Seems like spare wheel carrier is connected to hitch (not sure as pic is dark). If that then you can just remove the wheel carrier.

I thought you couldn't install the hitch with the aero kit? also seems like it comes out of the bumper in a higher position than the at least the OEM hitch does. Doesn't the OEM hitch come out about where the aero kit goes, thus the reason you can't have the hitch with aero?

take the front bar off and take that chunky lookin wheel spare off, and with those wheels you got one of the nicest x5's on this site......Not into that whole spare wheel thing in the bak, seems like a old ho-runner or explorer, and even those companys stop doin that!

177's + bar :2thumbs:
rear tire holder :thumbdown
Leave those spares to RAV's.

I would also add that, in my opinion, it's not worth saving even a couple thousand if you're getting a car that's not exactly what you want. Even if you save 3, 4, 5K, it's still an expensive vehicle and I always feel you should get exactly what you want. I'd say that about almost any car, but especially when you get to the $40k mark and up...

A friend of mine bought a Cayenne S that was a demo to save a couple thousand. In the end, he got a GOLD Cayenne with 4000 miles on it for a "savings" of 5 or 6K. Is it really a savings when you get a used car in a color you didn't want?

That said, it's your money and the silver definitely is a nice color and those wheels are nice....

Bars like that are illegal in the UK because of pedestrian safety issues. As they should be everywhere in the world except where they provide a necessary funtion....like 'roo bars do in the Australian Outback. I guess in parts of SA they may be a necessity too. I like the wheels but the spare wheel is just plain ugly.

I don't know how much more dangerous getting hit by a car is with that little bar there than if it wasn't, but I don't think it adds anything to the car either and I don't really care for the look. I don't hate it, but like it better without it....

i think it's try too hard to be "cool"

Cars are specifically designed now with a softer frontal area to minimise pedestrian fatalities at lower speeds (it's one of the reasons why the Mini was updated as new legislation is coming in). For want of a better way of putting it cars have a softer frontal impact area which is completely negated by putting a bar like that on a car which will just snap somone's leg/pelvis. There is technology being developed whereby the bonnet will have an airbag type mechanism in it which will lift the bonnet up to catch a pedestrian and minimise head injuries.

Makes sense then. I don't care a much for the look of that bar anyway.