New X3 3.0si...towing capacity

[MarcusSDCA]

I already can guess that the answer is "no change" but since they are upping the ponies in the new X3 will the towing capacity increase? I realize that the HP alone doesn't make a towing vehicle more capable but I thought I'd ask. TIA :)

[adc]

I already can guess that the answer is "no change" but since they are upping the ponies in the new X3 will the towing capacity increase? I realize that the HP alone doesn't make a towing vehicle more capable but I thought I'd ask. TIA :)

I thought when they had the 2.5L and 3.0L variants, towing capacity was the same. As far as I understand it, it's more a function of frame and brakes than it is of HP.

[pilotman]

does anyone seriously tow anything with an X3?!

If I were interested in towing I sure as hell wouldn't do it with my beloved BMW.

[adc]

If I were interested in towing I sure as hell wouldn't do it with my beloved BMW.

Well I have a ZHP and an X3 - which would you rather tow with?

The X3 is rated to 3500lbs if I'm not mistaken, so it would probably be ok with a small boat, ski-do, small trailer, bike carrier etc. I mean why not, if it was designed with it in mind? :dunno:

[MarcusSDCA]

does anyone seriously tow anything with an X3?!

If I were interested in towing I sure as hell wouldn't do it with my beloved BMW.

Then you'd REALLY be shocked by all of the trailer hitches on BMW sedans in Europe.

[AzNMpower32]

Then you'd REALLY be shocked by all of the trailer hitches on BMW sedans in Europe.

I saw "trailer hitch" as an option on a lot of the BMW sedans in europe. I can imagine a 320i towing.......or for that matter, a X3 2.0i :rofl:

[tagheuer]

Then you'd REALLY be shocked by all of the trailer hitches on BMW sedans in Europe.

Naw, I saw plenty of retards towing stuff with four banger sedans in the Alps when I was on my ED a few months ago. And that was downright dangerous. IMO, BMW's aren't really designed for towing.

[adc]

Naw, I saw plenty of retards towing stuff with four banger sedans in the Alps when I was on my ED a few months ago. And that was downright dangerous. IMO, BMW's aren't really designed for towing.

Retards? :confused: Dude, they work with what they have... just because you're not used to it doesn't mean it's wrong. Talk about attitude... :thumbdwn:

Any car that lists a towing capacity was designed to tow, within those limits. And in general, cars like BMW and Audi are on the over-engineered side.

[pilotman]

Retards? :confused: Dude, they work with what they have... just because you're not used to it doesn't mean it's wrong. Talk about attitude... :thumbdwn:

Any car that lists a towing capacity was designed to tow, within those limits. And in general, cars like BMW and Audi are on the over-engineered side.

I don't have attitude, I don't think it is inappropriate to tow heavy things with vehicles that aren't really designed for it.

You can say that virtually any car *can* tow something, hell, even a porsche could tow something with the power and torque.

My point was the many of the cars I saw towing things were underpowered and created a safety hazard for others on the road.

It is not a good combination to have a wimpy little 4 cylinder fiat towing a heavy trailer in the right lane with high powered cars doing 120+ in the left lane.

Sure, you *can* tow a trailer with a Honda Accord, but why would you want to?


Just my observations.

[adc]

Sure, you *can* tow a trailer with a Honda Accord, but why would you want to?

Well if the only car you have is the Accord, and you need to tow - then what do you do???

Europe is way different than the US in this respect. As a general rule, people seem to make more with less in terms of consumption and goods. As far as automobiles are concerned, gas is a lot more expensive and taxes are a killer too - and they're based on engine capacity.

This leads to a propensity of small 4 cyl cars Very few people can afford SUVs as their only car. In the US you can always buy a used pick-up truck for a couple of grand, and insure it only when needed to tow. Fuel consumption is not a concern in this situation. But in Europe, they simply cannot afford to do this. :dunno:

So they tow around in their little 4 cyl cars, and if you want to go faster you need to pay attention. They are a lot more disciplined than in the US, passing laws are *strictly* respected, slower cars keep to the right - I don't think there are any safety concerns with them driving 60 in the right lane and everyone else doing 120 in the left lane. It's just a matter of discipline and road courtesy.

[pilotman]

Well if the only car you have is the Accord, and you need to tow - then what do you do???

Europe is way different than the US in this respect. As a general rule, people seem to make more with less in terms of consumption and goods. As far as automobiles are concerned, gas is a lot more expensive and taxes are a killer too - and they're based on engine capacity.

This leads to a propensity of small 4 cyl cars Very few people can afford SUVs as their only car. In the US you can always buy a used pick-up truck for a couple of grand, and insure it only when needed to tow. Fuel consumption is not a concern in this situation. But in Europe, they simply cannot afford to do this. :dunno:

So they tow around in their little 4 cyl cars, and if you want to go faster you need to pay attention. They are a lot more disciplined than in the US, passing laws are *strictly* respected, slower cars keep to the right - I don't think there are any safety concerns with them driving 60 in the right lane and everyone else doing 120 in the left lane. It's just a matter of discipline and road courtesy.

I don't necessarily disagree with you. However, I experienced on two occasions a car towing a trailer that shouldn't have been which almost killed me. Both instances involved merging onto the autobahn on the notoriously short on ramps. Both cases the driver towing his trailer (one was a camper, don't remember other) felt he didn't have enough power at the last minute and decided to come to a complete stop in the merge lane. (There were some big Volvo semis bearing down in the right lane and this guy wisely decided not to merge). But he went from 60 to a complete stop in a very dangerous manuver and forced me and a bunch of other cars behind me to stop. The guy in the porsche behind me almost hit me.

Not cool. :thumbdwn: