Towing w/X6

mdrobc13 · 05-24-2012, 10:14 PM

Am about to move to another state and want to use my X6 to tow items including my motorcycle and one of my vehicles. Have a 2010 X6 35idrive and its listed at max tow weight of 5008 lbs. Is this enough to tow or should I be worried using a Uhaul motorcylce carrier and also an auto carrier respectively? Anyone tow something similiar with their X6? I've heard/read about folks towing boats with their X5s especially the diesels but wasn't sure if my X6 was up to the job. Advice and comments are appreciated. Thanks Rob

GJM · 05-25-2012, 08:47 PM

mdrobc13,

We tow our boat with both the x5 & x6, both diesel. (boat weight 2500kg). As per safety and legal requirement I have fitted a variable electric brake control to each car. You wouldn't tow this weight without electric brakes and the trailer balanced correctly. Have done a few long trips, but now only short distances.
The firmer supsension of the x6 outperforms the x5. And the new 35d out performs the older 30d. We use a variable height hitch on the x6 due to the low attachment point.
The torque of the diesel is beneficial.

evanevery · 05-26-2012, 07:07 PM

The X6M has a 6000 Lb towing capacity (w/600 Lb tongue weight capacity). I expect the X6 is probably the same. You can see the pictures of the BMW X6M hitch that I posted a couple of days ago in a separate thread.

6000 Lb towing capacity is not insignificant. (My Infiniti FX45 only had a 3000 Lb capacity). There has to have been some forethought in designing the chassis for this type load...

I have not had the opportunity to tow anything yet. Even so, my only real towing job is with a 6x10 landscape trailer which I use for moving lumber, small vehicles (motorcycle, ATV, tractor), or misc boat equipment. I really don't expect to be pulling anything near 6000 Lbs, buts its nice to know I can if I need to...

Randy H · 07-17-2012, 09:08 PM

I have not towed with our X6 but did do some relatively short hauls with our '01 X5 3.0 5-Speed manual and it was a FANTASTIC tow vehicle hauling our 20', 4500 pound boat/trailer combo. The BMW integration for towing is impressive- things like a different signal flash pattern to remind/confirm hitch lights are working, automatically disabling the rear PDC, etc. Everything is just done... right. Another reason I love BMW's and dislike my '11 Explorer. Fingers crossed for an X7.

mdrobc13 · 07-21-2012, 03:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by evanevery

The X6M has a 6000 Lb towing capacity (w/600 Lb tongue weight capacity). I expect the X6 is probably the same. You can see the pictures of the BMW X6M hitch that I posted a couple of days ago in a separate thread.

6000 Lb towing capacity is not insignificant. (My Infiniti FX45 only had a 3000 Lb capacity). There has to have been some forethought in designing the chassis for this type load...

I have not had the opportunity to tow anything yet. Even so, my only real towing job is with a 6x10 landscape trailer which I use for moving lumber, small vehicles (motorcycle, ATV, tractor), or misc boat equipment. I really don't expect to be pulling anything near 6000 Lbs, buts its nice to know I can if I need to...

Yes it is quoted as a class 3 hitch with 6000 capacity. Not a minor thing indeed.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Randy H

I have not towed with our X6 but did do some relatively short hauls with our '01 X5 3.0 5-Speed manual and it was a FANTASTIC tow vehicle hauling our 20', 4500 pound boat/trailer combo. The BMW integration for towing is impressive- things like a different signal flash pattern to remind/confirm hitch lights are working, automatically disabling the rear PDC, etc. Everything is just done... right. Another reason I love BMW's and dislike my '11 Explorer. Fingers crossed for an X7.

Just towed my 09 Carrera from TX to WA with my X6. No problems what so-ever other than the 55mph speed limits in California or Oregon. X6 handled it great especially with it being a 35iDrive. A 50iDrive would have likely had an easier time but the hit in gas mileage would have sucked even more. I went from 13.6-14.2mph with full trailer and vehicle loaded to about 24 mpg w/out trailer/car after drop off. Only problem over 2300m was a failed right trailer brake light that my X6 notified me off about 2/3rd of the way (that also got me a stop by the CHP) which I blame on Uhaul's equipment..not my X6. It did fine..even going through some serious mountains (3200-4300 ft elevations).

ndabunka · 07-24-2012, 06:21 PM

5K or 6K is a LOT of trailer weight and like others said, a motorcycle (or even a pair of fully loaded touring bikes) is less than 2K so towing should NOT be an issue. Most higher-end SUV's will tow between 5K & 6K pretty easily. I towed a 5,500lb 29ft Formula boat with my old Lexus GX470 without even a hicup. I am hoping that the X6 i buy will do the same (although I no longer own the Formula, I DO have a Ness touring bike).

