[Auricom]

Originally Posted by X5 45e

First sandstone M I see. I didn't know this used to be available. I thought it was only on x line models. Looks great with the black wheels.

Ja, C1N Sunstone Metallic was one of the first P1 paints available with the G05 launch, followed by other P1 Individual paints:

X03 Ruby Black Metallic - very rare, later deleted
X13 Pyrite Brown - don't recall seeing any delivered, later deleted
X1B Ametrin Metallic - rare and still available




I was very tempted to purchase this MY19 G05 in RBM with Tartufo Merino over a year ago.

[ADK-X5]

It's the 18RBE. Lightest tongue weight of the GDs. And just the right size for me.

Originally Posted by WhereItsAt

What GD Imagine XLS Model is that?

[ADK-X5]

The grill is black, too. Looks sharp!

I ordered mine in August or September of '18 and took delivery in December. I really wanted something in matte, but it wasn't offered. I have to say that I absolutely love the Sunstone. My previous car was a '13 528i in Cashmere Silver. My first BMW was an '88 325is in Bronzit Beige. I clearly like this color range!

Originally Posted by X5 45e

First sandstone M I see. I didn't know this used to be available. I thought it was only on x line models. Looks great with the black wheels.

[X5 45e]

Originally Posted by ADK-X5

The grill is black, too. Looks sharp!

I ordered mine in August or September of '18 and took delivery in December. I really wanted something in matte, but it wasn't offered. I have to say that I absolutely the Sunstone. My previous car was a '13 528i in Cashmere Silver. My first BMW was an '88 325is in Bronzit Beige. I clearly like this color range!

Right sunstone although sandstone sounds better 👍

Good that you put on a black grille, matches better with the black wheels.

[Fatandre]

Originally Posted by Herr

8,6m/28,2ft long, 2,5m/8,2ft wide, 2500kg/5500lbs in the hills of Germany

How is the 45E during towing?

[Herr]

Before the 45e I had an Audi A6 3.0TDI, compared to this the engine power feels the same but the 45e is much more quiet.
I drive the combination in sport individual mode with suspension in comfort. So the combustion engines runs all the time and the electric motor helps when extra is needed.

The biggest advantage is the heavy weight of the 45e because of the batteries. Because of this the combination is very stable at high speeds.

[radmjk]

Here's my X5 pulling our 24 FT Yamaha Jet Boat and my son's Hammerhead Go kart.

[Fatandre]

Keep them coming. I love those threads

[bforbrian]

Dumb question: do you need the trailer hitch option to install one of these? I did not order this option (x40i MSport)....

https://www.weathertech.com/bumpstepxl/

[ADK-X5]

You do need a hitch, but can get get an aftermarket one installed.

Originally Posted by bforbrian

Dumb question: do you need the trailer hitch option to install one of these? I did not order this option (x40i MSport)....

https://www.weathertech.com/bumpstepxl/

[LexxM3]

Finally towed with the X5 for the first time. Was supposed to last summer, but didn't even get the boat out of storage then. Everything went well, no trouble handling the relatively light load (likely around 3000 lbs with trailer). Two observations/annoyances:

- The safety chain loops are way too close to the hitch receiver hole and interfered with a simple anti-vibration clamp I've been using on other cars, so I couldn't use it. The resulting tow bar movements with variable load cause clanking and some push (hence why I use the clamp). I also don't like the impact stress that loose tow bars impart on everything in the setup. How does everyone deal with loose tow bars?

- Trailer Mode disables a lot of stuff; most makes sense, such as LCA, blind spot detect, eTJA, and anything rear/side-rear looking. But why the heck is Steering Assist disabled? I would guess many tow for long distances and that's exactly where you want both ACC and Steering Assist. This function is based on forward facing cameras and forward facing radar, nothing to do with the tow package behind you and any side or rear sensors. And Lane Departure works and full and accurate ADV works, so the system clearly knows where the lanes are and even senses traffic for ADV with a tow. Seems like a major miss.

Below are a couple of pics. Sorry for the dirty boat, this lake stains the hull if you look away for even a minute and no time to cleanup.

[Timmer-Bimmer]

Great thread. When I saw the thread title, I thought it was for tips on having your car towed to the dealer. This is way better.

[Marty in NY]

Originally Posted by LexxM3

Finally towed with the X5 for the first time. Was supposed to last summer, but didn't even get the boat out of storage then. Everything went well, no trouble handling the relatively light load (likely around 3000 lbs with trailer). Two observations/annoyances:

- The safety chain loops are way too close to the hitch receiver hole and interfered with a simple anti-vibration clamp I've been using on other cars, so I couldn't use it. The resulting tow bar movements with variable load cause clanking and some push (hence why I use the clamp). I also don't like the impact stress that loose tow bars impart on everything in the setup. How does everyone deal with loose tow bars?

- Trailer Mode disables a lot of stuff; most makes sense, such as LCA, blind spot detect, eTJA, and anything rear/side-rear looking. But why the heck is Steering Assist disabled? I would guess many tow for long distances and that's exactly where you want both ACC and Steering Assist. This function is based on forward facing cameras and forward facing radar, nothing to do with the tow package behind you and any side or rear sensors. And Lane Departure works and full and accurate ADV works, so the system clearly knows where the lanes are and even senses traffic for ADV with a tow. Seems like a major miss.

Below are a couple of pics. Sorry for the dirty boat, this lake stains the hull if you look away for even a minute and no time to cleanup.

Beautiful pix! Is that lake Ontario or Erie? Its a shame when winter comes. Next time, post some pix with your car in them.

