Hidden Hitch Install
I installed a
Hidden Hitch 2" receiver hitch and
Rearguard bumper guard last weekend. Regarding the Rearguard, just want to say that the X-Line/Sport-Line guard fit my 2014 X1 xDrive28i base model perfectly.
We considered the
Invis-Hitch (Execu-Hitch). We opted for the Hidden Hitch because adding a bike rack would be a one step process with as little weight and as few connections as possible (my wife will often be putting the rack on and pulling it off herself).
The
Hidden Hitch (and Draw Tight - same hitch) have a towing capacity rated to 3500 lbs and a max. tongue weight of 400 lbs. The Curt is rated to tow 2500 lbs. with a max. tongue weight of 250 lbs. The Curt hitch "requires" top stabilization straps for a "vertical load" such as a bike rack. Hidden Hitch does not require additional straps.
I am very pleased with the quality of the rack but the install was an adventure. On a 2014, the instructions say to remove the two lower trim pieces on the rear bumper. This does not leave you enough room to properly reach the top four bolts attaching the bumper (all six bolts are best reached with a deep socket and an 8" extension - not too mention doing so with a torque wrench or any wrench that would have enough leverage to properly tighten the nuts).
After removing the lowest rear trim piece, it was clear that little more would be gained by removing the second piece of trim. At this point I decided to remove the entire rear bumper. This meant first removing the tail lights and detaching the the rearmost half of the wheel well trim (and punching out two plastic rivets on each side - the entire job required 6 new rivets -
Harbor Freight carries a plastic rivet gun that comes with 40 rivets, 10 of which are large enough to be used to re-secure your trim).
I have watched video of the tail lights being removed on a 2012 X1. There are plastic strips of trim on the inside of the lights (covered by the rear hatch) that are pried off to reveal bolts holding on the tail lights. The tail lights on my 2014 X1 appear to have similar pieces of trim hiding the bolts attaching the lights. DO NOT PRY THESE TRIM PIECES OFF, THEY ARE PART OF THE TAIL LIGHT AND PRYING WILL LIKELY BREAK YOUR NEW TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY. MY 2014 X1 tail lights attach with three small nuts accessed through small doors on each side of the cargo area near the lights.
Two other notes. The bolts holding on the bumper protrude approx 1.25 inches beyond the nuts threaded onto them. If you are using a socket wrench (and I just don't see doing this job properly with an open ended wrench), a DEEP 18 mm (or 3/4 in) socket is needed to remove and secure these nuts. Also, the instructions suggest you loosen (not remove) the third nut holding the bumper on (the one nut on each side that the hitch does not use). Don't just loosen this nut, back it off until it is at the end of the bolt (leaving it on just enough to hold your steel bumper in place). Doing so allows you to pull the bumper rearward which is the only way I could find to clear the exhaust control valve with the hitch. I positioned the hitch on the bolts and then slipped the additional washers on to the bolts (between the hitch and the frame) one at a time.
It also helps to pull off the left (outside) muffler hanger (in addition to removing the nut holding the inside hanger) so that the muffler can be moved far enough out of the way for the hitch to clear everything.
Taking the entire plastic bumper and both tail lights off was a bit more work (would have been less work if I hadn't followed the instructions to remove the lower trim pieces first) but it allowed me to move the bumper backwards and secure EVERYTHING to spec.
I called etralier.com after this install and spoke with a technician. He said that I wasn't the first to comment on the poor installation instructions. He agreed that the X1 hitch install was one of the more difficult installs. The inadequate instructions didn't help.
Hope this helps (assuming you're still reading this)!
ETA: Upsides are that the hitch is very well made and once in position fits perfectly. Job took about 3+ hours. Backed rear of vehicle onto ramps which helped a great deal with access and getting hitch into position. Pictures to come. _sl_