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      02-25-2014, 05:29 PM   #1
greengoose
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Rear Bike Carrier

Hi All,

On an F15 X5 - what is required to attach a rear bike carrier. Tow hitch? If so does anyone know the rough cost of this, or better yet know the Part Number? I cannot seem to figure out from the accessory catalogue what is required..
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      02-25-2014, 07:48 PM   #2
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Quote:
Originally Posted by greengoose View Post
Hi All,

On an F15 X5 - what is required to attach a rear bike carrier. Tow hitch? If so does anyone know the rough cost of this, or better yet know the Part Number? I cannot seem to figure out from the accessory catalogue what is required..
You need a tow hitch. The cost is a lot cheaper than before if you bought the hitch from BMW. According to my CA it will cost around $600 and change. 3 years ago the tow hitch was double the price. But you can probably save around $200 buying the tow hitch somewhere else. I will try to ask and get the part number for you.
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      02-25-2014, 08:17 PM   #3
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http://www.getbmwparts.com/partlocat...catalogid=4462

here is the rear cross member, but it isn't all that you'll need.

http://www.getbmwparts.com/partlocat...egoryID=211103
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      02-26-2014, 03:56 AM   #4
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Anyone know if this can be fitted to the F15 with M sport trim?
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      02-26-2014, 05:48 AM   #5
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Bike Carrier

I've got this on my 13' x5-- uses the tow hooks.. does it not work with 2014??

http://www.shopbmwusa.com/PRODUCT/91...cessories.aspx
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      02-26-2014, 11:41 AM   #6
greengoose
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BMWdewd View Post
I've got this on my 13' x5-- uses the tow hooks.. does it not work with 2014??

http://www.shopbmwusa.com/PRODUCT/91...cessories.aspx
No it does not because this attached to the 2 rear tow hooks in the bumper. The 2014 only has one tow hook , so the only way is to attach it to a hitch
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      02-26-2014, 11:45 AM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by someguy View Post
this is where the confusion seems to be for me. What exactly is the BMW Rear Click-On Cross Member? Do I need to get a hitch + rear click on cross member + bike carrier?
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      04-22-2014, 11:27 PM   #8
el bohio
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I have the same issue.
the bmw bike carrier & "cross member" are crazy expensive.
I don't wanna put bikes on roof either.
Any 411 out there would be appreciayed
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      04-22-2014, 11:52 PM   #9
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You need two things in order to attach any hitch mounted bike carrier. First, you'll need the BMW cross member - http://www.getbmwparts.com/partlocat...catalogid=4462

Second, you'll need the BMW Class II receiver - http://www.getbmwparts.com/partlocat...catalogid=4462

$475 Total. This is the system I use and it works beautifully with my Thule hitch mounted bike rack.
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      04-23-2014, 08:38 AM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by greengoose View Post
No it does not because this attached to the 2 rear tow hooks in the bumper. The 2014 only has one tow hook , so the only way is to attach it to a hitch
This is the second time I've seen this explanation. My 35i M sport has 2 tow hooks. Does the x-line, lux-line, and/or no-line only have one?

EDIT: I've since realized that one of those covers is covering... a blank space… only one tow hook.

That said, the tow hook rack I believe is only good for 2 bikes. So if you need more than that, you'll need an additional option (roof?) or the tow hitch option, which gets you as many as 5 bikes. May have even seen one that does 6 but don't recall.
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Last edited by chrisny; 03-29-2015 at 08:52 PM..
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      04-23-2014, 08:41 AM   #11
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I plan on getting the invisihitch. Bolts on in place of the existing rear bumper and is completely hidden when you're not using it. There's another thread on here and one on bimmerfest if you google invisihitch F15 or something similar.

I believe it's around $595 or so then you just need to buy the bike rack from Thule or Yakima or BMW, wherever.. (keep in mind, BMW doesn't make these things themselves, so don't feel you 'need OEM to be safe' or anything like that….).
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      07-16-2014, 08:49 PM   #12
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Has anyone tried the following rear mounted rack after all for MY2014 X5?

http://www.shopbmwusa.com/PRODUCT/91...ICYCLE-CARRIER
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      07-20-2014, 07:22 PM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by chrisny View Post
I plan on getting the invisihitch. Bolts on in place of the existing rear bumper and is completely hidden when you're not using it. There's another thread on here and one on bimmerfest if you google invisihitch F15 or something similar.

I believe it's around $595 or so then you just need to buy the bike rack from Thule or Yakima or BMW, wherever.. (keep in mind, BMW doesn't make these things themselves, so don't feel you 'need OEM to be safe' or anything like that….).
I have the Invishitch, it's a good option for carrying bikes. Was about 700 bucks for the parts and install. It's totally invisible when the receiver is not installed.