05-24-2012, 10:14 PM	#1
mdrobc13 Colonel 341 Rep 2,232 Posts Drives: Made in Bavaria Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: On a base somewhere near or afar! iTrader: (8) Garage List 2021 BMW X3e [0.00] 2016 BMW M4 [9.00]	Towing w/X6 Am about to move to another state and want to use my X6 to tow items including my motorcycle and one of my vehicles. Have a 2010 X6 35idrive and its listed at max tow weight of 5008 lbs. Is this enough to tow or should I be worried using a Uhaul motorcylce carrier and also an auto carrier respectively? Anyone tow something similiar with their X6? I've heard/read about folks towing boats with their X5s especially the diesels but wasn't sure if my X6 was up to the job. Advice and comments are appreciated. Thanks Rob __________________ '22 BMW M4 Comp (SSG/Black) '16 BMW M4 (Shakir Orange/Black) - gone not forgotten '15 BMW M3 (Black/Black) - gone not forgotten '10 BMW X5M (Black/Black) - gone not forgotten '08 BMW M3 (Space Gray/Black) - gone not forgotten
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05-25-2012, 08:47 PM	#2
GJM Xdrive 0 Rep 79 Posts Drives: X6 35d/X5 3d Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Melbourne AUS iTrader: (0)	mdrobc13, We tow our boat with both the x5 & x6, both diesel. (boat weight 2500kg). As per safety and legal requirement I have fitted a variable electric brake control to each car. You wouldn't tow this weight without electric brakes and the trailer balanced correctly. Have done a few long trips, but now only short distances. The firmer supsension of the x6 outperforms the x5. And the new 35d out performs the older 30d. We use a variable height hitch on the x6 due to the low attachment point. The torque of the diesel is beneficial. __________________ gjm
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05-26-2012, 07:07 PM	#3
evanevery Lieutenant Colonel 1113 Rep 1,904 Posts Drives: iXM60, i8 Rdstr, M4, i7 M70 Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Wisconsin iTrader: (0)	The X6M has a 6000 Lb towing capacity (w/600 Lb tongue weight capacity). I expect the X6 is probably the same. You can see the pictures of the BMW X6M hitch that I posted a couple of days ago in a separate thread. 6000 Lb towing capacity is not insignificant. (My Infiniti FX45 only had a 3000 Lb capacity). There has to have been some forethought in designing the chassis for this type load... I have not had the opportunity to tow anything yet. Even so, my only real towing job is with a 6x10 landscape trailer which I use for moving lumber, small vehicles (motorcycle, ATV, tractor), or misc boat equipment. I really don't expect to be pulling anything near 6000 Lbs, buts its nice to know I can if I need to...
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07-17-2012, 09:08 PM	#4
Randy H New Member 0 Rep 6 Posts Drives: 2010 X6 3.5 Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Michigan iTrader: (0)	I have not towed with our X6 but did do some relatively short hauls with our '01 X5 3.0 5-Speed manual and it was a FANTASTIC tow vehicle hauling our 20', 4500 pound boat/trailer combo. The BMW integration for towing is impressive- things like a different signal flash pattern to remind/confirm hitch lights are working, automatically disabling the rear PDC, etc. Everything is just done... right. Another reason I love BMW's and dislike my '11 Explorer. Fingers crossed for an X7.
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07-24-2012, 06:21 PM	#6
ndabunka Private First Class 3 Rep 118 Posts Drives: 2012 X5 35d Sport Black/Black Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Charlotte, NC iTrader: (0)	5K or 6K is a LOT of trailer weight and like others said, a motorcycle (or even a pair of fully loaded touring bikes) is less than 2K so towing should NOT be an issue. Most higher-end SUV's will tow between 5K & 6K pretty easily. I towed a 5,500lb 29ft Formula boat with my old Lexus GX470 without even a hicup. I am hoping that the X6 i buy will do the same (although I no longer own the Formula, I DO have a Ness touring bike).
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