Trailer Hitch Install

[radelow]

As my X5 is on my way to me I decided to get a quote to install the factory trailer hitch... wait for it....$2000. They want TWO THOUSAND DOLLARS to install a trailer hitch (parts & labor).

Do they really take us for idiots??? Man.

[chrisny]

and it won't even be hidden….

[ictx5]

I am not very happy about the price of the BMW hitch. I need the 6000lb hitch with the 600lb tongue weight. My choices are: 1. ~$2000 for the BMW hitch, 2. the invishitch, 3. Going to a hitch place and having a generic fitted to the car. With options 2 and 3 I have people removing my rear bumper cover on a x5 with 7 miles on it that may have never done it, and "could" damage the bumper cover or one of the rear lenses, may or may not use the OEM harness and module, and I will then need to take the x5 to the dealer to have the car coded to show bad trailer lights, code the rear camera and have the traction control coded to reflect a trailer when it is hooked on. So by going with a different brand than BMW I save...maybe...$500 to $750. At the end of the day, I reluctantly buy the bmw hitch and have them be the only ones responsible for its proper and successful install. I pay $70k+ for the X5 and complain over a few hundred, count the costs and weigh your options carefully. It's not all about the $$$. In addition, when the BMW dealership installs it, I get a loaner. Do I wish it was invisible...yup! Do I wish it was cheaper...Darn skippy I do! But at the end of the day its a complicated expensive luxury "SAV". I spent the extra $ for piece of mind and convenience. I wouldn't argue with someone going another direction but that was my decision tree algorithm.

[someguy]

Originally Posted by ictx5

I am not very happy about the price of the BMW hitch. I need the 6000lb hitch with the 600lb tongue weight. My choices are: 1. ~$2000 for the BMW hitch, 2. the invishitch, 3. Going to a hitch place and having a generic fitted to the car. With options 2 and 3 I have people removing my rear bumper cover on a x5 with 7 miles on it that may have never done it, and "could" damage the bumper cover or one of the rear lenses, may or may not use the OEM harness and module, and I will then need to take the x5 to the dealer to have the car coded to show bad trailer lights, code the rear camera and have the traction control coded to reflect a trailer when it is hooked on. So by going with a different brand than BMW I save...maybe...$500 to $750. At the end of the day, I reluctantly buy the bmw hitch and have them be the only ones responsible for its proper and successful install. I pay $70k+ for the X5 and complain over a few hundred, count the costs and weigh your options carefully. It's not all about the $$$. In addition, when the BMW dealership installs it, I get a loaner. Do I wish it was invisible...yup! Do I wish it was cheaper...Darn skippy I do! But at the end of the day its a complicated expensive luxury "SAV". I spent the extra $ for piece of mind and convenience. I wouldn't argue with someone going another direction but that was my decision tree algorithm.

I bought the parts from my dealer for about $1200 and plan to install them myself. I'll have the car coded the next time that it is in for service.

[polly]

How much with it cost if it was ordered from the factory as an option. Here in SA I paid 9000 rand which equates to about 700 dollars for the electric version. Lots of people don't order the tow bar and that effects the resale big time here.

[Michiganian]

ictx5, I'm with you, I bit the bullet and paid for the factory hitch and install for the same reasons. 2% of the total purchase price counting taxes on my loaded model, and so in the best case scenario if I cut that cost in half with some other option I would have saved 1% of the purchase price. Let's face it buying a car is an inherently emotional decision, if you were only focused on hard nosed economics there are lots of ways to spend less.

[phantomac2]

The factory installed trailer hitch (the one electrically retracting and expanding) is about 1650 US$ in Germany.

If you install a third party hitch or let someone else do it, keep in mind that there are tons of sensors in the back of the car - PDC for example, but depending on your configuration other radar sensors and cameras, too. The X5, as most modern cars have trailer ABS and stuff, too.

Take care that whoever installs the aftermarket hitch know how to make the car deactivate the sensors when a trailer is connected electrically!

[bim_power]

Originally Posted by someguy

I bought the parts from my dealer for about $1200 and plan to install them myself. I'll have the car coded the next time that it is in for service.

Am I missing something? I checked the online OEM parts with discounts and is about $450. Is the tow hitch kit includes the harness?

Thanks

[ictx5]

The parts needed are the class III towing adapter $350
lighting harness 395
lighting module 150
click on cross member 525
Total $ 1425 at retail. I see it cheaper at some of the BMW OEM parts sites. The class II with the 2" square receiver is less. If you are towing anything with more than a 300 lb tongue weight you need the class III.

[bim_power]

Originally Posted by ictx5

The parts needed are the class III towing adapter $350
lighting harness 395
lighting module 150
click on cross member 525
Total $ 1425 at retail. I see it cheaper at some of the BMW OEM parts sites. The class II with the 2" square receiver is less. If you are towing anything with more than a 300 lb tongue weight you need the class III.

Thanks for the assistance.

[radelow]

It's crazy....and we need to stop saying "Yea it's $2.5k but it's a $75k car so RELATIVELY it is okay". This is how they get away with this shit. They keep nickle and dimeing us for everything...

Sorry I am just venting. I am still pissed that I buy a $75k car and they have the audacity to tell me I need to purchase the floor mats.

[atomic80]

Originally Posted by ictx5

The parts needed are the class III towing adapter $350
lighting harness 395
lighting module 150
click on cross member 525
Total $ 1425 at retail. I see it cheaper at some of the BMW OEM parts sites. The class II with the 2" square receiver is less. If you are towing anything with more than a 300 lb tongue weight you need the class III.

Did you happen to get the part numbers when you checked on those parts?

[phantomac2]

Originally Posted by radelow

It's crazy....and we need to stop saying "Yea it's $2.5k but it's a $75k car so RELATIVELY it is okay". This is how they get away with this shit. They keep nickle and dimeing us for everything...

Sorry I am just venting. I am still pissed that I buy a $75k car and they have the audacity to tell me I need to purchase the floor mats.

Just keep in mind that in the US you pay "peanuts" for the car, compared to the rest of the world. The venting might turn into a grin then. (I pay 150k US$ for the M50d.)

[CatFlap]

Originally Posted by phantomac2

Just keep in mind that in the US you pay "peanuts" for the car, compared to the rest of the world. The venting might turn into a grin then. (I pay 150k US$ for the M50d.)

That's a very good point - My new X5 M Sport with a few extras is £62,000 (>103,000USD) in the UK (and I've got to wait 4 months for it, no 4-6 week deliveries for us - pah!) No wonder the customers in the USA can afford to 'max-out' the options list! - no sympathy here!!!

I've ordered the fully electric (hidden) towbar on my X5 for £945.00

[Sean_250]

Originally Posted by saggo

I've ordered the fully electric (hidden) towbar on my X5 for £945.00

I saw this in action at my dealers last week. It's very cool how it folds up and behind the rear bumper. The switch is behind the trim on the RHS of the boot.

It's a great option - glad I ordered it too.