[Ninefourteener]

Originally Posted by LexxM3

- The safety chain loops are way too close to the hitch receiver hole and interfered with a simple anti-vibration clamp I've been using on other cars, so I couldn't use it. The resulting tow bar movements with variable load cause clanking and some push (hence why I use the clamp). I also don't like the impact stress that loose tow bars impart on everything in the setup. How does everyone deal with loose tow bars?

- Trailer Mode disables a lot of stuff; most makes sense, such as LCA, blind spot detect, eTJA, and anything rear/side-rear looking. But why the heck is Steering Assist disabled? I would guess many tow for long distances and that's exactly where you want both ACC and Steering Assist. This function is based on forward facing cameras and forward facing radar, nothing to do with the tow package behind you and any side or rear sensors. And Lane Departure works and full and accurate ADV works, so the system clearly knows where the lanes are and even senses traffic for ADV with a tow. Seems like a major miss.

Agreed. I noticed that the safety chain holes are too difficult to reach as well, but my only assumption is that BMW did that intentionally to "clean up" the appearance of the hitch as much as possible.

I used a standard pin + cutter pin to pull, and didn't notice the same jarring you did. Perhaps a little, but not much. My motorcycle plus trailer is considerably less weight though. What is this anti-vibration clamp you mentioned? How does it work.

I actually had to re-wire my euro spec motorcycle trailer (7 round) to a US spec 4-glat. What I really liked about the X5, is that it tells you if a bulb burns out, or isn't working. I actually used the X5 to "troubleshoot" complicated wiring on the wiring. Then, later in when towing, I had a bulb come loose, and the car immediately gave me an error code. I pulled over and fixed something that I otherwise wouldn't have even known about.

I was disappointed that I couldn't lower the suspension to sport setting when towing though. Yours is sitting very low in that picture. How?

[LexxM3]

Originally Posted by Marty in NY

Beautiful pix! Is that lake Ontario or Erie? Its a shame when winter comes. Next time, post some pix with your car in them.

That's Lake Muskoka, looking out from Gravenhurst (yes, that really is the town name) municipal wharf.

The first two pics do have the car in them, but ok ... a little weird but here you go:

[JonnyCrash]

Too funny . Now I wish they had those decals in a colour that would work with black. They look great!

[LexxM3]

Originally Posted by Ninefourteener

I used a standard pin + cutter pin to pull, and didn't notice the same jarring you did. Perhaps a little, but not much. My motorcycle plus trailer is considerably less weight though. What is this anti-vibration clamp you mentioned? How does it work.

...

I was disappointed that I couldn't lower the suspension to sport setting when towing though. Yours is sitting very low in that picture. How?

I have used a sturdy version in the first pic for a number of years without issue on the previous tow vehicle. On the X5, the handle interferes with the safety chain loops, so I could not attach.

I guess I should give the version in the second pic a shot now.

In terms of ride height, I am on M Sport suspension. That's stock. The back did compress maybe an 1/8" from stock under load, but very little. The wife is with me on the trip, so the luggage weight in the back also had an impact.

Maybe it's an optical illusion? :shrug:

[LexxM3]

Originally Posted by JonnyCrash

Too funny . Now I wish they had those decals in a colour that would work with black. They look great!

The decals do look pretty good and with a little practice, not hard to install (but the first one can be nerve racking).

So no one has commented on the black roof. I am sitting here for the last 24 hours, tapping my foot, refreshing the forum like a maniac ... and nothing.

[radmjk]

I see your roof looks black! Honestly thought it was just the moon roof and shadowing from the adjacent tree.

[LexxM3]

Originally Posted by radmjk

I see your roof looks black! Honestly thought it was just the moon roof and shadowing from the adjacent tree.

Oh, hey thanks for mentioning! Yap, wrap, pretty happy with it. The shark fin is also wrapped in-place black — considering the sealing issues others have experienced, no way I was going to allow someone to remount a non-leaking shark fin.

Now if I could only get into US to get my black 21" powder coated rims that have been sitting there for months with no simple way to get at them (for those uninitiated, US/Canada border remains closed and will for no less than at least a month still ... all the US tourists suddenly heading to Alaska through Canada notwithstanding).

[KayWhy]

Down here in New Zealand X530i towing an Australian built Bailey caravan.

Van weighs 2,500kg (5,500lbs) fully loaded, fuel usage around 15.5 litres per 100km (15.2mpg)

X5 tows well but the factory tow hitch maximum load of 190kg (420lbs) is not enough as sway can set in. NZ speed limit when towing is 90kph (56mph) so can't get into too much trouble.

[LexxM3]

Originally Posted by LexxM3

Finally towed with the X5 for the first time. Was supposed to last summer, but didn't even get the boat out of storage then. Everything went well, no trouble handling the relatively light load (likely around 3000 lbs with trailer). Two observations/annoyances:

- The safety chain loops are way too close to the hitch receiver hole and interfered with a simple anti-vibration clamp I've been using on other cars, so I couldn't use it. The resulting tow bar movements with variable load cause clanking and some push (hence why I use the clamp). I also don't like the impact stress that loose tow bars impart on everything in the setup. How does everyone deal with loose tow bars?

- Trailer Mode disables a lot of stuff; most makes sense, such as LCA, blind spot detect, eTJA, and anything rear/side-rear looking. But why the heck is Steering Assist disabled? I would guess many tow for long distances and that's exactly where you want both ACC and Steering Assist. This function is based on forward facing cameras and forward facing radar, nothing to do with the tow package behind you and any side or rear sensors. And Lane Departure works and full and accurate ADV works, so the system clearly knows where the lanes are and even senses traffic for ADV with a tow. Seems like a major miss.

Below are a couple of pics. Sorry for the dirty boat, this lake stains the hull if you look away for even a minute and no time to cleanup.

Forgot to comment on the aspherical mirrors — they are great for towing! With blind spot detection off, I could still see everything I needed to see and never felt blind.