The BMW hitch was about 1200 bucks from the dealer (parts and install), so the Invishitch was a lot less expensive. I think it also has a higher tow rating, although, for bikes, that doesn't matter at all. I will say, however, that the hitch is ROCK SOLID with the bike rack back there. I was a bit concerned that the removable receiver would introduce play; it doesn't, I think it's more solid that the hitch I used to have on the ML350 which had a permanently mounted receiver.
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      07-20-2014, 09:01 PM   #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Overtaxed View Post
I have the Invishitch, it's a good option for carrying bikes. Was about 700 bucks for the parts and install. It's totally invisible when the receiver is not installed.

The BMW hitch was about 1200 bucks from the dealer (parts and install), so the Invishitch was a lot less expensive. I think it also has a higher tow rating, although, for bikes, that doesn't matter at all. I will say, however, that the hitch is ROCK SOLID with the bike rack back there. I was a bit concerned that the removable receiver would introduce play; it doesn't, I think it's more solid that the hitch I used to have on the ML350 which had a permanently mounted receiver.
I also have invisihitch and it's awesome.
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      07-25-2014, 04:01 PM   #15
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I got the Invisihitch (now called Execuhitch) installed last week here in Atlanta, where the company is based. The hitch with a 2" receiver (no wiring harness, etc) was around $730 total. The unit is completely invisible (when the receiver is not attached) and cannot be any easier to use. I hated to spend that kind of money on a frigging hitch but it was best and cleanest option available!
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      03-25-2015, 05:19 PM   #16
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Re-energizing an old post here that most closely relates to my issue (rather than starting a new post).....

I have the F15 (2015 X35d) and need to a bike rack/carrier to tow 2 bikes around. I don't have a hitch, nor do I want to buy one, so my option would be for the BMW bike carrier that plugs into the tow eye sockets in the rear bumper and holds two bikes. Someone earlier in this post said that there is a difference in the prior model (E70) and current (F15), in that the F15 doesn't have two tow sockets (only one). That sounds weird to me because the F15 has 2 plastic cover pieces in the rear bumper just like the E70. Trying to understand if that's really the case or not (I'll open both covers on my F15 tomorrow to see). Can anyone confirm this or speak to this? Does anyone use the BMW rear carrier on their F15?

BMW Rear Mounted Bicycle Carrier 82710443424 (http://www.shopbmwusa.com/PRODUCT/91...cessories.aspx)

Same carrier on EBAY (http://www.ebay.com/itm/311319801562...S:1123&vxp=mtr)
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      03-25-2015, 05:51 PM   #17
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Quote:
Originally Posted by clemsonee View Post
Re-energizing an old post here that most closely relates to my issue (rather than starting a new post).....

I have the F15 (2015 X35d) and need to a bike rack/carrier to tow 2 bikes around. I don't have a hitch, nor do I want to buy one, so my option would be for the BMW bike carrier that plugs into the tow eye sockets in the rear bumper and holds two bikes. Someone earlier in this post said that there is a difference in the prior model (E70) and current (F15), in that the F15 doesn't have two tow sockets (only one). That sounds weird to me because the F15 has 2 plastic cover pieces in the rear bumper just like the E70. Trying to understand if that's really the case or not (I'll open both covers on my F15 tomorrow to see). Can anyone confirm this or speak to this? Does anyone use the BMW rear carrier on their F15?

BMW Rear Mounted Bicycle Carrier 82710443424 (http://www.shopbmwusa.com/PRODUCT/91...cessories.aspx)

Same carrier on EBAY (http://www.ebay.com/itm/311319801562...S:1123&vxp=mtr)
I want one of these myself coming into summer and had noticed the 2 apparent hitch points on the back of the 2015 F15. Are they available in the UK? Nothing on the UK BMW site.
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      03-25-2015, 06:35 PM   #18
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2011 BMW 320d  [10.00]
I have a Thule bike carrier on my F15 X5 factory BMW tow bar. I believe BMW bike carrier uses Thule as it has the same design and specification.

Here is a pic
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      03-25-2015, 06:38 PM   #19
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      03-25-2015, 08:43 PM   #20
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I have the roof mount system and bought it from a local dealer selling on eBay. The whole thing cost me $375 ($210 for the roof mount and $160-ish for the rack) , but that's for one bike.

There are two things I don't like about the system. I am 6'4" and I still need a step ladder to lift the bike in place. Also, the mpg dropped by (something like) 4 mpg. On a trip to florida from Atlanta, it cost just a bit more for the drive, but still.

If I did it all over again, I would buy the hitch.
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      03-29-2015, 07:56 PM   #21
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Is it difficult to install the cross member? I am thinking of the following configuration:

- BMW Cross Member
- BMW Rear Transport Class II 2'' Square Receiver Tube (which I understand requires the cross member)
- Thule Easy Fold 9032 Bike Carrier (which uses Class II receiver)

http://www.thule.com/en-us/us/produc...9032-_-1684676

Is there anything else I need?
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      04-07-2015, 12:59 PM   #22
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Update. Decided to install the cross member and associated parts at my local BMW dealer. Too complicated.
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