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      11-19-2015, 06:20 AM   #1
oymd
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Bicycle Rack for M Sport E70 2012?

Hi all...

Having recently purchased an X5, I have been researching the best way to carry our bicycles around, and can't find any easy solutions?

My car is an 2012 E70 M Sport spec, and after thinking that I can simply fit a towbar, turns out that most towbars are NOT compatible with M Sport bumpers?

Is that right?

Some guys I called said that they wil need to CUT a chunk off the bumper?

Any M Sport owners out there that can show me their solutions?

I need to carry around 3 bikes, my Mountain bike, my wife's and my daughter's smaller bike.
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      11-19-2015, 09:10 AM   #2
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How about the oem X5 bike rack system? You will have to carry 2 up top and throw the smaller bike in the luggage compartment.
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      11-19-2015, 09:14 AM   #3
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I have four bikes to pack around. I purchased an OE BMW bike carrier that screws into the rear bumper recovery hook locations with two 10mm Allen bolts, and two OE roof carriers with OE cross bars. Bars new were $182 shipped on eBay, $140/pair for the roof bike attachments locally, and $250 locally for the recovery hook carrier.

I also have an Execuhitch setup, www.execuhitch.com. These hide completely behind/beneath the bumper and can be purchased with a bike carrier attachment. I remember seeing one for sale recently on the classifieds in fact. I believe it was advertised as a hidden hitch?

Good luck in your search!
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      11-19-2015, 09:34 AM   #4
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Take a look at this:

http://www.xbimmers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1193029
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      11-19-2015, 05:35 PM   #5
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Invisihitch install for a 2012 M-Sport

Here's the install pictures for the invisihitch on my 2012 M-Sport. Along with the Yakima Full Swing bike rack and Hitchski. Holds up to 4 bikes or 4 snowboards/pairs of skis with the Hitchski. Probably exactly what you're looking for. The invisihitch is great and I've towed our LeMons car with the ball mount for it.

https://goo.gl/photos/f31XFVKVBnGSSyoD8
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      11-19-2015, 05:53 PM   #6
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The bmw OE hitch should be good for you, and your daughters bike can go in the trunk.
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      11-20-2015, 11:34 AM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by hayaku88 View Post
Here's the install pictures for the invisihitch on my 2012 M-Sport. Along with the Yakima Full Swing bike rack and Hitchski. Holds up to 4 bikes or 4 snowboards/pairs of skis with the Hitchski. Probably exactly what you're looking for. The invisihitch is great and I've towed our LeMons car with the ball mount for it.

https://goo.gl/photos/f31XFVKVBnGSSyoD8
Thanks for the pics!
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      11-20-2015, 11:48 AM   #8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by oymd View Post
Hi all...

Having recently purchased an X5, I have been researching the best way to carry our bicycles around, and can't find any easy solutions?

My car is an 2012 E70 M Sport spec, and after thinking that I can simply fit a towbar, turns out that most towbars are NOT compatible with M Sport bumpers?

Is that right?

Some guys I called said that they wil need to CUT a chunk off the bumper?

Any M Sport owners out there that can show me their solutions?

I need to carry around 3 bikes, my Mountain bike, my wife's and my daughter's smaller bike.
I don't believe there are any easy/inexpensive solutions to carrying bikes on an/in an X5.

The OEM hitch requires a section of the rear bumper to be cut. Wouldn't be my choice but it doesn't bother everyone. Here's a pic of the OEM setup on an M Sport -


There's execuhitch or Curt if you want to do a hitch. The execuhitch is considerably more $ but you're able to remove the receiver when not in use.

Some people use the hitch that mounts into the rear tow hook, but I don't know much about that. Do they hold more than 2 bikes?

And for those that mention putting the kid bike inside, I guess if it's a real small bike… My girls are 8 and 10 and my 8 year olds bike would take up all the space back there (my older's daughter bike might fit with the seats folded down, but they where would she sit?). Maybe fine if it's a local bike ride but wouldn't work if we were heading camping, road trip, vacation and needed that space for gear.

I did the execuhitch. Very happy with it, but quite spendy for how little I've actually used it
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      11-20-2015, 06:10 PM   #9
oymd
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thanks everyone for all your replies...

very informative...

What I would like is a solution where there is NO CUTTING of the bumper?

Is that at all possible on the M Sport?

I'm a UK spec...so thought I'd attach a pic:

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      11-20-2015, 10:02 PM   #10
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Yes it's possible - only the OEM hitch setup requires bumper cutting.

Curt hitch - no cutting, receiver always showing/visible just below the bumper -


Execuhitch - no cutting, receiver removable, not visible when not in use. No need to post pics…it's not visible when not in use.
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      11-20-2015, 10:35 PM   #11
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Thanks - exact info I was looking for!
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      11-21-2015, 12:59 AM   #12
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see the pics I posted in the link in my prior post. You'll see that with the Execuhitch/Invisihitch, you do have to cut a little from the underside of the bumper, but it's not visible from the back.
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      11-21-2015, 10:21 AM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by hayaku88 View Post
see the pics I posted in the link in my prior post. You'll see that with the Execuhitch/Invisihitch, you do have to cut a little from the underside of the bumper, but it's not visible from the back.
Very true - I should have been more clear. Technically you do have to cut the bumper for the Execuhitch install but it's all the way underneath the bumper so you can't see it unless you get down low and look up under. I do think when people refer to bumper cutting for a hitch install, they're almost always referring to the OEM setup.
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