Hitch availability and cost

[vitiokas95]

I am about to pull the trigger on New X5. Do you guys know if hitch upgrade exists for for F15 yet and if yes, approximate cost?

[ChipB]

Yes, it exists - I'm having the Class III hitch (6000 pound towing capacity) installed tomorrow at Bill Jacobs BMW in Naperville. Cost is $1475. The Class II hitch (up to 3500 pounds towing) is $1400, and installation cost for either is about $675. See: http://www.shopbmwusa.com/ACCESSORIE...cessories.aspx

[vitiokas95]

Thanks. Looks like Class II hitch is $1400.

[Windy City]

Originally Posted by ChipB

Yes, it exists - I'm having the Class III hitch (600 pound towing capacity) installed tomorrow at Bill Jacobs BMW in Naperville. Cost is $1475. The Class II hitch (up to 3500 pounds towing) is $1400, and installation cost for either is about $675. See: http://www.shopbmwusa.com/ACCESSORIE...cessories.aspx

ChipB, assuming you bought your 14 x5 from them, how did they treat you?

Every time I walk in there I walk out asking my self why I went there.

Never had a "good" experience with the help.

[ChipB]

This is the 2nd car I've bought there. Sales staff is OK, but like too many dealerships the staff typically aren't BMW afficionados - often they come from Lexus, or Toyota, or whatever - so I find that I usually know more about the vehicles than they do. But the service department is pretty good, and it's convenient to where I live, so I'm OK with it. I've shopped at a few other dealerships in IL as well as on the east coast, and I must say I've never had a salesman as good as the guy from whom I bought my E21 320i back in 1979!

[ChipB]

Update: had the BMW Class III hitch installed this week. I did not have the dealership install the BMW electric brake controller, as I have one on order and rather than have it permanently installed in the driver-side cup holder my plan is have it loose so that I can remove it when not actually towing something (which is 99% of the time). Anyways, here are some photos of the hitch. It is removable, and when not installed the "receiver" (not a traditional 2" square design) is not totally invisible but pretty much out of sight. I've also included a shot of the rear-view camera screen - note that you can see the hitch, which should make backing to the trailer pretty easy.

[vitiokas95]

Originally Posted by Windy City

ChipB, assuming you bought your 14 x5 from them, how did they treat you?

Every time I walk in there I walk out asking my self why I went there.

Never had a "good" experience with the help.

I have been shopping at BMW of Westmont for many years now. Really good service and staff is great.

[atomic80]

I've been considering adding a hitch system to my X5 too but want to get the type with the type III hitch mount to go with all the accessories I bought before such as the Yakima bike rack, trailer, etc. Chip, how large is the hitch opening on yours?

[igorsvrub]

I wonder why you did not order it from the factory(bmw)???
Is it possible in US or not???

[atomic80]

We cannot order tow/hitch packages from the factory here in the US. I'm surprised that those outside the US can if that's the case.

[ChipB]

atomic80: it does noit have a standard receiver, so an after-market bike carrier won't work. You would have to get either an after-market hitch or the BMW Class II hitch instead - it has a standard receiver but you're limited to 3500 pounds towing capacity. Click on the link I provided back in post #2 of this thread to see it.

igorsvrub - as atomic80 said, hitches are not available from the factory for the US market - it's only a dealer-installed option. Which is a bit ironic gven that the vehicle is actually built in the US!

By the way, installed cost was $1875. This included almost $300 in savings due to a 20% discount on parts that the dealership was running.

Next up - getting the trailer so I can start hauling my Cayman S to the track!

[finnbmw]

Originally Posted by ChipB

atomic80: it does noit have a standard receiver, so an after-market bike carrier won't work. You would have to get either an after-market hitch or the BMW Class II hitch instead - it has a standard receiver but you're limited to 3500 pounds towing capacity. Click on the link I provided back in post #2 of this thread to see it.

This is not an issue with Invisihitch. You can order different receivers to the hiitch (2", low ball mount, high ball mount) depending on your needs. If you plan to both tow and use a 2' receiver for a bike rack, invisihitch is your best bet.

Can you tell that I like the product?

[igorsvrub]

Originally Posted by atomic80

We cannot order tow/hitch packages from the factory here in the US. I'm surprised that those outside the US can if that's the case.

Yes, in Europe it is possible

Originally Posted by ChipB

igorsvrub - as atomic80 said, hitches are not available from the factory for the US market - it's only a dealer-installed option. Which is a bit ironic gven that the vehicle is actually built in the US!

By the way, installed cost was $1875. This included almost $300 in savings due to a 20% discount on parts that the dealership was running.

Next up - getting the trailer so I can start hauling my Cayman S to the track!

But very strange that you are not able to have this option, especially in US, as you use more hitches than we use.

[finnbmw]

igorsvrub, what is the European hitch rated at, i.e. how much can you tow legally with the hitch?

[igorsvrub]

Originally Posted by finnbmw

igorsvrub, what is the European hitch rated at, i.e. how much can you tow legally with the hitch?

Be honest, I do not remember this info(but in spec it is not mentioned), but I remember that this one is electrical and can be easily removed when it is not needed.
When ordered there were 2 options available: electric and non-electric.
As I am not towing big trailers, so thus was not really focussed on figures.

[Windy City]

Chip, thanks for the photos. We are planning on a hitch too.

How much weight/what do you plan on pulling?

How about a towing performance review?

[iamthestig]

I purchased the Class II receiver attachment for $250 from getbmwparts.com. Works wonderfully for my hitch mount bike rack. This, along with the Class III attachment, has me covered.

[atomic80]

I saw that option on getbmwparts.com but however do you also need the trailer wiring harness and the lighting module too?

[atlantiQue]

Originally Posted by finnbmw

igorsvrub, what is the European hitch rated at, i.e. how much can you tow legally with the hitch?

In Belgium the electric hitch (option 3AC) comes together with increased towing capacity (option 233) of 3500kg which would place it somewhere in the middle, above class III but below class IV. Understandable as people in Benelux, especially the Dutch, love towing campers . The price is 1225 euro (incl. tax).

[sward]

And it folds out automatically from underneath by pressing a button in the trunk

[iamthestig]

atomic80 - Since I'm using both the Class II and Class III adapters interchangeably, I already have the lighting module and trailer wiring harness in place. I'm really not sure about the necessity of of these if you were only going to use the Class II attachment for something like a bike rack. It seems to me you could get away with just the cross member and class II receiver attachment for that application.

[atomic80]

Thanks iamthestig, I do plan to tow occasionally as well so having both options might be the best bet for me. Thanks again!