Gettin Hitched

[unluky]

Or at least I hope to......

For those of you with tow hitches on the F15 X5 - what did you go with? I'd like to NOT have to cut the bumper if possible of course. I have been looking at the Exeuhitch - which looks pretty neat - but pricey. If I install it myself I can save a few bucks.

This will not be towing a lot - I have a light 12' trailer that I tow a big mower or ATV on and that is about it. Not hauling a car or anything like that, so medium duty at best. I have seen a few pics of a receiver hitch that sits below the bumper, but I don't know what brand it is or if the owner likes it or not.

Any recommendations? This is the only thing keeping me from sending my other SUV down the road. Too late to miss another year of property tax at this point probably, but I could use the garage space back! =)

[9mmkungfu]

I picked up the following:

Reese 44590 hitch
BMW 71606889589 AAG control module
BMW 82712349500 wiring harness

There are a few good threads about the different setups available.

[Ferg]

Invisihitch

[alphaod]

Just don't buy the factory one. Anything else is better.

[1norseman]

I have the Stealth Hitch, have used for quite a few months now.
Highly recommended!

Has a stainless block that the ball mount mounts to. So no risk of rust causing issues when you try to use it.
They sell a carrying case for the ball mounts too, I have it and it's nice!

They make different height ball mounts you can chose from, so less risk of having a trailer being too high or low at the hitch.
I have a small trailer where I use the "flat" bar ball mount (purchased separately), and with my Haulmark trailer I use the raised bar that came with the kit.

Standard ball height for the Stealth Hitch is 18" with a non modified X5, and made to work with U-Haul standard trailer height. So if you already have a trailer, measure how far the coupler is off the ground, and you can see if you need standard height ball mount, or not.

Also came with the 2" receiver that I use for my bike rack..

Great customer service too.

[RED_Y_]

I have the factory one, not a fan of their system with ball vs 2 inch receiver adapters but when you take them off-its almost invisible.

[Djg21]

Originally Posted by 1norseman

I have the Stealth Hitch, have used for quite a few months now.
Highly recommended!

Has a stainless block that the ball mount mounts to. So no risk of rust causing issues when you try to use it.
They sell a nice carrying case for the ball mounts too, I have it and it's nice!

They make different height ball mounts you can chose from, so less risk of having a trailer being too high or low at the hitch.
I have a small trailer where I use the "flat" bar ball mount (purchased separately), and with my haulmark uses the raised bar that came with the kit.

Also came with the 2" receiver that I use for my bike rack..

Great customer service too.

I have a Stealth Hitch as well, which I use only for my bike rack. I paid my body shop $160 to install it. My x5 has a heat shield that I’d have to cut to install most other hitches, and I wasn’t willing to do that. The hitch is really nice.

[Maverik259]

Factory hitch. Got a screaming deal on a full set up (minus 2" receiver) and couldn't pass it up. It's perfectly fine. No one in here has had one fail on them they all just complain that you can see it when installed and the metal doesn't look as nice as the aftermarket ones. It's rated at 6500 lbs or whatever it is and I trust that it works just fine, lol. If it doesn't then guess who gets sued. But then again I'm not towing anything near max capacity.

[alphaod]

Whatever you choose, make sure to get the proper factory module, electrics, and programming done.

Originally Posted by Maverik259

Factory hitch. Got a screaming deal on a full set up (minus 2" receiver) and couldn't pass it up. It's perfectly fine. No one in here has had one fail on them they all just complain that you can see it when installed and the metal doesn't look as nice as the aftermarket ones. It's rated at 6500 lbs or whatever it is and I trust that it works just fine, lol. If it doesn't then guess who gets sued. But then again I'm not towing anything near max capacity.

My problem with the BMW one is the fact that it uses a proprietary system. For example if I want the square receiver to mount a bike rack, but then decide I need to tow, this square receiver is only rated for 3500 lb (though I suspect this is a very very conservative rating). To get 6000 lb, I need to switch to the ball receiver (which again I'm sure it rated conservatively). Yes I own both receivers and have needed to switch back and forth, which is why I think the factory system sucks. The square receiver also makes whatever your need back there stick out further than other cars which I guess is a good or bad depending on how you look at it.

