[jcarlilesiu]

Originally Posted by iconoclast

is it possible to post a photo?
curious to see how it looks.

Sure.

2019 50i with tow package that also gets the bigger brake calipers and additional cooling.

[jmciver]

So for those of you who DON'T have the trailer package, but DO have an opening in the passenger side of your bumper, do you have a radiator installed there (I suspect yes)? If so, what is your model (40i vs 50i) and what is your model year ('19 vs '20)? On the 40i (with B58 engine) that auxiliary radiator appears to tie into the engine coolant circuit, which would make sense to have additional cooling capacity for when greater loads are put on the engine when towing (and also supports adding more HP/TQ safely since the B58 engine is used in a lot of BMW models with different HP/TQ ratings).

B58 Engine Technical Info (for those who are curious): https://www.1erforum.de/attachments/...ine-pdf.84135/

[MB21]

Originally Posted by unfoundnemo

I have a 40i without towing and one side is open.

M50i with towing all sides open

[iconoclast]

Originally Posted by jcarlilesiu

Sure.

2019 50i with tow package that also gets the bigger brake calipers and additional cooling.

i have the other bumper not sure if that matters.

[jmciver]

Originally Posted by iconoclast

i have the other bumper not sure if that matters.

It shouldn't. The B58 engine in the 40i and the N63 engine in the 50i is available in either the Luxury or M-Sport trim....

[Wanderer73]

M50i with all major packages. Both sides open.

[Joemac8]

I have a late 2019 build (Aug 5,20190 40i with towing. My driver's side is blocked and passenger side open

[Waise]

Originally Posted by CruiseControl

Let us know how things go. Here's pics of mine, blocked on the drivers side.

https://g07.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh...96&postcount=1

okay, I picked up the car today and dealership did verify there was no cooler/condenser behind the lower grills when they remove the bumper to replace a parking ultrasonic sensor. That's why both lower grilles are blocked. I also don't have the towing package.

[mitch57]

Originally Posted by Waise

okay, I picked up the car today and dealership did verify there was no cooler/condenser behind the lower grills when they remove the bumper to replace a parking ultrasonic sensor. That's why both lower grilles are blocked. I also don't have the towing package.

Interesting. So BMW obviously made a change in the standard option package in 2020. I have a 2020 40i and I do NOT have the towing package. However, it does come standard with option "8SL Trailer hitch prewiring" which I'm guessing adds the extra radiator for towing on the front passenger side grill/bumper.

Apparently the 2019 model did not come standard with this option. I also do NOT have the cold weather package either but I DO have front ventilated seats. So obviously one of these options added the extra radiator as you can see in the attached picture on my X7.

[jmciver]

Originally Posted by mitch57

Interesting. So BMW obviously made a change in the standard option package in 2020. I have a 2020 40i and I do NOT have the towing package. However, it does come standard with option "8SL Trailer hitch prewiring" which I'm guessing adds the extra radiator for towing on the front passenger side grill/bumper.

Apparently the 2019 model did not come standard with this option. I also do NOT have the cold weather package either but I DO have front ventilated seats. So obviously one of these options added the extra radiator as you can see in the attached picture on my X7.

Looks like my speculation on this may have been correct.... This is good news for those who want to have a trailer hitch installed that did not get it from the factory. The trailer hitch on this car is so heavily integrated with the other systems in the X7 that an aftermarket solution may not be the best option for the X7 compared to aftermarket trailer solutions for past models (BMW or otherwise).

But then, regardless of whether you want the trailer hitch or not, having additional engine cooling capacity available on a turbo charged engine is never a bad thing. It would not surprise me if the BMW engineers determined that the B58 engine being installed in a heavy SUV like the X7 would have a long term benefit by having the extra radiator installed.

[iconoclast]

Originally Posted by Waise

okay, I picked up the car today and dealership did verify there was no cooler/condenser behind the lower grills when they remove the bumper to replace a parking ultrasonic sensor. That's why both lower grilles are blocked. I also don't have the towing package.

Did you have them leave it unblocked or did you leave the backing in place? Photos?

[Waise]

Originally Posted by jmciver

Looks like my speculation on this may have been correct.... This is good news for those who want to have a trailer hitch installed that did not get it from the factory. The trailer hitch on this car is so heavily integrated with the other systems in the X7 that an aftermarket solution may not be the best option for the X7 compared to aftermarket trailer solutions for past models (BMW or otherwise).

But then, regardless of whether you want the trailer hitch or not, having additional engine cooling capacity available on a turbo charged engine is never a bad thing. It would not surprise me if the BMW engineers determined that the B58 engine being installed in a heavy SUV like the X7 would have a long term benefit by having the extra radiator installed.

Your assumption is probably correct because in my 2019 X7, I do have the cold weather package and I also do have the ventilated seats (the point mitch57 was making), but I still don't have the additional cooler/condenser. Both lower grills are blocked. I do NOT have "8SL Trailer hitch prewiring" either. If I knew this for 2019s, I would have added the towing package, for the extra cooling capacity, even though I wouldn't have towed anything.

[Waise]

Originally Posted by iconoclast

Did you have them leave it unblocked or did you leave the backing in place? Photos?

No I asked them to put it back the way it was since there was nothing behind it. Here is the Pic from both side..

[Luminor513]

We have a X5 and X7 both 40i, and both have one side open and one side blocked. Both cars have all the major packages and both cars have m performance brakes. From what I saw at the dealership, all the 40i's had one side blocked and all the M50i's had both open.

[MB21]

Originally Posted by mitch57

Interesting. So BMW obviously made a change in the standard option package in 2020. I have a 2020 40i and I do NOT have the towing package. However, it does come standard with option "8SL Trailer hitch prewiring" which I'm guessing adds the extra radiator for towing on the front passenger side grill/bumper.

Apparently the 2019 model did not come standard with this option. I also do NOT have the cold weather package either but I DO have front ventilated seats. So obviously one of these options added the extra radiator as you can see in the attached picture on my X7.

Looks like this extra radiator is half the size then what is on M50i so there are different sizes of radiators then as well

[ivinioX7]

Originally Posted by mitch57

Interesting. So BMW obviously made a change in the standard option package in 2020. I have a 2020 40i and I do NOT have the towing package. However, it does come standard with option "8SL Trailer hitch prewiring" which I'm guessing adds the extra radiator for towing on the front passenger side grill/bumper.

Apparently the 2019 model did not come standard with this option. I also do NOT have the cold weather package either but I DO have front ventilated seats. So obviously one of these options added the extra radiator as you can see in the attached picture on my X7.

How can I tell if my 2020 40i M has the 8SL Trailer hitch prewiring?

[mitch57]

Originally Posted by ivinioX7

How can I tell if my 2020 40i M has the 8SL Trailer hitch prewiring?

Enter your VIN # here.

[ivinioX7]

Mitch57: You’re awesome! Thank you for the link. It turns out my vehicle IS prewired.