My tow hitch installed

[Hal8888]

For those who are interested in what an oem hitch looks like on an E70 with M package here it is.
I still need to trim the black plastic insert as it hits the top of the hitch a little.

[jiggz]

Hmm, did you research the other hitch options for the E70? The OEM option includes cutting the bumper as seen in your pic, which messes up the lines of the beautiful M Sport rear bumper.

There's several other hitch options that don't involve cutting up the bumper. Execuhitch is the best option IMO - totally hidden/no bumper cutting. Curt is another option that doesn't involve cutting the bumper, though the receiver is showing all the time whereas Execuhitch is still hidden.

Functionally speaking I'm sure it's great! But aesthetically there are better options...

[serge1]

OP, sorry to see you ruin such beautiful bumper by having to cut it, only to tow a few times a year.
Should have gone with Execuhitch. For $1,000 total (including bmw harness and coding), it would have been slightly pricier but better option overall for your bumper.

[Thecastle]

Lol, people don’t add hitches for estethic purposes, they add them to tow.

The execuhitch isn’t a good option for many actual towing duties. It’s design will not allow you to use anti sway, weight distribution or variable drop shanks. Which if your actually towing mod than bikes you’ll likely want. If you stick with light weight trailers it will work.

I have the oem hitch on my x5m for towing a travel trailer. I use a weight distribution anti sway hitch on mine. It’s really not a big deal to add a cut for an actual receiver hitch, once you get used to it..... the x5 makes a great tow vehicle, though I would like a bit stiffer suspension, and a bit more payload capacity.

[Hal8888]

I actually like the way it looks, makes it look rugged imo.
Plus I wanted to be able to tow something heavy if I have to. $1000 for a hitch seems way too high. I had the oem installed and coded by a indy shop all for $650

[jiggz]

Originally Posted by Thecastle

Lol, people don’t add hitches for estethic purposes, they add them to tow.

The execuhitch isn’t a good option for many actual towing duties. It’s design will not allow you to use anti sway, weight distribution or variable drop shanks. Which if your actually towing mod than bikes you’ll likely want. If you stick with light weight trailers it will work.

I have the oem hitch on my x5m for towing a travel trailer. I use a weight distribution anti sway hitch on mine. It’s really not a big deal to add a cut for an actual receiver hitch, once you get used to it..... the x5 makes a great tow vehicle, though I would like a bit stiffer suspension, and a bit more payload capacity.

Aesthetics are super important to me

There's members on here who've towed some considerable weight with an Execuhitch, but yes the OEM or Curt seem to be more popular if hauling bigger loads.

Mine is a bike rack version Only $625 as I recall since I didn't need any wiring harness.

Originally Posted by Hal8888

I actually like the way it looks, makes it look rugged imo.
Plus I wanted to be able to tow something heavy if I have to. $1000 for a hitch seems way too high. I had the poem installed and coded by a indy shop all for $650

Great price for parts, install, and coding!

[WuCreW]

Damn sorry to hear another member did this to their X5. I bought my X5 with en OEM hitch installed and I hated how it was cut into the bumper.

Lucky for me I got rear ended (only bumper and hitch damage) and I got them to replace the bumper and install me an aftermarket hitch that wouldn't have to be cut into the bumper. Match better looking and towing is the same I just dont get why some people dont search before they do this install and see there are better options.

Oh well, to each their own.

[Hal8888]

Doesn't bother me at all, ea his own. And i did do search it for a long time.

[Thecastle]

Believe it or not, last time I looked to buy a used x5, having a tow hitch already installed was a feature I wanted. Adding it to an x5 is fairly expensive, and it does increase your resale value at trade in. It’s an option they take into account, at nada, kbb, etc.

I totally get the idea of not cutting the bumper and not towing. But the x5 really does make a very good tow vehicle, and it’s a small sacrifice for great towing. It’s unfortunate that bmw didn’t make hitch mounting points and a bumper design that didn’t require cutting. I have had hitches on every vehicle recently as we like biking and use a hitch mounted bike rack. Hidden hitch makes some great receiver hitches for the gti. I have a hitch on my 335d that didn’t require cutting, but it was a pain to install. It’s too bad Bmw didn’t design an access door to hide the receiver , or better mount points to accommodate a hidden hitch.

I’d say towing on the x5 is well thought out, with anti say, backup sensor disabled, etc. but it’s clearly not as well thought out as the latest from gm, Ford, etc. But with the Americans your stuck driving an ancient body on frame vehicle, that has less structural rigidity than a convertible and is constantly shaking, shimmying. Also pickups have lower tongue weight rating than the x5 ironically., with their supposedly stronger frames.
https://www.ford.com/resources/ford/..._F150_Sep7.pdf

[Bdeanr]

I just installed OEM unit on my 2012 X5d. This included OEM wire harness. All trailer lights work without recoding. Does anyone know for a fact what the coding does?
By the way, you hitch looks very manly!