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      04-15-2016, 09:16 AM   #1
yhbae
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What can I tow with my X3?

I have a diesel X3. I know the officially quoted towing capacity is 3500lb. But can I safely tow something in the neighborhood of 3000lb, assuming 10% tongue weight? I looked around for more info, and BMW doesn't seem to give any informations such as GVWR or GCWR.

In fact, if I recall correctly, there was no towing option when I ordered the car. Do I need to install a transmission cooler as well?

Thanks much.
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      04-16-2016, 09:05 PM   #2
Eaglesview
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I have a 2015 X3 28d with the OEM trailer hitch. Bumper had to be removed to install.

I have moved a 3500 lb trailer a short distance, i.e. Spotting in a storage yard. Seems like it is beyond the safe capability of the vehicle. However, equalizer bars, etc might make it possible. Pulled a 1,000 trailer with seemed to be well within its capabilities. So somewhere in between. Sorry, could not be more definitive.

Love the 28d.
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      04-17-2016, 09:56 AM   #3
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At least 12 kg
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      04-18-2016, 11:15 PM   #4
Portimao318
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We have a 1500kg caravan. My petrol powered X3 (2 liter 4 cil) has no problems with it, even in the hills of Croatia. I do not drive faster than 100 KMH. Most of the time I shift down to 7th gear manually, for in the 8th gear the engine just does not feel right. (Than it is too low on revs). On steep hills the combination still does 80 KMH.

1500 kg is about 3300 lbs. The X3 is allowed to tow 2000 kg (about 4400 lbs ?).
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Last edited by Portimao318; 04-18-2016 at 11:38 PM..
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      04-19-2016, 02:57 AM   #5
Peter_R
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On the UK registration certificate (V5C) on the first page it quotes under the heading:

O. Technical permissible maximum towable mass of the trailer:

O.1. braked (kg) 2000
O.2. unbraked (kg) 750


These are the official BMW figures for the vehicle.
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      04-25-2016, 11:37 PM   #6
gc3
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It depends on what hitch you get. Here's what the folks at invisihitch/execuhitch have to say about it. It's why I bought their system....
—----------
Re towing capacity -- the towing capacity of the X3 is 2400kg (about 5,300 lbs). It is a Class III tow vehicle. The North American dealer hitch is limited to 3,500 lbs due to the design of that particular hitch. (Notice the weld that secures the 2-inch square receiver tube at the center of your hitch... this creates a teeter-totter effect on that weld under load. That hitch will not pass Class III load testing). In other parts of the world, where BMW puts the invisihitch on the X3, the tow rating is 2400kg. This is the X3's actual towing capacity, when not limited by the hitch.

I understand your towing requirements are lightweight and the Class II dealer hitch may make sense for you. However, I remain perplexed about BMWNA's decision to offer only a Class II hitch on a vehicle that it tow rates for Class III loads. That is a head scratcher to me.

Cheers,
Daryl
daryl@invisihitch.com
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      04-28-2016, 09:20 PM   #7
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This topic shows my X3 Invisihitch installation.
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