[Mjbmw1]

Im using the 2in with a 50mm ball for europe bike racks

[denaliman]

Originally Posted by Mjbmw1

Im using the 2in with a 50mm ball for europe bike racks

can't wait to see the stealth install

[Mjbmw1]

I left the stealth hitch tow connector on the hitch but its not doing anything. you can see it under vehicle.

[Multimodal]

Buy another one and send it to me!

[Mjbmw1]

Originally Posted by Mr. Maboomba

Buy another one and send it to me!

I might be able to do that.. not sure if there is an import fee from Europe to US.

[denaliman]

in your opinion is it necessary to cut such a large hole to fit the stealth hitch? Do you think the hole size could be reduced and not impede the operation of the hitch or connector?

[Mjbmw1]

No you can use the bmw cut out because the larger cutout is for their connector

[ND40oz]

Originally Posted by Mjbmw1

Im using the 2in with a 50mm ball for europe bike racks

Did you install the 13 pin connector for the signals on the racks?

[JonnyDangerous]

BMW UK just quoted me £3000 to retro fit a detachable towbar to my 45e. Apparently the time they have to allocate to fit on the 45e is three times more (approx 12 hours) on the 45e vs a non hybrid car.

Has anyone retro fitted a tow bar onto a 45e and specifically anyone done it in the UK?

[MGDisco]

Originally Posted by JonnyDangerous

BMW UK just quoted me £3000 to retro fit a detachable towbar to my 45e. Apparently the time they have to allocate to fit on the 45e is three times more (approx 12 hours) on the 45e vs a non hybrid car.

Has anyone retro fitted a tow bar onto a 45e and specifically anyone done it in the UK?

That is a mega amount of money! With the factory fitted option being £995 (just checked the configurator for the 45e), this seems steep! As you are in the UK, does this fit-out include all 13 pins being connected? The reason I ask, is that the factory fitted option doesn't, and it was going to be an extras £800 for the dealer to replace / add on the extra wiring loom to provides the full 13 pin functionality. At that extra cost, plus additional work, I chose not to, so the fridge circuit does not come on in our caravan, which I can live with.

I hope the dealer has told you that the retro-fit towbar will have a lower towing limit than the factory fitted option, from recall it will be limited to 1900kg versus the 45e factory option being 2700kg - perhaps check your handbook, as mine only shows diesel/petrol models, not the 45e. Note the 1900kg applied to our vehicle (a 30d model) versus 3500kg, the petrol models are only derated to 2700kg from 3500kg - so it made sense to option the factory fit, as we may change our caravan during ownership. The retrofit option was priced at circa £2300 for our model - still expensive for a detachable towbar option....

Hope it all goes Ok for you.

[Mjbmw1]

Does your x5 45e have the Pre Towing packages then you don't need full retrofit.

[James_G0540i]

Originally Posted by MGDisco

Note the 1900kg applied to our vehicle (a 30d model) versus 3500kg, the petrol models are only derated to 2700kg from 3500kg - so it made sense to option the factory fit, as we may change our caravan during ownership. .

That is not quite correct. I have the BWM OEM stealth hitch installed on my 30d (post factory), and its rated to 2700kgs - see the sticker on my detachable hitch.

The car's manual/handbook actually does show 1900kgs, but the dealer told me his is an error. The 30d has 620NM of torque (38% more than a 40i at 450NM), and coupled with the M-Sport brakes(which I have a part of the M-Sport package) there is no reason for it to be lower than the petrol/40i model. The 30d is the perfect towing machine in my honest opinion, the Diesel just makes towing effortless.

[MystroX5]

I learned the hard way you must order the factory hitch. Even if you use it one time for bikes, etc... it pays for itself. My last X5 didn’t have it and I simply would not transport my kids bikes with it inside the ivory white Merino interior. My new X7 M50i has the oem hitch. When we go to the beach for a month, I am covered.

[JonnyDangerous]

Originally Posted by Mjbmw1

Does your x5 45e have the Pre Towing packages then you don't need full retrofit.

unfortunately not.

