docsayler

This is my first posting and a new member of the BMW family. I downsized from a truck for gas savings but I still need to pull around a jetskii so I purchased a Curt receiver hitch off eBay for $160.00 with free shipping.

Here is what came out of the box.



The next step was to remove the plastic dam between the back of the trunk pan and the bumper cover. I then centered the hitch line with a piece of blue tape. I jacked up the hitch to where it was centered and then took a sharpie and marked the holes and took the receiver back down.




The front two holes are easy but the rear two are a little more difficult unless you have a 90 degree drill. I didn't so I took a hammer and punch (small phillips screwdriver) and struck the sharpie marks from the outside which put a small dent on the inside of the trunk pan. I used the punch marks for reference and then drilled those two holes from inside the trunk.




I then jacked the receiver back up and applied silicone to the back side of the large washers and installed the four bolts and tightened them. Done.... Very easy and it took me about 30 minutes. Feel free to ask any questions.

turboawd

Interesting. I just can't picture an e60 towing something. LOL

justoracle

This is what I tow

jedduh01

I also did the same install --- Good Job.

The largest problem was the Center Plastic bumper support bracket --- snaps to the bumper- Uses 3 Bolts to the body - Getting to those fasteners was difficult!

I was able to hack it up and fit it back around the new installed hitch. I wanted to put that part back in because this also supports the center of the bumper cover and keeps from being flimsy.

Love my hitch too= Bike rack,. 4x6 trailer with ATV = NO PROBLEM

sfcacique

I also put the Curt Tow hitch on my E61 530iXT, even though I have a truck. It's interesting to hear people say they can't imagine a car hauling anything, Hmmmm, drive around a full size truck with gas mileage in the teens, just in case you have to throw something in the bed, or happen to come across a trailer that you need to tow.

The E61 in EU with the Westfalia hitch can tow almost 4000lbs, You can put your stuff on a small trailer, in a box on the hitch, in the wagon area, or even on the roof with appropriate racks, Makes a lot of sense to have a wagon that can tow, or even a sedan. This Curt hitch still tows 2000lb.

BTW _ the wagon has more interior storage than an X5, I know you are talking about a sedan, but perhaps we need to get over the marketing pitch that we need trucks and SUVs for everything. Then maybe BMW will send the new 5 series wagons over here instead of a 2.0 liter, 4 cyl, dual turbocharged 3 series wagon... which I might still have to drive to see how it does, 0-60 in 6 seconds says BMW...