[BMW_Belgier]

Originally Posted by krhodes1

As previously pointed out, this hitch is only rated for 2000lbs (~850Kg). The Bosal hitch is probably rated for as much as the car is, and so is far more robust.

US trailer wiring is VERY different from that used in Europe - typically only four wires in a flat connector. They are rarely integrated into the hitch until you get up to the big hitches used on trucks. The wire for the lights is just stuffed into the trunk until you need it, then you run it out over the trunk seal. Not exactly elegant, but it works.

THX for the info! If i would have all that work for mounting this thing, why not buying the right one in the first place...?

[e92oholic]

heres a guy who makes customs hitches check these out, dont know how much but a 335 towing a boat

https://www.facebook.com/jtfab41

[fun2drive]

I have seen that hitch a few times and would have no issues drilling into mine. Price is excellent but I bought a Subaru Outback to take care of those issues of towing. While I was stationed in Europe I saw the Bosal hitch all the time on all types of vehicles. Small cars pulling campers were pretty common on a Friday afternoon and Sunday morning...

[krhodes1]

Originally Posted by BMW_Belgier

THX for the info! If i would have all that work for mounting this thing, why not buying the right one in the first place...?

Well, THIS hitch is <$100, and servicable for the sorts of uses it is meant for. A proper European hitch on this side of the pond is more like $7-800 (if you can even find one), and pretty much no one over here would use it in the way it is meant to be used.

[ryan stewart]

Originally Posted by NeoItaly1

To much damn work just to put a bike rack on the back. I would just buy a roof mount bike rack before tearing the back of my 335i apart...

Its safer. Not having to lift the bike to the top of the car, not running the risk of dropping something on your roof, etc.

Originally Posted by e60oholic

I would rather bolt to the frame then how the other ones mount. Every other hitch I found you have to see it all the time while this one you dont when you remove the ball assembly.

Well I want to bolt to the frame, for sure. I just dont want to be modifying the frame if possible. Sure I can prime/paint/plasticote but it wouldnt be as durable as the factory finish and Id like to be able to remove it it needed without any evidence of it being there.

As for visibility I am not too concerned with having a small port down there. I bought a beige wagon, this thing is an appliance to me.

[synapse88]

So where's the best place to buy the adapters (so you can actually use this hitch)?

Looks like $50 and up from what I've seen...

I just wanna be able to carry bikes.

[kdbryce]

looks like it's time for new tires

[e92oholic]

Originally Posted by synapse88

So where's the best place to buy the adapters (so you can actually use this hitch)?

Looks like $50 and up from what I've seen...

I just wanna be able to carry bikes.

Mine came with the adapters. If you get a bike carrier with the 1 1/4 inch receiver your all set

And yes everyone I have new tires!

Im actually about to do the trailer light wiring too, if i can figure it out ill post the info here too seeing i cant find it anywhere else.

[unrealii]

I've had this hitch installed for a few months and love it!

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=268660 <- see my posts on page 2

It can be installed without removing the bumper. I paid a shop which was very experienced in installing hitches to install mine and they did it without removing the bumper.

[Otruba_843]

Seadoo for the win The handling is amazing

[e92oholic]

Okay I did the trailer wiring today here you go,

What you will need, Curt 59146 Converter and Wiring Kit (cost me 60 bucks overnighted)
An extra 3-4 feet of 18-22 ga wire.
Crimpers, strippers, pliers.

Its all very simple just trying to find the wiring for the correct color is the hardest part. I just used a test light and guess for the brake lights seeing I was doing it alone and couldn't hit the pedal. I found a place for all the wiring diagrams: http://wds.spaghetticoder.org

So

On my car 2008 E92

Right Rear Turn Signal - Blue with brown tracer
Left Rear Turn Signal - Blue with green tracer
Brake light white with yellow tracer
Running Light - Yellow with Purple tracer ( I used the one coming out of the trunk lid harness, wire also appears at the right rear tail light)
Ground I used the stud for the tail light bolt
Power went to the top of the battery.

Have it all hooked up and working, seeing the box is powered I have no bulb out errors or anything. I used all the wire taps that came in the package seeing I was out of my 3M T TAPS but it worked the same. So my total for the hitch is under 150 bucks installed not bad at all. I have photos of the wiring I will upload later.

[e92oholic]

Well back from my 600 mile trip and the 335 is an awesome tow vehicle! Pulled my Seadoo perfectly could barely even tell it was back there! Gas mileage was pretty poor 21 mpg average vs 28 normal but it was a nice ride. I guess if i slowed down to 72 ish it would have been better but I was doing 80.

The best part was seeing everyones face at the launch ramp ( i was told by some country folk with a big f350 diesel that they were ready to pull my car out of the water) hahahaha yeah right.

The launch ramp was so easy, hill assist worked great. Made pulling the seadoo out of the water effortless plenty of time to work the clutch and not roll back one inch. I made sure to keep my tires out of the water.

But for under 200 bucks I could not be happier! Beats driving a beater truck!

Next thing I must do is plasti dip those trailer wheels!

Edit: The car is only riding so low because the back seat and truck was loaded to the max with tons of camping supplies. With just the seadoo on the back is only drop 1/4 an inch.

[fun2drive]

Thanks e60. I bought the hitch through Amazon and it doesn't come with the adaptor so I bought one on eBay which is a Curt manufacture. I decided I will install this like you did even though I have a new Outback coming.
Appreciate the wiring info as well and plan to follow your wiring advice. I tow a Yamaha FX-140 which is pretty heavy at over 900 pounds with a 250 pound trailer so a robust hitch is a must and this one is robust from what I have seen.
Bosal is way expensive and way overkill for towing something maybe 10 times during the life of the car.
Love to hear an update if anything has happened.
One question
Were the directions fairly clear regarding the install? I can remove the bumper and that should allow things to go well from that point down. I assume you just slipped the mufflers off their metal hangers to get it out of the way and the heat shield needs to come off or just bend it around the areas that it interfers with?

