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European BMW OEM electric hitch retrofit

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6.8K views 17 replies 7 participants last post by  LJK  
#1 ·
I am keen to add a European i4 electric hitch. The "kit" is available on ebay:

Sorry for this HUGE link.
I live in Kingston Ontario and the BMW dealers in the area are distinctly disinterested and discouraging, stating BMW Canada does NOT have a towing rating for my vehicle (nor for the iX). We know these vehicles have towing ratings. I'm pretty sure the local Imports body shop (they are GREAT) will install this if I buy it. I also understand however the stability control software needs to be readjusted if I proceed with this. The guy in Germany who is selling this tells me he can get someone to do this for me remotely. I of course remain skeptical. Has anyone experience with this yet?

I want to use the hitch primarily for my Thule rack (there's an easy workaround for the ball diameter incompatibility). And I have a 12' aluminum boat on a light trailer I want to haul around. I'm just really anxious to be the first one to do this. Advice?
Thanks
 
#2 ·

 
#4 ·
Our salesperson at the dealership here in Kingston tells me "both BMW i vehicles do NOT have any trailer ratings in Canada", as in "do NOT put a hitch on your car". I suspect this is the same story in the US. Of course, towing and tongue capacities are the same: they're the same vehicles. The only reason for this I can imagine is our "safety" regulations have an "approval" process (red tape). I wonder now if the BMW 4 series has an electric hitch (it very likely does). I've not seen a BMW with such a hitch here/ever yet... I must go back to Germany before long. I REALLY miss their cleanliness and organization.
Mostly I've only seen their SUVs with hitches, those square boxes underneath the license plate. Were I to get a hitch for any BMW, if not OEM, I'd get a stealth or hidden hitch. In fact, I almost did this, but the idea of cutting that hole in the plastic undercarriage and splicing wires so turned me off. Further, then I realized there is a software change required for the stability control system and deactivation of the rear sensors when the trailer wires are plugged in.
I'm looking for someone who's done the BMW OEM electric retrofit somewhere in the world on the i4. I can buy this equipment on eBay. In my opinion it is VERY expensive. However, once I understand it can be done, I'm comfortable with how and know it will not void my warranty, I'll spend the money to remain BMW "pure".
I'm not at all interested in camper trailers (that was for my much younger times). A roof top canoe and a tent, yes, if I could get someone to come along with me. Our area is a land of lakes, with more lake area than land. Our idea of camping now is a Best Western.
All I want this hitch for is my bike rack, a small utility trailer and small 12 foot aluminum boat trailer... and the super cool idea of electric deployment. The European ball is smaller than ours, I'll get around this if the need comes.
Canada puts tons (literally) of salt and sand on our roads in the winter, that's another worry I have about this kit. Does Europe do this also? The 4WD of our M50 and iX is super sweet in the snow. We have a very long lane into the house and my car feels like a super luxury comfortable silent surefooted snowmobile! Mildest winter ever here, by far, in more than 30 years. Oh the curse of being "woke" eh.
 
#8 ·
I haven't a clue, yet. You see, I don't have the hitch... yet. I was really hoping someone here has already "been there/done this" with BMW's electric hitch retrofit. :-( Still hoping eh. The guy on eBay told me he's sold em already and will hook me up with a satisfied customer. Still waiting for this also. IF we do this, I totally agree with you, I don't imagine the 50 mm vs 2" ball size is significant. Mind you I am so not hitch experienced and worry sometimes that slight bit of play may prove very important at 60 mph braking.
 
#10 ·
I have been waiting to hear from the guy selling the OEM electric hitch for the i4 on eBay, hoping to connect with a customer of his who has successfully done this already. He replied just now saying his customer in the US who bought his kit then bought a Tesla and is prepared to sell me his kit for even less. I'm hoping to connect with this customer next. This is one of many videos on the OEM electric hitch:
It isn't as simple as installing the hitch, the car's coding needs to be updated so the rear sensors are deactivated (I think) when a trailer is plugged into the electric and most importantly the car's stability control system is tweaked to better accommodate trailer sway.
I've reached out to bimmer coder a while ago: no response and as you can imagine, the idea of changing coding is daunting for someone who has never ever even thought of changing stuff like this, let alone even having a clue how it is done. Reading stuff like "bricking" is quite terrorizing for me eh.
Searching for "hitch" here I see 16 pages of entries, I'll read them all now, but glancing through it I see no serious solutions yet.
The kit is going to run me >2G US, AND I'm worried about my warranty. So clearly I'm not going to do this unless I'm quite sure it is doable, right? I think there sure is interest here and it would be super super fun if I can make this a successful go and share the how to here.
Any ideas?
 
