Towing cross country with a 4.4
 

Hello :wavey:

I'm looking into purchasing a tow vehicle, either a BMW X5 or Nissan Armada. Obviously these are two very different classes of vehicles, but that's because I'm unsure if the X can handle a cross country tow - I'll be towing my s2000 from DC area to CA. Also, my S is a dedicated track car, so I will be towing to NorCal/SoCal tracks.

I think the X would be a lot more fun as a dual purpose car, but the tow capabilities of the Armada are unquestionable. My concerns with the X are the transmission and wheel base for towing that distance/duration, and through mountain roads with significant elevation changes and wind/sway.

Assuming a well maintained 2005 X5 4.4, would you hesitate to tow a roughly 4,000 lb payload (2,600 lb car and 1,500 lb trailer)?
Has anyone done this with their X? Any guidance/thoughts?

I don't have a trailer either - still looking :)

Thanks for your input.

If the X5 is in reasonable condition, no issues whatsoever towing that load. You will need brakes on the trailer. Check your trailer weight, and consider the weight of spares/tools/tires as well.

Transmission failures on the X5 have not been associated with towing.

My X5 is a diesel, so bear that in mind...

I use it to tow our caravan (travel trailer) all over this fine country, and it weighs around 5700lb (2600kg). Never had a hint of a problem.

I just maintain the vehicle the best I can.

if an x5 can tow this trailer, it will tow your car without a problem

http://www.xoutpost.com/images/airstream.jpg


check out this thread http://www.xoutpost.com/bmw-sav-foru...airstream.html

An old pic of 2012 M5 prototype being towed off the Nürburgring by an X5. The F10 M5 weighs around 4,288 lb.

Brilliant, thanks for all the feedback guys!

Btw, what trailer is that? looks awesome with the wheels on the bottom, great for lower cars...

I have towed my parents full size car on a heavy azz uhaul dolly 2500 miles across country with the 3.0 6M. Towed brilliantly. Also a 30 foot travel trailer at 8700 feet in the upper glacial valleys of northern Utah. With the self leveling rear suspention and active sway control built into the DSC it's honestly a great tow vehicle for what it is. I feel that it is deserving of far more credit than it's given. The 4.4i will defiantly make short work of your expected use. Hell, maybe even better fuel economy. Good luck brother.

Looks like a standard European tilt deck car transporter, made by different companies. Presume this one was made in Germany given its use there, but here are similar ones from the UK:

Brian James Trailers

Ok, thanks.

I'm still trying to understand which options or models are capable of load. I'm not that familliar with X5s, and I've tried doing searches but the answer is not clear.

Can any e53 tow this type of load - without compromising safety and structural rigidity of the vehicle? Or would I need special options (obviously a hitch)?

I see there is auto-leveling suspension, the tow package, dynamic/adaptive steering, sport package. I guess, what are the min. requirements/options required on an E53 X5 to safely tow?

All E53 models have the same structural capacity. Doesn't matter if you have air suspension or not. Some like it, others avoid it. Sport packages and other options have no impact on tow ratings.

Most models are rated to tow 6000 lbs, maximum 600 lbs tongue weight, if you have trailer brakes and a BMW hitch. Without trailer brakes, maximum trailer weight is 1600 lbs. Off-road, all models, maximum trailer weight is 3200 lbs IIRC, due to the bouncing load. Back to on-road the exception is the 2000-2003 X5 3.0 gasoline models with the 5 speed automatic which were rated at 5000 lbs maximum, presumably due to the transmission.

There is no tow package. The vehicle already has a transmission cooler, for example. There is an interface for the BMW trailer wiring harness on all models. If your trailer has electric brakes, you will require an aftermarket brake controller.

If you use an aftermarket hitch, BMW doesn't provide a tow rating but most hitches claim 6000 lbs rating. Some are fine with that claim, others not so much. It isn't the receiver itself, it is how they attach to the X5 unibody.