Also I will take any pics you have of the process if you took any. My email address is flybarons@hotmail.com.....
...

[e92oholic]

Originally Posted by fun2drive

Thanks e60. I bought the hitch through Amazon and it doesn't come with the adaptor so I bought one on eBay which is a Curt manufacture. I decided I will install this like you did even though I have a new Outback coming.
Appreciate the wiring info as well and plan to follow your wiring advice. I tow a Yamaha FX-140 which is pretty heavy at over 900 pounds with a 250 pound trailer so a robust hitch is a must and this one is robust from what I have seen.
Bosal is way expensive and way overkill for towing something maybe 10 times during the life of the car.
Love to hear an update if anything has happened.
One question
Were the directions fairly clear regarding the install? I can remove the bumper and that should allow things to go well from that point down. I assume you just slipped the mufflers off their metal hangers to get it out of the way and the heat shield needs to come off or just bend it around the areas that it interfers with?

Also I will take any pics you have of the process if you took any. My email address is flybarons@hotmail.com.....
...

Thats odd it didn't come with the adapters, mine did. The instructions were very generic. I would remove the bumper it makes it so much easier, the instructions wanted you to cut another hole in the frame to drop the bolts in from the top, well I refused to do that, with the bumper off you don't need to cut any holes just drop them inside the frame. As for the exhaust we just unbolted the hangers and dropped it that way. Heat shields must come off, they do not need to be cut like the instructions say. Just bend over them. If you have any questions PM me and ill shoot you my number if that makes it easier.

[BMW_Belgier]

Originally Posted by e60oholic

Well back from my 600 mile trip and the 335 is an awesome tow vehicle! Pulled my Seadoo perfectly could barely even tell it was back there! Gas mileage was pretty poor 21 mpg average vs 28 normal but it was a nice ride. I guess if i slowed down to 72 ish it would have been better but I was doing 80.

The best part was seeing everyones face at the launch ramp ( i was told by some country folk with a big f350 diesel that they were ready to pull my car out of the water) hahahaha yeah right.

The launch ramp was so easy, hill assist worked great. Made pulling the seadoo out of the water effortless plenty of time to work the clutch and not roll back one inch. I made sure to keep my tires out of the water.

But for under 200 bucks I could not be happier! Beats driving a beater truck!

Next thing I must do is plasti dip those trailer wheels!

Edit: The car is only riding so low because the back seat and truck was loaded to the max with tons of camping supplies. With just the seadoo on the back is only drop 1/4 an inch.

OP: Great that you enjoyed the towing

I already said it enough... don't know why you americans don't trust a BMW towing

It is a great car to tow Lots of torque, electronics that will assist you,...

NOTE: You guys don't need no big trucks to tow!!!

[fun2drive]

Yeah we do need big trucks to tow. I tow or used to Bobcats and they weigh a lot. But for simple applications like a jet ski you are right. I towed mine with an E30 5spd and it worked just fine.

e60 thanks for the offer. I am not able to get started on this project for a month since I have to do a house closing and move stuff out but will take you up on that offer. Much appreciate the insight.
I have access to a lift or can do this on my garage floor. Not sure if the lift will make this job a lot easier or not. Any insight?
Thanks

[e92oholic]

Originally Posted by fun2drive

Yeah we do need big trucks to tow. I tow or used to Bobcats and they weigh a lot. But for simple applications like a jet ski you are right. I towed mine with an E30 5spd and it worked just fine.

e60 thanks for the offer. I am not able to get started on this project for a month since I have to do a house closing and move stuff out but will take you up on that offer. Much appreciate the insight.
I have access to a lift or can do this on my garage floor. Not sure if the lift will make this job a lot easier or not. Any insight?
Thanks

We have access to a lift also but we didn't feel like driving to the shop to do it. The lift maybe would have taken 5 mins off the install time. We just jacked the rear up till the front bumper was almost touching the ground.

Pics are up for wiring also!

[fun2drive]

OK thanks I guess I will do this in the garage then...

[fun2drive]

e60
Ordered the Curt 59146 wiring harness so I hope to have all the kit ready when I get back to Florida to install this.
I am looking forward to giving this a go.
Thanks for all the help and will email you more questions as I have them.
Thanks

[spiike32]

I ordered one as well. Can't wait to pull my jetboat that I dont have yet.

The only issue I would have is if the car would have any issues pulling the boat out of the water. Usually those boat launches are quite slippery with everyone going in and out.

[e92oholic]

Originally Posted by spiike32

I ordered one as well. Can't wait to pull my jetboat that I dont have yet.

The only issue I would have is if the car would have any issues pulling the boat out of the water. Usually those boat launches are quite slippery with everyone going in and out.

Thats what I was nervous about too with my car being RWD and stick. But when I pulled mine how I decided to see if hill hold would still work even with the seadoo behind the car and it did! Plenty of time to clutch and go. If your automatic its easy too. I just had my girlfriend watch and tell me before the rear tires hit the water. A spray can of liquid rollers on your trailer bunks works great.

[fun2drive]

I installed an extended tongue on my jetski so the tires never get close to the water. That said the hitch has been delivered and I can't get to it for a while but appreciate e60's pics and write up should make the job go much easier. I plan to use posi-taps not the vampire clamps that come with the Curt kit because I like them a lot more for installation. Other than that I plan to follow e60's install...