can i tow my x5 wit my rv

[pimpass745li]

does anyone know or has towed an x5 3.0 wit an rv witout having to do anything to the transmision or anything like that i allready have the tow bar for it but i dont know if i have to do anything to the truck any help will be appreciated

[jcl10]

No, except for very limited distances and at relatively low speeds, unless you remove the driveshafts. Your manual lists the limits for your year and model.

See this thread for a summary:

http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/showthread.php?t=151872&highlight=flat+towing

[beckygould]

we just purchased a 01 x5 and had the after market reese hitch put on. After the hitch was put on, they told us we would have to buy the bmw electrical four way. Bmw wants to sell us the entire hitch kit for $500 which includes the electrical. They they want to charge us for 2-4 hours labor! Crazy! Any after market parts available to help us get this hooked up? thanks
Becky

[Bvanw]

If you do a search, you will discover that most members will strongly recommend the BMW OEM hitch. Our local dealer was close to $1000 installed.

Ebay had a dealer selling there BMW hitch & wiring for $395 plus shipping. Just checked a few minutes ago and it expired, but keep watching.

Good instructions on this site for doing it yourself also.

[jcl10]

I highly recommend you use the BMW electrical connection, whichever hitch you choose.

BMW sells the hitch by itself, the electrical connection by itself, or both together. You appear to have been quoted for both together. IIRC, the electrical by itself is a few hundred. The BMW lighting is multiplexed (multiple signals in a single wire) and has complications such as sensors for failed bulbs. Hooking up simple wire taps can lead to problems (lots of history on this on the boards). The electrical connection from BMW includes features like deactivation of the rear PDC sensors when a trailer is connected, and takes advantage of the trailer stability control program in the DSC.

[jek889]

I thought the XDrive system does not allow the vehicle to be towed at all? That's why you got to use a flatbed towtruck to haul an X or the axles will keep spinning if towed from one end only. I've read this on several X5 discussion sites. Anyone know for sure?

[jcl10]

Yes, the manual is very clear on this.

Flat towing is fine, for limited speed and distance. See my post above. The limits are different for pre-X drive and for X drive models.

With the X drive, you should not tow with one end lifted, unless you use a dolly at the other end (which would be standard practice for any reasonable tow-truck driver towing an all-wheel-drive vehicle).

There are lots of claims that you need a flatdeck, but they are not based on BMW information/requirements, more on owner paranoia. Having said that, if a flatdeck is available, and the vehicle can be loaded without damaging it due to the sharp approach and departure angles, it isn't a bad idea at all.

(ex CAA tow-truck driver speaking. CAA is the Canadian AAA)