[tooloud10]

Originally Posted by hotvee

X5 is not a proper vehicle for towing or even for mounting a bike rack.

Agreed on the towing but there's no reason you can't use a bike rack on the X5. I actually find it ideal because I can fold the rack up when not in use and still open the top part of the hatch.

Sooner or later you will scratch your rear door with either a bike or a rack, which you will regret. Not to mention carrying a bike inside.

That seems like an odd concern. I can't say that I've scratched my car with a bike, nor would I lose any sleep if I did.

Better buy a truck for such tasks.

I have one of those and it isn't nearly as convenient for carrying my bikes.

[eelnoraa]

Ideally, with unlimited resources, i will have a 30 cars, and a 30 car garage too. Each car has its specific purpose. Hmm why not a couple drivers too. Heck, why stop at car, add jet and space shuttle. Hmm … need to start printing money at home.

[kcpdmp]

Climate Package Yes
Exec Package No
Trailer Hitch Yes

M Sport Package yes, but you might need to change the color from Blue Ridge Mountain. I was trying to build online and when I picked the Blue Ridge Mountain extcolor it would not let me select the M Sport Package

[aussieintexas]

Originally Posted by hotvee

The only issue with tow hitch in G05 is it removes kick opener for tailgate. I use this feature a lot and from my point of view, X5 is not a proper vehicle for towing or even for mounting a bike rack. Sooner or later you will scratch your rear door with either a bike or a rack, which you will regret. Not to mention carrying a bike inside. Better buy a truck for such tasks.

Totally disagree on the X5 not being a proper vehicle for towing. It tows great. 7,500 pounds if I’m not mistaken. There’s a whole towing thread. Go check it out.
https://g05.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh....php?t=1728373

[hotvee]

Originally Posted by aussieintexas

Totally disagree on the X5 not being a proper vehicle for towing. It tows great. 7,500 pounds if I’m not mistaken. There’s a whole towing thread. Go check it out.
https://g05.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh....php?t=1728373

From my point of view this is not a proper vehicle for towing because there are indisputable facts. You're limited to 7,200 fully loaded and 550 of tongue weight, which is significantly less than a pickup truck. X5 is not a body-on-frame vehicle with a hitch attached to it and a robust rear suspension capable of withstanding high loads. You also would need an engine with a lot of low torque, preferably a diesel. It also lacks other features such as integrated brake control. Therefore, in my understanding, towing with an X5 is the same as walking through mud in white sneakers. That is, you can do it, but why and should you? This is a luxury performance SUV for better on-road experience, and it wasn’t primarily designed for towing.

[aussieintexas]

Originally Posted by hotvee

From my point of view this is not a proper vehicle for towing because there are indisputable facts. You're limited to 7,200 fully loaded and 550 of tongue weight, which is significantly less than a pickup truck. X5 is not a body-on-frame vehicle with a hitch attached to it and a robust rear suspension capable of withstanding high loads. You also would need an engine with a lot of low torque, preferably a diesel. It also lacks other features such as integrated brake control. Therefore, in my understanding, towing with an X5 is the same as walking through mud in white sneakers. That is, you can do it, but why and should you? This is a luxury performance SUV for better on-road experience, and it wasn’t primarily designed for towing.

Well depends on what you want to tow. I have towed for many years with our X5’s and it does a fantastic job. It suits what I need and I am towing in comfort and safely. Obviously if you are towing heavy duty that is outside the vehicle specs get a truck. From a safety perspective the trailer stabilisation is excellent as well. I had a blowout on the trailer and it did a fantastic job of slowing and adjusting for the sway. Each to their own and your opinions are also valid.
This is what I am towing and it works great - don’t have photos of the G05 45e or M60 towing it but are even better. I can cruise at 80 very comfortably with this setup.

