have some spare loot, something else comes up, like emergency room visits or house stuff. Maybe this month, I might finally get one (or the running boards).

Dan

My 06 BMW X5 4.4 was received a Curt Hitch today. It is awesome. According to DIY Hitch Installation in X5 forum, it is difficult task. You definitely need two people to pull the bumper out and puts the bumper back in, it's heavy for me. I could not do it by myself, and I ask my friend, owner at Dave's body shop to help out. It took us 3 1/2 hour to install the Curt Hitch after market $177 including delivery to my house. 2006*BMW*X5*Draw-Tite, Reese, Hidden Hitch, Valley and Curt search with the*Hitch Hunter ™ by etrailer.com (800) 298-8924. I only need this hitch to mount my 2" Thule bike rack. I'm happy with Curt Hitch and the installation from Dave's body shop in Palo Alto/Mountain View. I just like to share my new Curt hitch X5 experience . When I bought my car in 06, the hitch installation was so expensive. So I skipped this BMW hitch and I intended to do DIY later. I have called all BMW in the bay area about BMW X5 hitch since last year, and learned that it's back order for 6 months. I can ot wait any more, I was a little skeptical about Curt Hitch after maket hitch. Somebody in the forum mentioned that the new Curt hitch for X5 is better made now. For carrying bike, Curt Hitch is excellent hitch, and it is cheaper than BMW hitch by far. Hitch and the cost of hitch installation are still less than $400. For those of you in the bay area, you can be confidence to have Curt hitch and installation at Dave's body shop. Enjoy your hitch.
Dave's Body Shop

http://static.px.yelp.com/static/200.../stars_map.png
based on 7 reviews Rating Details »


Category: Body Shops [Edit]
2145 Old Middlefield Way
Mountain View, CA 94043
(650) 965-3397

Nice. I was going to do my install today, but the wife wanted to take the X5 to Aptos this weekend. Brake pad replacement on the Mountaineer instead I guess.

Hey Guys, congrats on the new hitches and I'm sure the Curt is more than enough for a bike rack.

I (luckily) got the OEM Hitch Kit, including the wiring harness from Bloomfield BMW in NJ about a month ago. Around $400 is what you might expect to pay for the OEM from these guys which as many of us know is awesome.

Installed myself with a friend and while it took a while, a good 5 hours for us with wiring, it wasn't too bad. If you consider yourself at all handy, have the time, space and tools you can do it.

Anyway, this is our second 3.0 and it tows like a champ! Love to have the power of the V8 but for us the I6 is plent as we only tow two sport ATV's which is about 2000lbs loaded and the occasional house stuff, etc.

Safe towing y'all.