X5D Towing

[rickyboycz]

So I'm at a crossroad. My plan is to start attending out of state HPDE's a few times a year. I want to tow my M3 with the X5D instead of driving it out to the event (any where from 500 to 1200 miles one way). I have read many threads related to X5D towing capabilities and trying to figure out if it is safe. Some threads seem to lean towards the thinking that short distance towing would be okay, but long distance towing not a good idea.

I'm hoping some of you have experience towing a car/heavy load long distances with your X5 and would love to hear your feedback.

I'm contemplating selling my X5D and getting a different daily driver that I can occasionally tow with. The X5 is awesome and I'd prefer to keep it, but concerned that it might not be a good idea.

[askjeeves]

Originally Posted by rickyboycz

So I'm at a crossroad. My plan is to start attending out of state HPDE's a few times a year. I want to tow my M3 with the X5D instead of driving it out to the event (any where from 500 to 1200 miles one way). I have read many threads related to X5D towing capabilities and trying to figure out if it is safe. Some threads seem to lean towards the thinking that short distance towing would be okay, but long distance towing not a good idea.

I'm hoping some of you have experience towing a car/heavy load long distances with your X5 and would love to hear your feedback.

I'm contemplating selling my X5D and getting a different daily driver that I can occasionally tow with. The X5 is awesome and I'd prefer to keep it, but concerned that it might not be a good idea.

I've towed a few times with my x5m now with no problems. Can't imagine it would be much different with the diesel. I've been towing an open uhaul trailer + my 330. Total weight is about 5,000 lbs.

[amgraham]

I pull a 23' travel trailer with my x35d. Pulls like a champ. Weighs about 4400 empty and it's pretty light on the tongue. A bit less than the typical 10%-ish. I don't haul with full tanks and try to distribute the load so as to keep a safe weight on the hitch but not too much. I figure I'm at least 5000 loaded, probably close to 5500 sometimes. You would probably be a little over 5000, depending on the trailer weight. Assuming you'd use an open trailer, you wouldn't have nearly the frontal area either.

I don't get much sway or porpoise-ing at all. Pulls up long grades through the mountains at 65-70 easy, only drops to 5th, but the mileage drops to 13-14 if I'm pushing it through hilly terrain.

We take it camping at campgrounds but also do MidOhio and Watkins Glen too... Invariably somebody comments... You're pulling *that* with *that*? I didn't want a pickup as it won't fit in my garage so my options were X5, Durango, Q7, Tahoe, Q7, etc.

[rickyboycz]

Excellent info thus far...thanks

amgraham, do you use tow assistance devices like anti-sway add on items and such? (sorry if my description is incorrect)

My current plan would be to rent a uhaul auto transport (2k lbs approx) to haul my car (3200 lbs approx). I guess the tongue weight will be key as I'd be limited on how I can position my car on the trailer.

Regards

[Thecastle]

There is a long thread on towing experiences here;

https://xoutpost.com/bmw-sav-forums/...l-economy.html

I've towed thousands of miles in both X5's I've owned and they are fantastic tow vehicles, great ride, breaks, and handle well. My current X5M just went on a 3000 mile tow to colorado 2 weeks ago. My biggest issue with X5's as a towing vehicle is they just tend to break down a lot, not related to towing, but things like alternators, oil leaks, sensors, plastic engine components disintegrating resulting in limp mode. Yes my X5M broke down and spent a week in boulder while in vacation for bad filtered air duct and a manifold pressure sensor which werent repaired and had to drive 1200 miles in limp dick mode managing only 27 mph up the raton pace on i-25 while towing. Very sad.

So the X5 is a fine tow vehicle, but you need to do a lot of preventative maintenance, if you want to do long distance towing without break downs. These are really getting to be old cars now, the newest E70 Diesels are nearly 6 and some are nearly 10 years old now. They are good engines, but need tlc to be reliable. Trucks are no better, its just the nature of aging vehicles.

I own a diesel as well, replace the thermostat, vacuum lines, block the egr etc. to get it more reliable. I just replaced the A/C compressor and condensor, these seem to fail at around 7 years of age, and the alternators are about every 45K for me on an X5.

Anti-Sway is never a bad idea especially when you have a tall and long trailer.

I tow with a weight distribution anti-sway hitch.

I've towed way over the maximum tongue weight without issues, didn't know I was 400lbs above the rear axel maximum until I decided to weight the rig at a cat scale.

[RichardR0404]

just fyi mine can tow a 9000lbs trailer without the truck snap in half..... try at your own risk

[Thecastle]

The problem with overloading a vehicle and exceeding your tow ratings isn’t that you can’t do it and your car while magically explode.

It’s liability.

If you have an accident and you have overloaded your vehicle beyond it’s specificed tow ratings your insurance company can choose to drop coverage, and or you can be found partially liable for the accident. Ask truckers about over loading their vehicles..

Anyway, the x5 will tow way in excess of its ratings without short term problems seen that myself. But it’s not a good idea for safety reasons, and it’s quiet easy to overload a vehicle. My x5m has a payload capacity of 1100lbs about what a Ford F-150 has (1400 in crew cab). You put a 700 lbs tongue weight trailer on, a 240lb passenger and a 130lbs passenger your at 1070lbs. Which means a dog, purse and some snacks and a blanket and your overweight for towing. Which is easy to do.

The thing to watch is tire inflation pressures, as the rear axel weight max is 3500lbs, and the tires I have are good for 2300lbs each at 50psi. So having your tires under inflated when pushing 4000lbs on the rear axel like I have and your asking for a blow out.

Just mentioning that light duty pickups really aren’t that much more capable.

[s65m3fan]

I’ve been towing with my ‘13 X5D for a few years now with great success. I tow my E92 M3 on a Trailex trailer. About 4700 lbs. I had the Invisihitch installed instead of the factory hitch and I like it much better. Using the BMW trailer control module and made a wiring harness. Routed it along the same path as the factory, but I brought it up through the ash tray so I didn’t have to give up a cup holder. When I need to tow, I have a Tekonsha P3 mounted to a Ram cup holder mount that’s perfect for holding it in the right cup holder. All disappears when I’m done.

[socale39]

I’ve towed everything from vehicles to tons of rock, sand and pavers without issue. Whoever said long distances is less safe doesn’t know what they are talking about in my opinion. My thought on this is that short distances within the city would mean more stop and go which is more tugging and pulling. If I’m driving a long distance, say on a highway, there’s going to be less of that and a lot more consistent pressure on the hitch.

Either way I think you are fine.