[djohn]

Originally Posted by hotvee

From my point of view this is not a proper vehicle for towing because there are indisputable facts. You're limited to 7,200 fully loaded and 550 of tongue weight, which is significantly less than a pickup truck. X5 is not a body-on-frame vehicle with a hitch attached to it and a robust rear suspension capable of withstanding high loads. You also would need an engine with a lot of low torque, preferably a diesel. It also lacks other features such as integrated brake control. Therefore, in my understanding, towing with an X5 is the same as walking through mud in white sneakers. That is, you can do it, but why and should you? This is a luxury performance SUV for better on-road experience, and it wasn’t primarily designed for towing.

Your understanding is wrong. Unibody has come a long way in the past 20 or 30 years (people used to say this when I had a Grand Cherokee, because it's also a unibody, but they said it much less often). Lacking a brake control: that's why you install one! Torque: even the I6 makes 332 ft-lb. Suspension: get the dual-axle air. Diesels are dead - you can't even find someone to work on them. Really sounds like you just don't tow.

[BruinMan]

Originally Posted by hotvee

From my point of view this is not a proper vehicle for towing because there are indisputable facts. You're limited to 7,200 fully loaded and 550 of tongue weight, which is significantly less than a pickup truck. X5 is not a body-on-frame vehicle with a hitch attached to it and a robust rear suspension capable of withstanding high loads. You also would need an engine with a lot of low torque, preferably a diesel. It also lacks other features such as integrated brake control. Therefore, in my understanding, towing with an X5 is the same as walking through mud in white sneakers. That is, you can do it, but why and should you? This is a luxury performance SUV for better on-road experience, and it wasn’t primarily designed for towing.

Really not sure why you would post misleading information about the X5 not being a good fit to tow.

[hotvee]

Originally Posted by djohn

Your understanding is wrong. Unibody has come a long way in the past 20 or 30 years (people used to say this when I had a Grand Cherokee, because it's also a unibody, but they said it much less often). Lacking a brake control: that's why you install one! Torque: even the I6 makes 332 ft-lb. Suspension: get the dual-axle air. Diesels are dead - you can't even find someone to work on them. Really sounds like you just don't tow.

I appreciate your perspective, but I stand by my understanding. Body-on-frame vehicles undeniably have stronger chassis, offering better towing capabilities. The distinction is clear. Aftermarket brake controllers might serve a purpose for somebody, but they can't match OEM systems that integrate seamlessly with the vehicle's native brake and stability systems. Plus, not everyone wants to deal with installation mess. Regarding torque, B58 engine does produce 332 ft-lb, but it's not the sole benchmark for towing capability. Look at BMW's B57 l6 diesel in the X5 30d, making nearly 500 ft-lb. Even Ford's gasoline engines like the 2.7 V6 and 3.5 V6 exceed this figure significantly. As for dual-axle air suspension, it may offer some leveling support, but its complexity and reliability concerns raise questions about its efficiency in withstanding heavy loads. X5 transfer cases are not designed for heavy and frequent towing either, they can worn out in less than 50K miles of just normal usage.
Diesels are dead, huh? The trucking industry heavily relies on diesel engines, and while their presence in the passenger car market in the US has diminished, they remain presence in EU. All other things being equal, a diesel engine is more capable than a gasoline one when it comes to towing.
I wouldn't buy X5 if I had to tow. Simple as that.

Originally Posted by BruinMan

Really not sure why you would post misleading information about the X5 not being a good fit to tow.

What do you mean "misleading"? This is my personal opinion based on facts I mentioned. You may have the different one. My point is luxury performance SUVs like the X5 aren't primarily designed for towing, a fact evident in their marketing and feature prioritization. Take a look at the BMW X5 webpage or brochures - towing isn't a focal point. In most cases, people don't buy them to tow around and they don't even have factory hitch. It's about acknowledging a vehicle's intended purpose and making rational decisions accordingly.

[djohn]

I made a very general statement about diesels. Of course, they will continue for a long time in trucking. I do agree with that.