[mcdanielvzw]

***EDIT - Post with actual parts and pricing https://x3.xbimmers.com/forums/showp...1&postcount=10 ***


Good morning all! I'm hoping someone here has some insight in adding the OEM hitch to an X3 that has the Trailer prep option included. The physical install doesn't bother me, but the coding is where I don't know what I'm doing. I'd rather not pay $1700 in BMW labor (7 hours) when I can be the labor monkey.

If I get all the factory pieces installed (listed below), can I just use the ISTA Trailer Retrofit modification to code the car correctly - or is there more involved? I can get all the parts for $1400, tax + shipping included.

BMW Service Advisor: "The BMW parts estimate for tow package $1469.91. The estimated labor cost is $1680.00. (Total est.$3149.81 plus tax)" Also, "I've never had anyone ask if we can just do coding - let me ask the service foreman and get back to you"

My own breakdown:
G01 X3 Trailer Hitch Cross Member Kit
Part # 71-60-6-887-642
$571.16
G01 X3 Trailer Hitch Wiring Harness Retrofit Kit
Part # 71-60-2-458-028
$261.40
G01 X3, G05 X5, G07 X7 Trailer Hitch Control Module
Part # 63-11-6-894-066
$142.88
Lower M40i Bumper Cover
Part # 51-12-8-094-861
$188.90
Lower Bumper Reinforcement
Part # 51-11-7-458-879
$76.68

Subtotal - $1,241.02
Handling - $3.95
Shipping - $69.95
Tax - $98.61
Total - $1,413.53

"Optional" lower cover pieces:
#51759850509
#51759850510

[lfdal54]

I got the one on my 2019 X3 M40i installed at the dealership when I took delivery of the car. The added cost was $2100 including coding. Good god, at $200 per hour they're saying 7+ hours? Even I could do it in half that with someone to help hold the bumper when I was taking it off. And I'm slow. Coding could be done aftermarket I would think, but I don't know if you'd have to repeat it after every software update. If you want to code it yourself, seems like ISTA should handle it.

[mcdanielvzw]

Originally Posted by lfdal54

I got the one on my 2019 X3 M40i installed at the dealership when I took delivery of the car. The added cost was $2100 including coding. Good god, at $200 per hour they're saying 7+ hours? Even I could do it in half that with someone to help hold the bumper when I was taking it off. And I'm slow. Coding could be done aftermarket I would think, but I don't know if you'd have to repeat it after every software update. If you want to code it yourself, seems like ISTA should handle it.

Yeah, they said it was 7 hours of labor for install/coding. Seemed like a hell of a long time for a 2.5 hour book job install + coding.

I know someone has had codemybimmer do it, but if all I need is to let ISTA do it's thing... There is a whole procedure ISTA shows it runs through

[sikedsyko]

Yeah I paid Codemybimmer.ca $125 to do the coding for the trailer hitch retrofit and to do antidazzle/variable distribution lighting.

Took them like 15 minutes start to finish on my 2018.

[kraken]

Makes me regret not adding it for $600 on my custom order X3 LOL....

[sikedsyko]

Originally Posted by kraken

Makes me regret not adding it for $600 on my custom order X3 LOL....

I bought my 2018 in 2021 and tried finding parts for the retrofit deep into the pandemic+BMW shortages on factory hitch parts. I think I was almost $2000 into parts and half the parts were used.

[mcdanielvzw]

Originally Posted by sikedsyko

Yeah I paid Codemybimmer.ca $125 to do the coding for the trailer hitch retrofit and to do antidazzle/variable distribution lighting.

Took them like 15 minutes start to finish on my 2018.

Was that using pretty much all the parts I mentioned so stock programming is fully activated with the control unit?

What was their process when you did it (hooking up, software, etc)?

[sikedsyko]

Originally Posted by mcdanielvzw

Was that using pretty much all the parts I mentioned so stock programming is fully activated with the control unit?

What was their process when you did it (hooking up, software, etc)?

Yeah that was with all the OEM Retro-fit parts. I have the same part number for the wiring kit. You have a different part number for the Control Unit, but mine was a 2018.

63116894066 control unit I used

Yes, they full activated the control unit and I have all the OEM towing functions.

The process required you to have an E-net cable. They send you some remote coding application that you install on a laptop and connect to the car while in accessory mode. They give you a phone call to talk through the process.

Here's the E-Net Cable I bought. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

[mcdanielvzw]

Originally Posted by sikedsyko

Yeah that was with all the OEM Retro-fit parts. I have the same part number for the wiring kit. You have a different part number for the Control Unit, but mine was a 2018.

63116894066 control unit I used

Yes, they full activated the control unit and I have all the OEM towing functions.

The process required you to have an E-net cable. They send you some remote coding application that you install on a laptop and connect to the car while in accessory mode. They give you a phone call to talk through the process.

Here's the E-Net Cable I bought. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Thanks I'll have to switch that out in my cart. Not sure why it didnt flag it, the one I mentioned is for an f series. I've got a working enet cable so I'm good there

[mcdanielvzw]

I ended up ordering everything from the local BMW dealer, they price matched parts so it was close enough to the online price I found (and now I can go to them if something is up with my parts).

I included the optional (TINY AND EXPENSIVE) fabric covers, but I may return those depending on if I can reuse the stock fabric cover without modification - plus I want to reuse and recode my kick to open, which utilizes that piece based on another post I saw.

Price breakdown, minus price matching(discounted at end).
G01 X3 Trailer Hitch Cross Member Kit
Part # 71-60-6-887-642
$624.21
G01 X3 Trailer Hitch Wiring Harness Retrofit Kit
Part # 71-60-2-458-028
$283.36
G01 X3, G05 X5, G07 X7 Trailer Hitch Control Module
Part # 63-11-A05-6D0 (not 63-11-6-894-066, per BMW Parts Dept)
$194.90
Lower M40i Bumper Cover
Part # 51-12-8-094-861
$264.79
Lower Bumper Reinforcement
Part # 51-11-7-458-879
$93.70
Lower Fabric Cover
Part # 51-11-9-850-509
$37.73
Lower Fabric Cover
Part # 51-11-9-850-510
$37.73

Subtotal with tax - $1,651.66
Discount - $149.66
Total - $1,502

[mcdanielvzw]

Well I got everything installed! I'll post more pictures this week - the install was actually really easy, it took from about 1:00 PM - 4:45 PM this past Saturday to do the install (part of that was taking pictures and delay from rain). Coding hasn't happened yet, I'm going to get an ICOM cable and do the retrofit coding with ISTA.

I started with taking off the lower part of the bumper trim, but you do indeed have to take off the entire bumper to make life easier.

I followed this post to keep my kick to open - https://x3.xbimmers.com/forums/showp...9&postcount=21 - which will need to be coded back in once I code the hitch module in the first place. I double-side taped the connector module to the back of the new reinforcement panel. This looks a little ghetto fabulous with some spare laminate, but it was a proof of concept that I can always clean up later.