#12 ·
I agree with your logic and intent. If it works in EU why not in CA.

Those ominous words "has no rating in CA" sounds like code for "invalidates your insurance".

Whatever the event they can always say that the hitch load increased braking distance.

Yes it is bureaucracy and red tape. But remember Gulliver's travels. The Lilliputians caught the giant because eventually he had to sleep.
 
#13 ·
Actually, yesterday I watched a British YouTube with an iX 60 haul a HUGE twin axle camper trailer. The trailer actually had its own antilock stability system! It was a tediously long video with a before trip looking at mileage and I think it concluded adding the trailer halved the mileage to a range of like only 60 miles or so, sorry to say I guess I really wasn't interested in that, all I wanted to see was the hitch deploy and how "hidden" it was, to my satisfaction.
I only want to haul a 12 foot aluminum boat 2 guys can easily lift onto a simple roof rack. In fact, when I was a kid, I used to put the boat on that old clamp on roof rack by myself. Attached is a pic of a rack I put on my Prius to haul it back to Kingston.
Image

If I can't get this electric hitch, I'll look into a roof rack for our iX 50 or the i4, if it will take this load. And I sure hope not, maybe even a roof rack for our two bikes? As you can imagine, a hitch is WAY more attractive, functional and practical.
It doesn't look like anyone has done this yet. How do I find out more about coding? Hey, I maybe the only Lilliputian on this? Alone they can't do much eh!
Image
 
#15 ·
I am pretty sure Thule has a solution for this ball size issue. Not at all sure for my boat trailer though. The two issues that shies me off the stealth hitch is cutting that hole in the underskirt and splicing wires. Also of course, the "bimmer-coding" for the stability control.
My dealer did say, they have no concerns if I went stealth hitch only for the bike rack and I didn't start splicing wires and towing stuff.
For sure, I am a purist and always want to go OEM if I can. I always have been, with most things. This for instance has a lot to do with the retained value of antiques. And especially BMW builds... mind you I came very close to adding bluetooth to my 2003 320i: Was that ever a beauty car! We kept it for 20 yrs, only needed to do brakes once, change tires and oil. She drove like the day we bought it until we sold it very recently for $1,000 to a very happy young man.
 
#16 ·
You could always use a universal non splicing Tekonsha 119250 T-Connector for the wiring harness.

In QC we can't keep our cars 20 years, just too much road salt and gravel during the winters, especially when you live near Montreal.

A little nostalgia hear best winter car I ever owned was a 1990 325 ix.
 
#17 ·
I had the same tow bar fitted to my X3, its not a simple bolt on, the rear supporting chassis bar had to be replaced where everything is mounted, there needed to be wiring routed all through the car and because my X3 didnt have the extended fuse box in the rear that had to be replaced, I would check with a local installer to see how much hassle itll be before you buy the tow bar.
 
#18 ·
I have this feeling that tells me this is a bad idea and THANK YOU for nudging me along in the right direction. Weird thing with me and my "instincts" (for lack of a better term) although I can't think of a time they failed me, and after all these years no less) I still don't listen to em when something sexy (like this too cool electric hitch) comes around. This mistake for me is also much easier to see cuz even this initial coin is daunting. Like 2G US just for the kit, which I now thankfully understand is incomplete.
I did contact the cider in Malaysia and was about to buy the ODB to ethernet cable to TeamViewer with him next cuz he isn't sure he can even get through the new security he thinks BMW has now to protect) and control) their software.
He hasn't tried to code the i4 or iX yet. These cars have BMW's latest software (that's still a wee bit buggy: NBD). Another instinct told me he won't be able to get in. Does anyone know if this is true?
Sales guy tells me now that America will get this hitch before long.
I am so keen to see what's next with BMW's environmentally friendly tech. I am good, so good with what I have now. Keen to share it second hand soon as BMW goes to the what's next.
I drive like 99% of the time in Eco Pro. Haven't used power boost. This machine has already almost made me pee my pants when I trompted it passing a transport trailer on the 401 coming up that steep hill into Kingston. 🤣
Trailer can wait until dealer can put it in or my next BMW in a few years.
Don't forget, BMW went hydrogen first, Toyota sees this also. Hydrogen is the answer, if only the fossil fuel greed finally is extinguished. OH the headache of woke! LOL