Tow Hitch Install on G05

JMD · 06-09-2022, 10:04 AM

Anyone here know of someone that installed an OEM tow-hitch on a G05 X5?

I've installed an OEM tow-hitch in 2003 E53 X5 (4.6is),....and uninstalled it from the same,...and installed it in a 2005 X5 4.8is.

I was just wondering if the G05 job is harder than E53!

Chk_ris · 06-10-2022, 08:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JMD

Anyone here know of someone that installed an OEM tow-hitch on a G05 X5?

I've installed an OEM tow-hitch in 2003 E53 X5 (4.6is),....and uninstalled it the same,...and installed it in a 2005 X5 4.8is.

I was just wondering if the G05 job is harder for the G05!

I have been looking at doing this but it seems to be very labor intensive to get the OEM hitch installed. This seems to be especially true if you are trying to use the OEM wiring harness.

I am looking at the Stealth hitch which is 1k plus labor ~$700 from Rack Attack. I thought about doing it myself but the estimated install time of 6 hours is not worth it for me. I realize I will have to get the backup/proximity sensors coded off so they don’t go crazy when I have something on the hitch. I wish BMW offered the hitch from the factory when I ordered the car.

JMD · 06-11-2022, 07:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Doc.c.liu

I have been looking at doing this but it seems to be very labor intensive to get the OEM hitch installed. This seems to be especially true if you are trying to use the OEM wiring harness.

I am looking at the Stealth hitch which is 1k plus labor ~$700 from Rack Attack. I thought about doing it myself but the estimated install time of 6 hours is not worth it for me. I realize I will have to get the backup/proximity sensors coded off so they don’t go crazy when I have something on the hitch. I wish BMW offered the hitch from the factory when I ordered the car.

Cool. However, looking back, it took me about 4 hours to install on my E53 X5 4.6is / 4.8is by myself. If I have to do it again,...and had a second set of hands,...it would literally take about 2.5 hours max since the learning curve has been crossed. All in all,...I watched one YT vid prior to taking on the job,...also, the OEM wiring harness is about as Plug 'n Play as one can get. I had zero issues with it.

Chk_ris · 06-11-2022, 07:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JMD

Quote:

Originally Posted by Doc.c.liu

I have been looking at doing this but it seems to be very labor intensive to get the OEM hitch installed. This seems to be especially true if you are trying to use the OEM wiring harness.

I am looking at the Stealth hitch which is 1k plus labor ~$700 from Rack Attack. I thought about doing it myself but the estimated install time of 6 hours is not worth it for me. I realize I will have to get the backup/proximity sensors coded off so they don't go crazy when I have something on the hitch. I wish BMW offered the hitch from the factory when I ordered the car.

Cool. However, looking back, it took me about 4 hours to install on my E53 X5 4.6is / 4.8is by myself. If I have to do it again,...and had a second set of hands,...it would literally take about 2.5 hours max since the learning curve has been crossed. All in all,...I watched one YT vid prior to taking on the job,...also, the OEM wiring harness is about as Plug 'n Play as one can get. I had zero issues with it.

If you try to take this on, please take some photos for me. I would really appreciate it.

Here are the installation instructions I found online.

https://rparts-sites.s3.amazonaws.co...STRUCTIONS.PDF

JMD · 06-11-2022, 10:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Doc.c.liu

If you try to take this on, please take some photos for me. I would really appreciate it.

Here are the installation instructions I found online.

https://rparts-sites.s3.amazonaws.co...STRUCTIONS.PDF

Thank you,....will most certainly do.

Bking60 · 06-12-2022, 11:46 AM

We installed a Stealth hitch on ours the first few months of owning it. We have ebikes so just using it for a heavy duty bike rack. I thought the hitch was going to lay over the rear bumper bolts but to our surprise the whole rear structure comes out and the rack goes in place of it. Definitely need two people to prevent scratching something. It's not that hard but you need to tighten the main nuts very tight. We saved the bumper structure removed and the pictorial instructions. Its invisible except if you look close the silver metal shield underneath had to be cut out to make room for your hand when activating the lever. I'm planning to paint that shield black but its been 3 years so probably not.

