Absolutely. Because a member who cares about what his BMW looks like is considering installing a non OEM hitch similar to this one :rofl:

Coles Notes version: Buy the OEM hitch. If you don't, make sure you reverse stall park, up to a wall, when you don't have a trailer on.

No JCL, I'm not installing that one. That is hideous looking, and I'd be going w/ something completely different if I had to see anything more than the receiver itself, and even that sticking out as much as it will is not making me happy.

I know James, but it is one of the ones you proposed a few posts up, and that is why two of us recommended you get the U-Haul one instead, so that you didn't end up with something like this. :thumbup:

just get oem hitch, now that they are available. wiring harness alone makes it worth it imo. it's not THAT ugly. function before form and all that good stuff :)

I don't think the factory hitch looks bad at all - in fact it almost looks castrated without it :)

I ended up going OEM. Really not that bad. I like the look better before of course, but this will do.

Bought it off of EBAY (dealer).

My apologies...I looked at the pic, and the lower support looked to me like it was going out to the 8 0'clock position, not straight below like that pic on the X5 3.0. Yeah, I'll for sure be doing the Uhaul version.

Sorry man...after countless emails back and forth w/ Pierre from Scheidmann, getting onto Yahoo IM so we could talk using VOIP, things never really panned out. He was able to find a cheaper shipper, but at the time I still didn't have an immediate need for it.

I can't remember if you're towing more weight than I am, but Weasel's setup should be perfectly fine for my needs. Did you trim around the access cover to make it fit tighter? If not, I can forward some pics I received from another member of how he cut it to fit so it had minimal gaps around the receiver.

Hi all, I have been reading this thread and i am getting myself a little confused.

I rang the stealership here and they want AUD$1982.00 for OEM installed.

I am looking at other options.

1. 00-06 02 03 04 05 BMW X5 Class 3 Trailer Receiver Hitch : eBay Motors (item 230447033718 end time Apr-07-10 18:01:05 PDT)

2 . 05 06 BMW X5 Receiver Trailer Hitch 13070 : eBay Motors (item 170459403209 end time Apr-13-10 18:10:56 PDT)

I see that 1 + 2 mount differently, could someone please tell me which would be more sturdy for the car?

Thanks

Confused Dubs

Neither is sturdy. How much are you towing?

Recommend you ask your dealer for a parts price for the kit, and ask an independent mechanic for an installation price, or install it yourself if you have a jack, jackstands, and basic hand tools. It is straightforward to install.

Also, in Australia you likely have a Euro (metric) hitch available, with a swan neck. That is nicer than the 2" square receiver that North America uses, and which those eBay hitches are.