[JonnyDangerous]

Originally Posted by MGDisco

That is a mega amount of money! With the factory fitted option being £995 (just checked the configurator for the 45e), this seems steep! As you are in the UK, does this fit-out include all 13 pins being connected? The reason I ask, is that the factory fitted option doesn't, and it was going to be an extras £800 for the dealer to replace / add on the extra wiring loom to provides the full 13 pin functionality. At that extra cost, plus additional work, I chose not to, so the fridge circuit does not come on in our caravan, which I can live with.

I hope the dealer has told you that the retro-fit towbar will have a lower towing limit than the factory fitted option, from recall it will be limited to 1900kg versus the 45e factory option being 2700kg - perhaps check your handbook, as mine only shows diesel/petrol models, not the 45e. Note the 1900kg applied to our vehicle (a 30d model) versus 3500kg, the petrol models are only derated to 2700kg from 3500kg - so it made sense to option the factory fit, as we may change our caravan during ownership. The retrofit option was priced at circa £2300 for our model - still expensive for a detachable towbar option....

Hope it all goes Ok for you.

Thank you for the response. I didn't spec the car but bought one that was dealer pre-specced and already in the showroom so i didn't get the option to pick the factory install. At the price they are quoting i will leave it and wait until i refresh the car in a couple of years.

[MGDisco]

Originally Posted by James_G0530d

That is not quite correct. I have the BWM OEM stealth hitch installed on my 30d (post factory), and its rated to 2700kgs - see the sticker on my detachable hitch.

The car's manual/handbook actually does show 1900kgs, but the dealer told me his is an error. The 30d has 620NM of torque (38% more than a 40i at 450NM), and coupled with the M-Sport brakes(which I have a part of the M-Sport package) there is no reason for it to be lower than the petrol/40i model. The 30d is the perfect towing machine in my honest opinion, the Diesel just makes towing effortless.

It is really interesting to see that stamped on the towbar - I also see that the max download (nose weight) is stated as 270kg too.

The manual does list the figures I quoted under the auspices as Not for Australia/ New Zealand - and also has a separate section for Australia/New Zealand that then states the information for your vehicles is available on the door pillar of the driver's door.




Thus, for the UK models, the 30d trailer limits are stated as 1900kg for a retro fitted towbar and 3500kg for factory fitted tow hitch AND the nose weight is limited to 140 kg's too.

From my past expereince with Land Rover and the Discovery 3 / 4 models, there was also similar differences for Australia versus the UK. For instance, the UK max trailer load was up to 3500kg - but was also stated as 2000kg for normal road towing, with the other part supposedly for short distance towing only, and a nose weight of max 150kg's. But Australia had the full 3500kg and a nose weight of 350kg - using the same tow bar part, since the main functional element was already part of the chassis design! A number of the Discovery forum members here in the UK did tow with heavier loads and nose weights with no problems reported, so the capability is probably there - but you are exceeding the stated manufacturer figures and run the risk of being pulled over with the random checks the police do quite often and facing the consequence of the laws (Construction and Use Regulations) that you have now transgressed. They even check the front and rear axle loads, not just the trailer load, so you can fall foul twice at the one stop - not really fair.... but that is the rules.

I do agree with you that the 30d is a dream to tow with, we had a week away recently, with really windy weather (gusts over 50mph) on the trip out and back and it was a much more stable tow than the Land Rover - which I was not expecting due to the much lighter vehicle weight. So really pleased with the X5 in this regard, along with the better fuel economy. Performance was not too different on acceleration though that might just be the quietness of the X5 lulling me into that thought!

[Shawzy44]

Originally Posted by Mjbmw1

I just got mine in last week still have not put it in.

Trying to figure out what connector type is the circle

This is awesome news.

Do you think the harness can be installed without removing the bumper? Or do you think the controller and harness can be installed without the bump having to be removed?

[EUPremier]

I retro-fitted the Westfalia manual-removable (as opposed to electrically concealed) tow ball to my 430d Gran Coupe.
The electrics socket is mounted on the tow frame and swivels out of view when not in use.
The associated cabling is guided, behind the bumper and, ideally, secured regularly using cable ties, before entering the vehicle through a grommet.

