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      10-22-2019, 01:00 PM   #1
2019msportx7
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Aftermarket trailer hitch help?

Hey all,

Want to get an aftermarket trailer hitch for towing on my X7. Anyone have any experience with one that they liked? Also is the car already prewired for the brake lights?

I found this one that looks cool:

https://stealthhitches.com/products/...7-2019-present

Any help is greatly appreciated!

Cheers!
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      10-22-2019, 05:12 PM   #2
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      10-22-2019, 11:49 PM   #3
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I installed it. It took them about 4 hours. Looks good so far. Only got the hitch option. If you do want the trailer option make sure to get the active lights. I will send some pics shortly.
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      10-24-2019, 09:33 AM   #4
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 2019msportx7 View Post
Hey all,

Want to get an aftermarket trailer hitch for towing on my X7. Anyone have any experience with one that they liked? Also is the car already prewired for the brake lights?

I found this one that looks cool:

https://stealthhitches.com/products/...7-2019-present

Any help is greatly appreciated!

Cheers!
The tow rating with an aftermarket hitch is 5900 lbs, but 7500 with the factory hitch. I looked at the parts catalog and it appears the rear brakes are larger when the tow package is ordered from the factory.
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      10-27-2019, 01:16 PM   #5
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Here’s my setup. I believe the towing capacity is on par with. The factory install version. This takes less than 30sec to setup and take down each time. Feels really sturdy.
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Last edited by amesh; 10-28-2019 at 10:59 PM..
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      10-27-2019, 11:15 PM   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by amesh View Post
Here’s my setup. I believe the towing capacity is on par with. The factory install version. This takes less than 30sec to setup and take down each time. Feels really sturdy.
Wow! Looks awesome! How much was it to install and where did you get it done?
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      10-27-2019, 11:30 PM   #7
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Wow! Looks awesome! How much was it to install and where did you get it done?
Paid $475 for the install. Went to Rack & Road. Great bunch who did a great job. Had some references from body shops who recommended them.
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      10-28-2019, 01:18 PM   #8
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Paid $475 for the install. Went to Rack & Road. Great bunch who did a great job. Had some references from body shops who recommended them.
Thanks bro! This was super helpful! CHEERS!
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      10-28-2019, 01:18 PM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by amesh View Post
Here’s my setup. I believe the towing capacity is on par with. The factory install version. This takes less than 30sec to setup and take down each time. Feels really sturdy.
What happened to the photos?
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      10-28-2019, 11:00 PM   #10
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What happened to the photos?
Back up now
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      11-03-2019, 03:59 PM   #11
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Does stealth hitch let you keep the "kick to open" option? My understanding is the factory trailer hitch option means the motion sensors get disabled/removed.

Is there anything required on the install that would affect a lease return?
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      11-04-2019, 08:57 PM   #12
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Yes, you do keep the kick to open option. I like that a lot. I would doubt that it would mess up your lease but I would say. Honestly, they probably wouldn’t know unless u told them.
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      11-05-2019, 06:30 AM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by amesh View Post
Yes, you do keep the kick to open option. I like that a lot. I would doubt that it would mess up your lease but I would say. Honestly, they probably wouldn't know unless u told them.
So how does the X7 "behave" when towing with an aftermarket hitch?

The X7, unlike most full size SUVs on the road, is thoroughly integrated mechanically and electronically with the factory tow hitch. For example, from what I have read, the air suspension, the transmission and iDrive are just a few components that are integrated with the factory trailer hitch. You obviously don't get that integration with an aftermarket setup.

Not saying that using an aftermarket tow hitch is dangerous on the X7. But without the full integration, you would be missing out on the full towing capabilities and experience the X7 has to offer. But I guess an additional question would be, is the integrated towing system of the X7 worth it? Or is it a case of you don't miss what you don't know?
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      11-06-2019, 05:57 AM   #14
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So how does the X7 "behave" when towing with an aftermarket hitch?

The X7, unlike most full size SUVs on the road, is thoroughly integrated mechanically and electronically with the factory tow hitch. For example, from what I have read, the air suspension, the transmission and iDrive are just a few components that are integrated with the factory trailer hitch. You obviously don't get that integration with an aftermarket setup.

Not saying that using an aftermarket tow hitch is dangerous on the X7. But without the full integration, you would be missing out on the full towing capabilities and experience the X7 has to offer. But I guess an additional question would be, is the integrated towing system of the X7 worth it? Or is it a case of you don't miss what you don't know?

