Towing a car with a 3.0?
 

So I know the towing capacity is listed in the manual, but what have people found is the real world ability of an e53? I've towed a 740il on a full car hauler with a half ton Toyota. According to the numbers, the Toyota was too small for that load. But even though it had 220k miles on it, it towed it like a pro.
I need to go on a 5 hr trip to pick up a 740 I this time.
What say you? Too much? No problem?
My x is an 04 3.0 with 140k. I've changed trans fluid 4 times since I bought it with 60k. Transfer case was done about a year ago. And it has the factory hitch.
Ill be hauling it on a Uhaul trailer. They have the automatic braking systems. So ill have trailer brakes.

I tow a boat with no trailer brake, no problems.

How heavy? Car and trailer will likely be close to 6k lbs.

The tow limit is 6k lbs, right? So go for it...

Well, I just rented the uhaul. I was perusing some older threads. And it seems a lot of people have towed near the 6k limit.
A typical 01 740 I weighs 4200. The uhaul trailers are listed at 2200.
So that puts me 400 over. So I guess I'll see how it goes. I'm more worried about the trans and transfer case. I'm sure the brakes along with the trailer braking system will be more than enough. Just don't know how she'll do going down the highway.

She'll do fine... limp it along in the right lane. Just don't crash it, insurance likely will not extend coverage to either car due to being overweight. At least that is the rumor that is floating around the forums.

Yea, the car I'm picking up I could care less about. It's just a parts car. I just don't want to cause an accident.
I had to tell uhaul I was picking up an e30 ;)
They said that was fine

You'll be fine. If you have a u-haul with a surge brake, no problem.

I've used my 3.0 to tow a 5,500lbs load for over 10,000 miles with no problem. I usually towed around 65-70mph; even at 85mph, the truck is actually quite stable and the load quite unnoticeable (although I do not endorse towing at such speeds).

There's a guy on this forum that tows a 8,900lbs Airstream caravan with his V8 X5 (I think it's a 4.4i).

Again - you should be fine; just realize that, at 6,400lbs, you're over the recommended towing capacity.

until you crash...

Well, she did it :thumbup:

http://i305.photobucket.com/albums/n...ps805c400f.jpg

But as I have said since the day after I bought it, I should have bought the V8.
The X towed it great. was happy doing 65-70. But when I hit the Catskil mtns, she was working. And then when I hit the Green mtns in VT, she just fell on her face :(
The 3.0 just wasnt meant to haul those kinds of loads imo.

Now my next project is to change the trans fluid again.