Basically my gripe is if you remove everything, yes it looks nice, but if you're out and about you don't have any of the adapters you can't use your hitch! The only reason I have the factory one is I wanted the dealer to pay for it as part of my negotiation during purchase. If I had to pay out of pocket and knew this was what I was getting, I would have bought an alternative. Even the new G05 has smartly gone back the square receiver in the bumper method (and gone back being made by Westfalia).

[Maverik259]

Originally Posted by alphaod

Whatever you choose, make sure to get the proper factory module, electrics, and programming done.

My problem with the BMW one is the fact that it uses a proprietary system. For example if I want the square receiver to mount a bike rack, but then decide I need to tow, this square receiver is only rated for 3500 lb (though I suspect this is a very very conservative rating). To get 6000 lb, I need to switch to the ball receiver (which again I'm sure it rated conservatively). Yes I own both receivers and have needed to switch back and forth, which is why I think the factory system sucks. The square receiver also makes whatever your need back there stick out further than other cars which I guess is a good or bad depending on how you look at it.

Basically my gripe is if you remove everything, yes it looks nice, but if you're out and about you don't have any of the adapters you can't use your hitch! The only reason I have the factory one is I wanted the dealer to pay for it as part of my negotiation during purchase. If I had to pay out of pocket and knew this was what I was getting, I would have bought an alternative. Even the new G05 has smartly gone back the square receiver in the bumper method (and gone back being made by Westfalia).

Ya don't get me wrong if I had to pay for a brand new one I would go invis or exec unit as well as they're essentially the same. The 70% off price I got for electronics and the oem hitch is what made the purchase for me lol

[alphaod]

Originally Posted by Maverik259

Ya don't get me wrong if I had to pay for a brand new one I would go invis or exec unit as well as they're essentially the same. The 70% off price I got for electronics and the oem hitch is what made the purchase for me lol

Getting a little off topic—a vender messaged me, when I first got the car after I complained about the proprietary system, to send me one of their hitches for free, all that I do was give an honest review. When I think about it now I sort of regret not taking the offer since their system is actually pretty good. It was something like the Execuhitch (but not Execuhitch); I think my logic at the time was the factory one wasn't that bad and it was actually installed very nicely with gaskets and everything.

Anyways here I'm bitchin' about the factory one when I had the opportunity to change it.

[Maverik259]

Originally Posted by alphaod

Getting a little off topic—a vender messaged me, when I first got the car after I complained about the proprietary system, to send me one of their hitches for free, all that I do was give an honest review. When I think about it now I sort of regret not taking the offer since their system is actually pretty good. It was something like the Execuhitch (but not Execuhitch); I think my logic at the time was the factory one wasn't that bad and it was actually installed very nicely with gaskets and everything.

Anyways here I'm bitchin' about the factory one when I had the opportunity to change it.

I like free stuff lol. Damn.

[F15GorDe]

Went with the INVISIHITCH with the OE module and wiring. No regrets and will do the same in the future.
You get what you pay for.

[1norseman]

Originally Posted by Maverik259

Factory hitch. Got a screaming deal on a full set up (minus 2" receiver) and couldn't pass it up. It's perfectly fine. No one in here has had one fail on them they all just complain that you can see it when installed and the metal doesn't look as nice as the aftermarket ones. It's rated at 6500 lbs or whatever it is and I trust that it works just fine, lol. If it doesn't then guess who gets sued. But then again I'm not towing anything near max capacity.

I know someone who had the factory hitch, left the ball mount in all winter, and then had serious problems removing it. Snow and salt made it rust and get stuck.
This is why I like Stealth and their stainless block.
Also, when not in use, there is a rubber plug covering the hole in the stainless block, so less risk of contaminants getting into the locking mechanism.

[1norseman]

Originally Posted by alphaod

Whatever you choose, make sure to get the proper factory module, electrics, and programming done.