For me it was about carrying our family bikes using the hitch, so towing wasn’t a factor in my decision. I would have gotten the towing package if that was something that I was considering.
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      11-06-2019, 09:21 PM   #15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jmciver View Post
Quote:
Originally Posted by amesh View Post
Yes, you do keep the kick to open option. I like that a lot. I would doubt that it would mess up your lease but I would say. Honestly, they probably wouldn't know unless u told them.
So how does the X7 "behave" when towing with an aftermarket hitch?

The X7, unlike most full size SUVs on the road, is thoroughly integrated mechanically and electronically with the factory tow hitch. For example, from what I have read, the air suspension, the transmission and iDrive are just a few components that are integrated with the factory trailer hitch. You obviously don't get that integration with an aftermarket setup.

Not saying that using an aftermarket tow hitch is dangerous on the X7. But without the full integration, you would be missing out on the full towing capabilities and experience the X7 has to offer. But I guess an additional question would be, is the integrated towing system of the X7 worth it? Or is it a case of you don't miss what you don't know?
The integrated towing is cheaper than aftermarket so by asking if it is worth it do you mean cost or benefits wise?
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      11-07-2019, 06:07 AM   #16
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MB21 View Post
Quote:
Originally Posted by jmciver View Post
Quote:
Originally Posted by amesh View Post
Yes, you do keep the kick to open option. I like that a lot. I would doubt that it would mess up your lease but I would say. Honestly, they probably wouldn't know unless u told them.
So how does the X7 "behave" when towing with an aftermarket hitch?

The X7, unlike most full size SUVs on the road, is thoroughly integrated mechanically and electronically with the factory tow hitch. For example, from what I have read, the air suspension, the transmission and iDrive are just a few components that are integrated with the factory trailer hitch. You obviously don't get that integration with an aftermarket setup.

Not saying that using an aftermarket tow hitch is dangerous on the X7. But without the full integration, you would be missing out on the full towing capabilities and experience the X7 has to offer. But I guess an additional question would be, is the integrated towing system of the X7 worth it? Or is it a case of you don't miss what you don't know?
The integrated towing is cheaper than aftermarket so by asking if it is worth it do you mean cost or benefits wise?
From a pure cost perspective, the benefit of getting a factory hitch seems initially very clear - but can also be relative and situation dependent. However, if you take into account buying off the lot vs ordering a new X7, the pure cost benefit can be blurred a bit. For example, a dealer could offer a very large discount on a vehicle in their inventory which could offset (or even eliminate) the additional cost of adding an aftermarket hitch.

I have been watching the dealer inventory in my area (and there are a lot of dealers in the Washington, DC area). I have found several X7's configured "close" to the configuration I want, with a factory hitch being at the top of my list. I have found several X7's in my area that had everything I wanted - except the hitch (and I am sure the dealers would offer a very good deal on them). The potential to get a "very good" deal on an X7 in dealer inventory vs a "decent" deal on an ordered X7 configured with a hitch is definitely part of my cost mental calculus.

Given the fact that people are still getting pretty good deals on ordered X7's and that I would still prefer the full vehicle integration of the factory hitch, I am still leaning hard towards getting a factory hitch (either ordered or from dealer inventory). But I still want to learn as much about the factory hitch performance (there is still not much real world experience info out there on it yet) so that when the time comes to pull the trigger I can make an informed decision. In the past, trailer hitch tech was very simple and I would not think twice about factory vs aftermarket hitch options. However, in typical BMW fashion, BMW has added some nice "tech" to the simple trailer hitch (at least to me anyway) so I am paying more attention to it .
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      11-08-2019, 10:57 AM   #17
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jmciver View Post
Quote:
Originally Posted by amesh View Post
Yes, you do keep the kick to open option. I like that a lot. I would doubt that it would mess up your lease but I would say. Honestly, they probably wouldn't know unless u told them.
So how does the X7 "behave" when towing with an aftermarket hitch?

The X7, unlike most full size SUVs on the road, is thoroughly integrated mechanically and electronically with the factory tow hitch. For example, from what I have read, the air suspension, the transmission and iDrive are just a few components that are integrated with the factory trailer hitch. You obviously don't get that integration with an aftermarket setup.

Not saying that using an aftermarket tow hitch is dangerous on the X7. But without the full integration, you would be missing out on the full towing capabilities and experience the X7 has to offer. But I guess an additional question would be, is the integrated towing system of the X7 worth it? Or is it a case of you don't miss what you don't know?
Factory Hitch comes with larger rear brakes too and has a higher tow rating.
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