E70 X5M Stealth Hitch with CF Diffuser

[jandref321]

Gents,

I'll need to be towing a trailer here in a couple weeks so I looked around for the best one that will let me keep my Vorsteiner CF Diffuser. I saw one picture that showed a guy trying to install an execuhitch and he mentioned that the bumper would need to be trimmed. I thought maybe only cut off the little bit that extends toward the front of the truck. I ended up ordering a similar design: the Stealth Hitch and did the install this week. It turned out to be much more cutting than expected. I think the finished product still looks great and isn't noticeable.







A few notes from the install:
1) The directions that come with the kit are great, but are generic to the E70 and display a single piece bumper cover while the X5M has a 3 piece that comes apart differently...Same basic concept though so the instructions still work.

2) The wiring seem daunting, but again, just follow the directions step by step and super easy.

3) I was surprised though, that this system completely replaced the stock impact bar (metal bumper). Other systems that I have seen have the hitch slide on and then the impact bar slide on over top, but this one deletes the impact bar entirely. I don't really like that because the impact bar actually went all the way back to the bumper cover, but the hitch only parallels the body and is several inches from the bumper cover. The impact bar is thin steel an meant to bend though, so doesn't really provide much more protection. The big negative on this replacement is that the impact bar has the tow points on it and the hitch does not replace those. You would not be able to say, winch the truck out of somewhere from the rear.

4) Also, be careful while pulling the bumper cover off when you have parking sensors...I unplugged mine, but didn't realize that two of them actually go through the impact bar. The wiring doesn't snag, but the angle I took the cover off knocked off one of my sensors...I had to epoxy the sensor mount back onto the bumper cover.

Here are some pics of installed hitch and cutting the bumper cover:








A note on bumper cutting: The first pic shows a small cutting wheel, I ended up using a much larger one that could reach through both layers. Cutting the carbon fiber was easy, the plastic bumper underneath was the hard part. I had to go back and forth cutting outside and inside. The big pain was that I test fit several times cutting as little as possible then I had a nice CF cover for the center fin and epoxy sealed the electrical cutout... ...as soon as I did the final install I realized I had to cut a lot more. You actually have to have the bumper completely installed before you realize the full extent of cutting required. That made my nice CF piece meant to cover the fin hole a piece of garbage. The hitch ball attachment does not move, period, so the small gap between the attachment and the bumper cover (3-5mm) doesn't pose a problem.

[pearlpower]

Looks good, I do not have a rear diffuser, nor do I plan on getting one. Without the diffuser it appears this is a fairly straight bolt-on product. I would like a hitch on the X5M to tow my track car.

[boneca]

as much as tow hook takes away from the look, in this case it does look well put, especially matching to the exhaust tips

did u look at the retractable options?

[pearlpower]

Originally Posted by boneca

as much as tow hook takes away from the look, in this case it does look well put, especially matching to the exhaust tips

did u look at the retractable options?

I have been looking at this one, just searching for any reviews, and want to ensure I am not losing any towing capacity.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_c...&v=4vAKnHQedIY

https://stealthhitches.com/products/...2011-2012-2013

[mhkm]

Originally Posted by pearlpower

I have been looking at this one, just searching for any reviews, and want to ensure I am not losing any towing capacity.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_c...;v=4vAKnHQedIY

https://stealthhitches.com/products/...2011-2012-2013

I installed the OEM electric retractable hitch on my 2013 X5M.
Works great and no cutting whatsoever.

[pjfox23]

Originally Posted by mhkm

I installed the OEM electric retractable hitch on my 2013 X5M.
Works great and no cutting whatsoever.

Any part number? Thanks.

[quick]

Originally Posted by mhkm

I installed the OEM electric retractable hitch on my 2013 X5M.
Works great and no cutting whatsoever.

any pictures?