I have to tow with my 328ic for 1200 miles

I am kind of upset. My towing vehicles rear differental is on its way out so I have to tow with my 96 328ic. Whats the most weight you can put on the car? What should I do to prepar for the 1200 mile trip each way? I am guessing I should change the oil in the rear differental? I will also check the berrings. I am really nervous about towing with my car. Please recomend a trailer hitch. I am bring dirt bikes and its an auto clutch.

bump

I was waiting for someone with first hand knowledge to answer, but since no one has I will through out my "2-cents worth".

I know someone that regularly pulls a 900lb trailer behind an M3 at 80mph on the highway and has had no problems. He had a receiver hitch installed below the rear valance welded to the spare tire hold, and has never bottomed out or dragged the hitch. He had a manual trans, so you might watch your fluids in the auto, maybe keep it in 3rd except for on the highway.

I guess there are two schools of thought on trailers and BMWs: Those who are against it as it isn't a towing vehicle, and those who believe your car should be suited to your needs not its needs. Anyways I always see guys in 5ers pulling trailers with golf carts.

Try searching these forums for some of the past discussions on this subject, I think there was something in the E46 forum not too long ago. I'm in the process of adding a hitch to my 95 325iC, mostly so I can haul my mountain bike around on a hitch-mount rack, but do plan to take advantage of a nice little trailer I inherited from my folks. They used it to haul camping gear and such with cars (this is back in the day) including a Volkswagen Dasher, VW Jetta, and Honda Civic and Accord. All of these cars (all manual except for the Accord) lived full and healthy lives without any transmission problems.

The hitch I'm looking at is a Curt hitch, best price by far that I've found is through drophitch.com.

Good luck!

I just installed a hitch on my 318 and hauled a jetski (total weight 900#) 1200 mi last week. Could hardly tell that I had anything back there, so I'm sure that your 6 cyl will have no problem at all. Relax and enjoy the trip!

Chris

I see that yu have an auto trans. I'd highly recommend a trans cooler since you'll be towing in the heat of summer. Heat is the number one killer of auto transmissions. A cooler is very cheap insurance.