Anyone ever have a hitch installed with all associated electrical hook ups? I'm on calendar day 16 since my X5 hit the shop still with no success.

yikes... which shop? It takes about 4 hours to install everything. Unless a part isn't available. Or a porter runs your car into a wall. Then it takes longer.

problem. I'm with you, $20 the vehicle fell off the lift during the 1 year service. First stop when I get it back is at a body shop to figure out what has been repaired.

I am having the same problem right now with my trailer kit. Did they call you yet to tell you they solved the problem? This freaking sucks.

Call them every day or they will forget about you.

They may be having problems with the reprogramming that is necessary after the hitch install. It's possible that one or more control modules failed during programming and maybe they are having a hard time getting a replacement part(?).

Call them and find out what's going on. It sounds like you've just been sitting at home waiting for them to call you and let you know it's done, and gee, it's been 3 weeks and they haven't called. NO REPAIR TAKES 16 DAYS. I can get a tech to build you an engine from scratch and install it with a Dinan supercharger, install a big-brake kit, Dianan suspension, new tires and add LED lights to the cluster and neon undercarriage lighting in less time than they've taken so far.

The story is as you suggested, problems with programming brake modules. Supposedly, BMW NA also "gave up" and said they don't have software that will work with the brake module.

I'm picking up the car today, will let you know how much bodywork was completed in the last 3 weeks.

The hitch on my Nissan p/u took 2 hours to install including all braking control modules worked perfectly.

ohhh... when you say "brake module", do you mean a trailer brake box? Or a module that came with the car?

I found out today that BMW has announced the release of their next version of software that includes the fix for the X5 trailer hitch glitch in the current version. It comes out in a couple of weeks.

Just ordered a new 35d and the dealer wanted $1,200 to install and program the hitch. As I did it with little difficulty on my 2002 I intend to install it on the new car.

The dealer wants $270 to program the hitch. This seems outrageous. What have you guys paid? Should this be included in my service?

removed the trailer brake box. The whole ownership experience has been outrageous.

did they give you a loaner vehicle while the issue was being sorted out? was any body work done?

Just ordered a new 35d and the dealer wanted $1,200 to install and program the hitch. As I did it with little difficulty on my 2002 I intend to install it on the new car.

The dealer wants $270 to program the hitch. This seems outrageous. What have you guys paid? Should this be included in my service?


BMW tells us that trailer lights can't be made to work without programming the vehicle so that it knows there's a trailer there. E46 didn't have those same electronics. I put a hitch on my E30 and didn't need to program it either.... but it's not the same thing.

Here's my pics from my install. I have not had the dealer "program" anything yet. Do I have to?

http://www.xoutpost.com/bmw-sav-forums/x5-e70-forum/56986-tow-hitch-e70.html