[Danddd]

I have Thule hitch mount bike rack. Has anyone added a hitch yet to their e90 or e91?

There is a place in Eau Claire, WI that designs hitches for various cars, but none yet for an e90. I was planning to drive up and have them design one, but if one is already available, I would save the time.

Thanks in advance for any help!

[rwwong]

I mean no disrespect, but, get a Truck!

[Scarabeo]

I have also been looking for hitch - no luck....and don't tell me to get a truck!

[MoreCowbell]

Get an X5!!!

[irowharderthanyou]

I was looking in BMW Magazine a few months back and they had a hitch for the e90. It was actually an BMW brand hitch for the e90 but i believe it was only for Europe (???). I'll bet E90fleet would know the answer as to where to purchase this. Hope this helps.

[Danddd]

Thanks, I'll check it out.

Just to clarify, these hitches are 1 1/4 inch. Great for a bike rack, because I won't attach a bike rack directly to my car and I have peace of mind with the bikes on the back instead of on top.

The last hitch I had on my Acura RL could barely be seen. This company does a great job of concealing them.

[CMC]

I am an avid cyclist and use a Yakima roof rack on my A4. If I had a Touring or wagon I'd definitely just go with the roof-rail mount from Thule or Yakima.

The new Yakima Viper forkmounts are amazingly secure (and lockable). A hitch mount bike rack will obscure visibility of your brake lights and signals, when loaded. Also, the hitch mount units generally have inferior locking systems.

Don't get a truck. Trucks (even X5s) blow.

[London320d]

Originally Posted by irowharderthanyou

I was looking in BMW Magazine a few months back and they had a hitch for the e90. It was actually an BMW brand hitch for the e90 but i believe it was only for Europe (???). I'll bet E90fleet would know the answer as to where to purchase this. Hope this helps.

If by "Hitch" you mean what we in England would call a towbar, then I doubt that there is a BMW original retro-fit.

I ordered my E90 with the concealed towbar option as I need it for towing Gliders around my airfield, and for retriveing my friends who have the misfortune to visit farmers.

The concealed towbar option is, as I understand it a different bumper assembly and uprated suspension as well, which is why I suspect it could not be sensibly retro-fitted.

The option itself is fantastic (and it should be at that price). There is a button on the inside of the boot(trunk?). To extend the towbar, press the button for a few seconds. The bar swivels/drops down from it's storage position. Then lift it into its extended position, you will hear it latch. Check the light on the button is green and hitch up....

Stowing the the oposite, press the button for a few seconds, the bar drops down, and then kick it under the car. Check the light is green and go.

The one downside of the option is that there is no protective plate between the painted bumper and the ball. I drop a mat over the bumper when connecting a glider, incase it overruns and chips the paint.

[Hawkshaw]

Originally Posted by Danddd

I have Thule hitch mount bike rack. Has anyone added a hitch yet to their e90 or e91?

There is a place in Eau Claire, WI that designs hitches for various cars, but none yet for an e90. I was planning to drive up and have them design one, but if one is already available, I would save the time.

Thanks in advance for any help!

I also have a Thule hitch mount bike rack, but luckily for me my wife drives an SUV with a hitch. I don't know about hitches for the e90 or e91, but would suggest that your dealer would know best. I'm not saying you need to purchase / install from the dealer, just get their expert opinion.

If you don't want to buy a truck, you can simply add a BMW roundel and a badge to your bike and ride it instead of towing it...if you do that, make sure your badge is an ///M!

Joking, of course, good luck!

[Asiann]

Originally Posted by CMC

I am an avid cyclist and use a Yakima roof rack on my A4. If I had a Touring or wagon I'd definitely just go with the roof-rail mount from Thule or Yakima.

The new Yakima Viper forkmounts are amazingly secure (and lockable). A hitch mount bike rack will obscure visibility of your brake lights and signals, when loaded. Also, the hitch mount units generally have inferior locking systems.

Don't get a truck. Trucks (even X5s) blow.

I would agree and take advice from someone who already has one. IMO it cheapens the car to have a tow hitch mounted at the bottom. I know we all can't have trucks or SUV but that it why the top mount was made.

[irowharderthanyou]

Originally Posted by London320d

If by "Hitch" you mean what we in England would call a towbar, then I doubt that there is a BMW original retro-fit.