Looked at the BMW retrofit instructions on here and whoa. Looks like too much work.

Chk_ris · 06-12-2022, 10:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JMD

Quote:

Originally Posted by Doc.c.liu

If you try to take this on, please take some photos for me. I would really appreciate it.

Here are the installation instructions I found online.

https://rparts-sites.s3.amazonaws.co...STRUCTIONS.PDF

Thank you,....will most certainly do.

I am wanting to get the oem harness but did not find the pigtail in the trunk as shown in this video.

ixm3 · 07-05-2022, 09:33 PM

Just had the dealer do this install on our G05. Was $3k for all the parts, labor, and coding.
Having owned previous gen X5's, this seems to get more expensive every passing generation.

JMD · 07-06-2022, 10:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ixm3

Just had the dealer do this install on our G05. Was $3k for all the parts, labor, and coding.
Having owned previous gen X5's, this seems to get more expensive every passing generation.

That's a lot of dough for a hitch! They should take the GM/Ford approach,...and add towing capability on all SAVs!
:-(

I2P · 07-15-2022, 01:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ixm3

Just had the dealer do this install on our G05. Was $3k for all the parts, labor, and coding.
Having owned previous gen X5's, this seems to get more expensive every passing generation.

What year and model of X5 did you have the dealer install it?
Do you have part numbers if it is for a 2022 model X5 xDrive40i?

ixm3 · 07-24-2022, 01:24 PM

Had the installation done on a 2020 X5 xdrive 4.0
Can post part#s, np.

PnJ · 09-12-2022, 09:14 PM

Hi all, brand new owner of a 2022 xDrive 40i with M Sport package. Reading a lot about the stealth hitches. My local dealer told me $1,050 in labor to install it, and I buy the hitch. Thats about $2k all in - Holy xxxx! Has anyone found this to be typical? It doesnt appear there are any other aftermarket hitches will keep the integrity of all other functions of the BMW? Thx for all replies!

kennewman · 09-04-2023, 12:11 PM

I got a StealthHitch for my previous X5, a 2014….had it installed by a local BMW shop….I think the total cost was in the $2k range…and StealthHitch paid for the coding that was required…and the coding guy did some more coding for no additional charge.
The hitch was fantastic, and of course didn’t change the look of the X5 when it wasn’t mounted….
My new (to me) 2021 X5 came with a factory tow hitch, so I won’t be going the SteathHitch route again, but I highly recommend it!

JMD · 09-04-2023, 01:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kennewman

I got a StealthHitch for my previous X5, a 2014….had it installed by a local BMW shop….I think the total cost was in the $2k range…and StealthHitch paid for the coding that was required…and the coding guy did some more coding for no additional charge.
The hitch was fantastic, and of course didn’t change the look of the X5 when it wasn’t mounted….
My new (to me) 2021 X5 came with a factory tow hitch, so I won’t be going the SteathHitch route again, but I highly recommend it!

Ty. If I go the factory route,...I'd do myself,...as it can't be that much harder to do over installing a tow hitch on an E53,...which I've done twice.

Thank you all the same...

mlurker · 09-16-2023, 06:47 PM

It took me about 3 hours to install a StealthHitch, the complicated part was to remove and put back rear bumper alone, with 2 it's a much easier process.

JMD · 09-18-2023, 10:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mlurker

It took me about 3 hours to install a StealthHitch, the complicated part was to remove and put back rear bumper alone, with 2 it's a much easier process.

Thank you...