Doing this will require bumper removal.

The harness, shown above, is a piggy-back job... it allows existing plugs in the vehicle to be unplugged, connected into this harness and a new plug inserted in the vacated socket. This is so the various power pickups can be grabbed and fed into the towing module for a proper retro-fit.

It’s not a difficult job if you’re experienced with pulling vehicles apart.

If you’ve no clue, best to get someone who does manage it for you.

[James_G0540i]

Originally Posted by MGDisco

It is really interesting to see that stamped on the towbar - I also see that the max download (nose weight) is stated as 270kg too.

The manual does list the figures I quoted under the auspices as Not for Australia/ New Zealand - and also has a separate section for Australia/New Zealand that then states the information for your vehicles is available on the door pillar of the driver's door.


Thus, for the UK models, the 30d trailer limits are stated as 1900kg for a retro fitted towbar and 3500kg for factory fitted tow hitch AND the nose weight is limited to 140 kg's too.

From my past expereince with Land Rover and the Discovery 3 / 4 models, there was also similar differences for Australia versus the UK. For instance, the UK max trailer load was up to 3500kg - but was also stated as 2000kg for normal road towing, with the other part supposedly for short distance towing only, and a nose weight of max 150kg's. But Australia had the full 3500kg and a nose weight of 350kg - using the same tow bar part, since the main functional element was already part of the chassis design! A number of the Discovery forum members here in the UK did tow with heavier loads and nose weights with no problems reported, so the capability is probably there - but you are exceeding the stated manufacturer figures and run the risk of being pulled over with the random checks the police do quite often and facing the consequence of the laws (Construction and Use Regulations) that you have now transgressed. They even check the front and rear axle loads, not just the trailer load, so you can fall foul twice at the one stop - not really fair.... but that is the rules.

I do agree with you that the 30d is a dream to tow with, we had a week away recently, with really windy weather (gusts over 50mph) on the trip out and back and it was a much more stable tow than the Land Rover - which I was not expecting due to the much lighter vehicle weight. So really pleased with the X5 in this regard, along with the better fuel economy. Performance was not too different on acceleration though that might just be the quietness of the X5 lulling me into that thought!

Good explanation, make sense.

I wonder if the 1900kgs limit in the UK is because of the electric coupling type tow hitch?

[MGDisco]

Originally Posted by James_G0530d

Good explanation, make sense.

I wonder if the 1900kgs limit in the UK is because of the electric coupling type tow hitch?

I've looked at the BMW UK accessories section online, and the 2 versions of the retrofit towbar have the same restrictions - even stated on the page as shown below for each one -

Detachable:


Electric deployment:


As each one states, the towing limit is between 1900 and 2700 depending on engine, so this ties in with the limits in the manual (and tied in with the sales rep too when we were questioning it).

Note the prices are for supply only - the installation is on top of this.... so defo no-brainer to have the factory electric deployable one fitted for £995! My boss has just got himself a second-hand G05 X5 and was querying me as he is going to start towing, so made sure he found one with the factory fit towbar for this very reason.

Although already stated on other threads re: towing that there appears to be no other additional items fitted at the factory, there must be to allow the increased towing limit (such as oilcooler for the gearbox?) - or how come there is such a big discrepancy for the 30d model?

[W0ut]

I once got a quote from my BMW dealer of >3600 euro for installing the trailer hitch on my X5 45e after delivery. It's the complete installation and integration of the trailer hitch into your car and idrive.

Went to a local shop and got a 550 euro quote for one that you can fold away. Of course no integration into your idrive and a maximum of 450kg load. Enough for me since I will only be using it for a bicycle rack.

[denaliman]

Originally Posted by Mjbmw1

I just got mine in last week still have not put it in.

Trying to figure out what connector type is the circle

I received the Pollack connector today. Not what i expected. This IS part number 61-13-6-840-334 . One side is 7 pin other side is 4 pin. Looks like it is supposed to "click" into the bumper cut out for factory hitch. I was wanting to put the hitch on X6MC. I was hoping this would be a single round receptacle (as per what the pictures show) not dual oval.