04-28-2022, 08:46 PM | #1 |
New Member
31
Rep 21
Posts
Drives: 2015 328i GT xDrive
Join Date: Apr 2022
Location: Toronto, Canada
|
Installed a hitch!
So we have a great hitch mounted bike rack that I have not used in the last two years as I was not sure I wanted a hitch on my car. Finally broke down and installed one.
I selected the Curt 113673, which is marked alternately as fitting or not fitting. I selected because the build quality looked great, and was way less than stealth hitch. The hitch does fit, but you need to do some surgery on the heat shield (Curt instructions just say to take it off). I also found the Curt instructions terrible about how to remove the facia so instead used the online instructions from Stealth hitch (way better). In the end it is very inconspicuous and works great with my bike rack! |
04-29-2022, 08:17 AM | #2 |
Second Lieutenant
948
Rep 279
Posts
Drives: 2014 328Xi GT, 2020 X3 MC
Join Date: Apr 2019
Location: Minnesota
|
How well does it work on a steep driveway?
Also with the rack attached and loaded? |
Appreciate
0
|
04-29-2022, 10:14 AM | #3 | |
New Member
31
Rep 21
Posts
Drives: 2015 328i GT xDrive
Join Date: Apr 2022
Location: Toronto, Canada
|
Quote:
For this rack (Yakima Ridgeback 4) the bikes hang well above that point |
|
Appreciate
0
|
06-05-2023, 06:34 AM | #4 | |
New Member
15
Rep 26
Posts
Drives: F34 330ix E46 M3 E39 540iTM6
Join Date: Jun 2023
Location: Boston MA
|
Quote:
I have been looking at a Curt hitch (I've bought several of them for previous cars they are really excellent value - not the fanciest but great price and do the job) and had exactly that question - whether you could surgerize the shield so you can keep it. I've done similar with another Curt where they said to delete a lower bumper skirt panel that was in the way, but I just made a channel to match the receiver and trimmed it super tidy so it looks super OEM. You don't have a pic of what you had to do but I'm assuming its easy/obvious? |
|
Appreciate
0
|
06-07-2023, 07:16 PM | #5 |
Registered
0
Rep 2
Posts
Drives: 2014 BMW 328i GT
Join Date: Jun 2023
Location: USA
|
Hitch
where did you buy it?
|
Appreciate
0
|
06-17-2023, 02:24 PM | #6 |
New Member
15
Rep 26
Posts
Drives: F34 330ix E46 M3 E39 540iTM6
Join Date: Jun 2023
Location: Boston MA
|
I just finished the install. Thanks for the tips here. Thanks also for the pic cuz I thought it was so super tight to the bottom of the bumper cover maybe I did something wrong at first but mine looks exactly like this. Virtually completely invisible unless youre trying to find it there, which pretty much makes the guys who are all "NOBODY CAN EVER SEE MY HITCH EVER SO I CAN'T BUY THAT CHEAP JUNK GHETTO HITCH I NEED IT TO BE TOTALLY UNDETECTABLE!!!!" look stupid.
Particularly good tip to use the Stealth instructions. Without going full "F34 Hitch Install Post" on you, I'd add these notes for future installers.
The one big thing I'd do differently would be how I trimmed the heat shield. I put everything on then tried to replace HS last sort of "the reverse of removal". Not right way and didn't come out as good as it could have. Maybe people will just 'discard it' like the Curt suggests but I think its MUCh better to retain as it not only might be heat shield, but, it keeps dirt and shit from blowing up into the hollow of the bumper cover as much. In hindsight retrospect duh the best approach I think would be to
|
Appreciate
1
Markoff Chaney46.00 |
01-01-2024, 06:10 PM | #7 |
New Member
0
Rep 5
Posts |
Going from a X3 with a hitch to a 3GT, this is very interesting to me.. realistically would this be useful for anything else besides a bike rack?
|
Appreciate
0
|
01-03-2024, 07:47 AM | #8 |
Lieutenant
272
Rep 467
Posts |
I'm in the process of installing a stealth (hidden) hitch at this moment. Getting all the wiring looms and control unit together to have it coded as on OEM equipment to pull small fishing boat in the summer. Have a thread here about that. There is at least one more person here who uses it to pull light boats as well.
__________________
2003 E39 530i 5-Speed w/ M Spec, Saphire/Black, M54B30, Active Autowerke Performance Tune
2010 Lancer GTS 5-Speed, Black Pearl/Black, 4B12 2015 F30 335i XDrive w/ M Sport Pack, Alpine White/Black, N55B30M0 2017 F34 340i XDrive w/ M Sport Pack, Azure II /Black, B58B30M0, Dinan Stage 1 |
Appreciate
0
|
Post Reply |
Bookmarks |
|
|