06-09-2022, 10:04 AM	#1
JMD MGySgt 637 Rep 1,256 Posts Drives: See Garage List! ;-) Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: NORVA iTrader: (0) Garage List 2010 M5 [10.00] 2016 BMW 340xi M Sport [9.00] 2019 X5 50i M Sport [5.50] 2010 535xi [0.00] 2013 M5 [0.00] 2012 X5 M [0.00]	Tow Hitch Install on G05 Anyone here know of someone that installed an OEM tow-hitch on a G05 X5? I've installed an OEM tow-hitch in 2003 E53 X5 (4.6is),....and uninstalled it from the same,...and installed it in a 2005 X5 4.8is. I was just wondering if the G05 job is harder than E53! __________________ JMD Last edited by JMD; 01-31-2024 at 02:17 PM.. Reason: Edited for better read.
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06-12-2022, 11:46 AM	#6
Bking60 Private First Class 82 Rep 176 Posts Drives: BMW X5 2019 Join Date: Sep 2020 Location: SC iTrader: (0)	We installed a Stealth hitch on ours the first few months of owning it. We have ebikes so just using it for a heavy duty bike rack. I thought the hitch was going to lay over the rear bumper bolts but to our surprise the whole rear structure comes out and the rack goes in place of it. Definitely need two people to prevent scratching something. It's not that hard but you need to tighten the main nuts very tight. We saved the bumper structure removed and the pictorial instructions. Its invisible except if you look close the silver metal shield underneath had to be cut out to make room for your hand when activating the lever. I'm planning to paint that shield black but its been 3 years so probably not. Looked at the BMW retrofit instructions on here and whoa. Looks like too much work. Last edited by Bking60; 06-12-2022 at 11:52 AM..
	Appreciate 1 Chk_ris31.50 Quote

07-05-2022, 09:33 PM	#8
ixm3 Lieutenant 78 Rep 533 Posts Drives: M3x2 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: DE iTrader: (11)	Just had the dealer do this install on our G05. Was $3k for all the parts, labor, and coding. Having owned previous gen X5's, this seems to get more expensive every passing generation.
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07-24-2022, 01:24 PM	#11
ixm3 Lieutenant 78 Rep 533 Posts Drives: M3x2 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: DE iTrader: (11)	Had the installation done on a 2020 X5 xdrive 4.0 Can post part#s, np.
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09-12-2022, 09:14 PM	#12
PnJ New Member 3 Rep 16 Posts Drives: x5 40i Join Date: Sep 2022 Location: Vermont iTrader: (0)	Hi all, brand new owner of a 2022 xDrive 40i with M Sport package. Reading a lot about the stealth hitches. My local dealer told me $1,050 in labor to install it, and I buy the hitch. Thats about $2k all in - Holy xxxx! Has anyone found this to be typical? It doesnt appear there are any other aftermarket hitches will keep the integrity of all other functions of the BMW? Thx for all replies!
	Appreciate 0 Quote

09-04-2023, 12:11 PM	#13
kennewman BMW fan 0 Rep 13 Posts Drives: 2021 X5 xDrive 45e Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Thousand Oaks, CA iTrader: (0) Garage List 2002 BMW 325ci [0.00] 2021 BMW X5 xDrive45e [0.00]	I got a StealthHitch for my previous X5, a 2014….had it installed by a local BMW shop….I think the total cost was in the $2k range…and StealthHitch paid for the coding that was required…and the coding guy did some more coding for no additional charge. The hitch was fantastic, and of course didn’t change the look of the X5 when it wasn’t mounted…. My new (to me) 2021 X5 came with a factory tow hitch, so I won’t be going the SteathHitch route again, but I highly recommend it!
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09-16-2023, 06:47 PM	#15
mlurker First Lieutenant 146 Rep 337 Posts Drives: BMW G05 X5 45e Join Date: Aug 2021 Location: Houston, Texas iTrader: (0)	It took me about 3 hours to install a StealthHitch, the complicated part was to remove and put back rear bumper alone, with 2 it's a much easier process.
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