I ordered my E90 with the concealed towbar option as I need it for towing Gliders around my airfield, and for retriveing my friends who have the misfortune to visit farmers.

The concealed towbar option is, as I understand it a different bumper assembly and uprated suspension as well, which is why I suspect it could not be sensibly retro-fitted.

The option itself is fantastic (and it should be at that price). There is a button on the inside of the boot(trunk?). To extend the towbar, press the button for a few seconds. The bar swivels/drops down from it's storage position. Then lift it into its extended position, you will hear it latch. Check the light on the button is green and hitch up....

Stowing the the oposite, press the button for a few seconds, the bar drops down, and then kick it under the car. Check the light is green and go.

The one downside of the option is that there is no protective plate between the painted bumper and the ball. I drop a mat over the bumper when connecting a glider, incase it overruns and chips the paint.

Sorry, I didn't realize that it was a factory option. That must be what I saw in the mag. Good luck with trying to get a hitch.

[Danddd]

roof rack will be for kayaks

[Asiann]

How will the concealed hitch and the muffler come in play?

[Danddd]

Looks like I'll find out next week. They did a great job on my RL. You could just barely see the 1 1/4 inch receiver below and behind the bumper. The rest is totally hidden.

This company (Curt Mfg) designs hitches for all cars and had all the previous generation 3 series hitches available.

Curt Mfg has had high demand for the e91 hitch, but they first need the car to design one. So I guess I'll take them up on their offer of $250.00 and a free hitch if they can have my car to design one for a few days.

So what's the hitch (sorry I couldn't help myself), it's a 6 hour drive one way and I'm kinda busy right now, but I want to get it before we go to Door Cty, WI the end of June.

[London320d]

Minor correction to my post above. According to the parts catalogue on the Realoem website, there are add on kits, but there do not appear to be any for US spec cars.

[nabeel333]

chek this out

[Bora20]

The hitches and towbars that we use in USA/Canada are different from thouse used in Europe. The load ratings are also different (usually higher in Europe) so the factory euro hitch option will not work here.

There will be a hitch out soon I would imagine. There is for the E46, so it is just a matter of time. As for getting a truck, for the 2% of the time that you actually tow something, you would then have to drive and pay for the extra fuel used.

A 330d touring with a hitch would be more than enough to pull a set of dirtbikes, sportbikes, quads, tent trailer, and small travel travel. Europe seems to have no issue with it, so why do Americans have to have a huge truck so that they can carry their lawn mower once a year.

And that Porsche is awesome.

[noflash]

There was never a hitch for the US e46.

[larryn]

Originally Posted by noflash

There was never a hitch for the US e46.

I know 3 people who added it to their E46's. There's a OEM hitch available from your dealer, but they had to get it from Germany. I don't think it's heavy duty, but they only trailer track tire trailers with it.

Here is the parts list for the E46.

Here is the parts list for the E90.

[Bora20]

Originally Posted by noflash

There was never a hitch for the US e46.

Really? Because when I searched www.bavauto.com for parts for a 2003 325iT, I came up with this.

Bavarian Autosport trailer hitches are custom manufactured for your year and model of car ensuring proper fitment and ease of installation. Receiver style hitch has a removable 1 ¼” square hitch mount. Hitch has a maximum rating of 200 lb tongue weight and 2000 lb gross trailer weight. Includes hardware and detailed installation instructions. Ball sold separately. Please allow 1 - 2 weeks for delivery.

Trailer Hitch - Receiver style $284.95

[winnibago]

Danddd,

I never even considered a hitch as an option for the e91. Kindly post pics upon completion. I'm very curious how "hidden" it looks. Currently, If I ride locally, I take a gas guzzler with the bike on a hitch mount. But for trips to ski resorts up North, I take my bike on the roof mounted Yakima "King Cobra" system, which works great for all kinds of bikes. Please note, my bike weighs 52lbs, and I haven't had any problems with the bike on top.

[Danddd]

I'll post the pic's next week once it is installed.

I already have the Thule hitch mount bike rack and I like it a lot. Actually I'm not concerned that much about how hidden the hitch is, but that is Curt Mfg's specialty. I'm planning to keep this car for quite awhile. I love this car the most when I am in the drivers seat.

Here is the website showing available hitches for BMW's:
http://www.curtmfg.com/app%20guide/bmw.htm