28 vs 35 for Towing purposes

I know a lot of you drive your 35 Msports like race cars but a big reason we are considering the X3 is because it is an SUV (or SAV).

Anybody know if there are different ratings for the 28 vs 35i as far as towing capacity? I know the threads where people have gotten the hitch installed usually throw out a number of 3500 lbs as the limit.

The only difference I can find online is that the order guide says the 28 comes with "8SL Trailer hitch prewiring" whereas the 35i does not seem to come with this. Does that mean it would be easier / cheaper to install a hitch on the 28?

I don't have any factual information for you, but I would imagine the extra torque in the 35 would make it nicer to tow with.

Originally Posted by jsublime

The only difference I can find online is that the order guide says the 28 comes with "8SL Trailer hitch prewiring" whereas the 35i does not seem to come with this. Does that mean it would be easier / cheaper to install a hitch on the 28?

my 2011 came with the trailer hitch pre wire option. i have read towing capacities from 3500-5000lbs. i tow a 700# jetski, and am currently looking at pop-up campers under 3500#.

hitch install is 4-5 hours. the rear bumper cover and wheel well trims must be removed. extremely clean and hidden install. you can see the 4way, the 7way and the small cover over the hitch mounting point, but everything is black so not overly noticeable.

Call to my dealer verified the US version 35i has a max towing rating of 3500# with a 350# tongue capacity.

Originally Posted by Fjrmann

Call to my dealer verified the US version 35i has a max towing rating of 3500# with a 350# tongue capacity.

Thanks!

We have never seen a U.S. version of the X3 that did not come standard with the factory tow-prep wiring (the "8SL" package), whether the 28i or the 35i. I have no idea why the 8SL wiring would not be listed on the equipment list for the 35. We have certainly installed many hitches on the 35i, and all have had the factory tow-prep wiring.

Also, the 3,500 lb towing capacity for the X3 that BMW asserts in North America is actually limited by the Class 2 dealer hitch, not by the X3 itself. In other parts of the world where a heavier-duty, Class 3 "zero-play" hitch is the dealer hitch, BMW rates the towing capacity of the X3 at over 5,000 lbs. So it is a surprisingly stout tow vehicle when equipped with a proper Class 3 hitch.

Cheers,
Daryl
daryl@invisihitch.com

a big bonus for the factory tow-prep wiring is the ball zoom feature mode the rear camera provides.

Originally Posted by Fjrmann

a big bonus for the factory tow-prep wiring is the ball zoom feature mode the rear camera provides.

I think I know what you meant, but strictly speaking the "factory tow-prep wiring" is a reference to the 8SL wiring that comes standard on every X3. It provides the necessary connectors on the vehicle for an OEM trailer wiring harness, which you can get only with certain trailer hitches.

It is the OEM trailer wiring harness that provides certain nice features such as rear-camera "overhead zoom mode", automatic de-activation of the rear PDC sensors when a trailer is plugged in, and trailer stability control -- where the vehicle automatically initiates alternate-wheel braking to bring a snaking trailer back under control.

There are only two X3 hitches available in North America that come with the OEM trailer wiring harness: the Class 2 dealer hitch and the Class 3 invisihitch. (Our hitch comes packaged with the OEM harness because in other parts of the world the invisihitch is indeed the official BMW dealer hitch).

To the best of my knowledge, the X3 OEM trailer wiring harness is not available anywhere in the world as a separate part. It only comes packaged with the two hitches mentioned above.

Daryl
daryl@invisihitch.com

Originally Posted by invisihitch

It is the OEM trailer wiring harness that provides certain nice features such as rear-camera "overhead zoom mode", automatic de-activation of the rear PDC sensors when a trailer is plugged in, and trailer stability control -- where the vehicle automatically initiates alternate-wheel braking to bring a snaking trailer back under control.
Daryldaryl@invisihitch.com

I didn't know about the stability control feature, nice of you to post.

I have a OEM BMW trailer hitch installed on my X.3 and it's a class III. The local dealer installed.

More power and torque are always a plus when towing so I'm guessing the 35i would be a better tow vehicle. I tow my two snowmobiles with mine and it is a great tow vehicle for me.

Originally Posted by Doug in NC

I have a OEM BMW trailer hitch installed on my X.3 and it's a class III. The local dealer installed.

I'm sorry, but the X3 dealer hitch is a Class 2 hitch, not a Class 3. BMW documents this fact on page 15 of its hitch installation instructions (see attached).

The only Class 3 hitch available for the X3 in North America is the invisihitch, and it comes with the exact same oem wiring harness as the dealer hitch. We spent a lot of R&D funds to attain this distinction, so I hope you don't mind my effort here to maintain a correct understanding.

-Daryl
daryl@invisihitch.com