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      07-03-2019, 08:08 AM   #1
omaralt
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no kick to open/close tailgate with trailer hitch?

so the car i picked up had the trailer hitch. i never use it. but i do use the kick to open/close. so it seems like you lose that ability with the hitch? if i remove it is the sensor still there?
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      07-03-2019, 08:13 AM   #2
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Nope. That was a big deal with options as well as no ACC as a standard feature.
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      07-03-2019, 09:01 AM   #3
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If you get the trailer hitch as a factory option, the rear axle is beefed up at the factory. The tow rating will always be higher with a factory optioned hitch than aftermarket.
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      07-03-2019, 09:16 AM   #4
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thanks guys. i never use the trailer hitch and would have preferred the kick to open/close. was hoping the sensor was still there so i can simply remove the hitch and use it. no big deal. thanks
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      07-03-2019, 09:50 AM   #5
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VWs and I assume Audis/Porsches can have both the hitch and hands free feature. Not sure what BMW’s problem is.
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      07-03-2019, 11:00 AM   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by maczrool View Post
VWs and I assume Audis/Porsches can have both the hitch and hands free feature. Not sure what BMW’s problem is.
Well, its a BMW, they charge extra to delete features
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      07-03-2019, 12:46 PM   #7
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Originally Posted by maczrool View Post
VWs and I assume Audis/Porsches can have both the hitch and hands free feature. Not sure what BMW’s problem is.
My Merc GLE also has both.
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      07-03-2019, 02:51 PM   #8
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I have a UK G05 with retractable factory hitch and comfort access kick to open. Works fine.
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      07-03-2019, 07:18 PM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JFU View Post
If you get the trailer hitch as a factory option, the rear axle is beefed up at the factory. The tow rating will always be higher with a factory optioned hitch than aftermarket.
That’s not true statement. Hidden hitch tow rating is even higher than factory option.
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      07-03-2019, 08:20 PM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Kotkot View Post
That’s not true statement. Hidden hitch tow rating is even higher than factory option.
Ah you're right, there are aftermarket hitches rated for more. Now I'm getting tempted to add one to the G07
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      07-05-2019, 08:53 AM   #11
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I’m not sure which option you have, but here we had one single option for hitch, which was the electric folding trailer hitch and this works well with the kick to open/close function of the car (as long as folded in, I never tried the function with the hitch folded out, would make little sense anyway).

Quote:
Originally Posted by omaralt View Post
so the car i picked up had the trailer hitch. i never use it. but i do use the kick to open/close. so it seems like you lose that ability with the hitch? if i remove it is the sensor still there?
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      07-05-2019, 09:28 AM   #12
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We've gone through this before. There are two types of factory hitches, European and North American. The European version retains kick to open, the North American one disables it. Instead of a factory hitch, it is possible to get an after-market (eg Stealth Hitch) in the North American style (with female receiver) that does not disable the kick to open. My post here has pics of the two factory models:

https://www.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh...php?p=24738131
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      07-05-2019, 10:09 AM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JFU View Post
Ah you're right, there are aftermarket hitches rated for more. Now I'm getting tempted to add one to the G07
I read somewhere that, now that hitches are offered factory installed, that they modify the frame of the car at the factory, and that aftermarket hitches will not be as well anchored.

So be careful about adding a hitch yourself if you are towing a lot of weight. Might be best to get the hitch from the factory.
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      07-05-2019, 10:35 AM   #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by natahoa View Post
I read somewhere that, now that hitches are offered factory installed, that they modify the frame of the car at the factory, and that aftermarket hitches will not be as well anchored.

So be careful about adding a hitch yourself if you are towing a lot of weight. Might be best to get the hitch from the factory.
Shouldn't be an issue. The hitch from the factor increases the tow rating of the car, but aftermarket hitches are perfectly safe as long as you are within the operating parameters of the hitch and the car.
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      07-05-2019, 10:40 AM   #15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by VTENGR View Post
Shouldn't be an issue. The hitch from the factor increases the tow rating of the car, but aftermarket hitches are perfectly safe as long as you are within the operating parameters of the hitch and the car.
All of our cars, except my new X5, have hitches. They have been fine but we don’t tow large or heavy things long distance.

I agree, sometimes the old way is the best way!
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      07-06-2019, 04:35 AM   #16
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Quote:
Originally Posted by VTENGR View Post
Shouldn't be an issue. The hitch from the factor increases the tow rating of the car, but aftermarket hitches are perfectly safe as long as you are within the operating parameters of the hitch and the car.
I believe one important advantage of the factory hitch is the addition of trailer stability control to stop the swaying of the trailer.
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      08-16-2019, 02:17 PM   #17
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Kick to open

Quote:
Originally Posted by LexxM3 View Post
We've gone through this before. There are two types of factory hitches, European and North American. The European version retains kick to open, the North American one disables it. Instead of a factory hitch, it is possible to get an after-market (eg Stealth Hitch) in the North American style (with female receiver) that does not disable the kick to open. My post here has pics of the two factory models:

https://www.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh...php?p=24738131
My UK X5 sport has the factory fit ball hitch. Like the first picture, with the electrics built into the side of the hitch.
Assumed It didn’t have the kick to open, but it does. Very happy surprise, it’s a useful function.
It’s rated to tow 3500kg here in the uk. Think the non factory fit is 2700kg.

S
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      12-31-2019, 01:19 PM   #18
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My humble opinion is if you are going to just carry two or three bikes you are better off with StealthHitch so you can continue to use the Kick to Open.
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      01-01-2020, 06:46 AM   #19
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Quote:
Originally Posted by archivedaccount View Post
I have a UK G05 with retractable factory hitch and comfort access kick to open. Works fine.
Same here... works perfectly
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      01-01-2020, 02:02 PM   #20
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ikke123 View Post
Same here... works perfectly
Yes mine also works. But when my trailer is connected the kick to open stills works !!! So when the bikes are setup i still can open the trunk where it shouldn't work. I have seen an option in idrive to say to the system that you are using the trailer hitch. I didn't try it yet that it is disabling the kick to open trunk function when the trailer hitch is present. I did experience this when disconnecting the trailer and my food moved under the trunk and trigged the open trunk.
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      01-01-2020, 05:39 PM   #21
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Here is a picture of the kick to open sensor which is located under the lower bumper cover. As you can see, this sensor is where the North American hitch receiver is located hence why you can't have kick to open & the NA hitch receiver. I believe there is also a second sensor located further underneath the bumper. Both sensors are needed for kick to open to work.
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      01-01-2020, 09:14 PM   #22
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Quote:
Originally Posted by robby818 View Post
Here is a picture of the kick to open sensor which is located under the lower bumper cover. As you can see, this sensor is where the North American hitch receiver is located hence why you can't have kick to open & the NA hitch receiver. I believe there is also a second sensor located further underneath the bumper. Both sensors are needed for kick to open to work.
Nice work, however I don’t know what I’m looking for. I see three round objects, is the middle one a sensor?
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