My problem with the BMW one is the fact that it uses a proprietary system. For example if I want the square receiver to mount a bike rack, but then decide I need to tow, this square receiver is only rated for 3500 lb (though I suspect this is a very very conservative rating). To get 6000 lb, I need to switch to the ball receiver (which again I'm sure it rated conservatively). Yes I own both receivers and have needed to switch back and forth, which is why I think the factory system sucks. The square receiver also makes whatever your need back there stick out further than other cars which I guess is a good or bad depending on how you look at it.

Basically my gripe is if you remove everything, yes it looks nice, but if you're out and about you don't have any of the adapters you can't use your hitch! The only reason I have the factory one is I wanted the dealer to pay for it as part of my negotiation during purchase. If I had to pay out of pocket and knew this was what I was getting, I would have bought an alternative. Even the new G05 has smartly gone back the square receiver in the bumper method (and gone back being made by Westfalia).

When it comes to carrying around the adapters, Stealth offers a carrying case, which I can recommend. Works great for Stealth products, not sure it would work with others though..

I usually just leave the case in the back, doesn't take much space.
Here is a link to the carrying case. $99
https://stealthhitches.com/collectio...lth-case-large

[kenniff]

I have the factory fitted one - where all you have to do is press a button and it appears or disappears. It works fine for me.

[unluky]

Originally Posted by kenniff

I have the factory fitted one - where all you have to do is press a button and it appears or disappears. It works fine for me.

I don't think I have ever seen that one??? Got a pic?

[stlb5]

Another note on the stealth hitch. If you purchase the OEM Active wiring harness, it includes a coding session. I installed our hitch this past weekend. Very solid kit and a decently easy DIY. we have an M-Sport and no cutting of any kind was needed.

[alphaod]

Originally Posted by 1norseman

I know someone who had the factory hitch, left the ball mount in all winter, and then had serious problems removing it. Snow and salt made it rust and get stuck.

This happened to me. I thought something was wrong with the hitch. Eventually broke it loose with some heating and a lot of smacking with a rubber mallet.

Originally Posted by kenniff

I have the factory fitted one - where all you have to do is press a button and it appears or disappears. It works fine for me.

We don't have the fancy swan neck system on this side of the pond.

[Djg21]

Originally Posted by 1norseman

I know someone who had the factory hitch, left the ball mount in all winter, and then had serious problems removing it. Snow and salt made it rust and get stuck.
This is why I like Stealth and their stainless block.
Also, when not in use, there is a rubber plug covering the hole in the stainless block, so less risk of contaminants getting into the locking mechanism.

Do you grease the post on the stealth hitch or winterize it in some fashion? I keep my 2” hitch installed year round to throw my bike rack on the vehicle when necessary. I was planning to pull it off and grease it this weekend. The salt and crap on the roads is pretty bad up here during the winter. I didn’t see anything on the Stealth Hitch website.

[1norseman]

Originally Posted by Djg21

Do you grease the post on the stealth hitch or winterize it in some fashion? I keep my 2” hitch installed year round to throw my bike rack on the vehicle when necessary. I was planning to pull it off and grease it this weekend. The salt and crap on the roads is pretty bad up here during the winter. I didn’t see anything on the Stealth Hitch website.

Contact Steve at Stealth and ask him..
Though, I would recommend removing it when not using it, and I have a feeling that's what Steve will suggest also.

Once you get used to installing and removing the ballmount/2" receiver, it is so simple and quick, that there is no reason to leave it in when not needed IMO.

[alphaod]

Originally Posted by Djg21

Do you grease the post on the stealth hitch or winterize it in some fashion? I keep my 2” hitch installed year round to throw my bike rack on the vehicle when necessary. I was planning to pull it off and grease it this weekend. The salt and crap on the roads is pretty bad up here during the winter. I didn’t see anything on the Stealth Hitch website.

Yeah should be removed when you don't need it. I had my ski rack on my car all winter so it got stuck, but after that happened I removed it after I was done every weekend.

All these people with hitches with rusted ball and tongue use it to damage other people's cars.