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      09-12-2017, 09:09 AM   #1
nicknaz
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Anyone towed with their US spec e84

Hey all,

I looked through our forums and it seems everyone is adding hitches just for bike racks.

Has anyone actually towed in the US?

I'm trying to figure out if there is a way to code the car to have stuff like different brake bias and stability control while towing and to have the trailer braking controlled without having to add an after market part.

Is this possible or is the US X1 really just able to support the trailer lights and needs an after market brake controller?

I want to tow a spec Miata on a light open trailer. Should be about a 3500lb load
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      09-12-2017, 01:10 PM   #2
Carlin/14/E84
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Quote:
Originally Posted by nicknaz View Post
Has anyone actually towed in the US?
I have with a rental car trailer for my Z3 BMW. I did install a tow hitch and brake/signal wire kit, nothing else. The thing is to install a tow hitch for your X1 sDrive the car has to have a sunroof, I suppose for more body strength all others can mount hitches for bicycles and those utilities rear racks.

I did tow the trailer only for 230 fwy flat miles , the trailer felt well balance without no problems, next time I'm going to tow something up/down some hills to test the brakes.
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      09-12-2017, 03:45 PM   #3
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Quote:
Originally Posted by nicknaz View Post
Hey all,

I looked through our forums and it seems everyone is adding hitches just for bike racks.

Has anyone actually towed in the US?

I'm trying to figure out if there is a way to code the car to have stuff like different brake bias and stability control while towing and to have the trailer braking controlled without having to add an after market part.

Is this possible or is the US X1 really just able to support the trailer lights and needs an after market brake controller?

I want to tow a spec Miata on a light open trailer. Should be about a 3500lb load
I spent a few hours researching this and I found that the E series X1 has a towing limit of 2,000 lbs and a tongue weight limit of 250 lbs. It sounds like you would be nearly doubling that and you would want the trailer to be balanced. No I have not towed with my X1 but I would not tow something that heavy behind my vehicle.
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      09-12-2017, 04:36 PM   #4
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Per Invisihitch, the E series X1 can tow 4400 lbs and IIRC the tongue weight is 400 or 440 lbs. You have to have a harness to handle braking on a trailer, the unbraked trailer weight is 2000lbs from what I recall reading. I'd be more comfortable towing with the 35i xDrive model (which I have :-D) or diesel.

http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/sho...90&postcount=9
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      09-14-2017, 10:25 AM   #5
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I have an Invisihitch on my Xdrive 2.8 and it tows flawlessly

I have a utility trailer and have loaded it up to about 1500 lbs and towed it with ease. The X1 handles it great and the pulls strong up to highway speed. Mileage easily takes a 5mpg hit. With the Invisihitch, it will pull your Miata no problem.
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      09-14-2017, 09:23 PM   #6
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I have pulled a lot of loads with my X1 and Curt hitch. I have a 4x8 trailer and have towed 3300 lbs of modular retaining wall block three times without a problem, as long as they were centered on the axle. One time they were a little behind the axle and I had some sway, but that was not related to the car. I have pulled loads of stone and dirt also, each weighing 2000-3000 lbs. Easy.

I have pulled my dad's car trailer with a heavy load on it, but not a car. The trailer plus load probably weighed as much or more than a Miata and I was comfortable doing it.

If I was going to pull a car or other load that would block the X1's tail lights, I would want proper trailer lights, which I do not have.
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      09-15-2017, 02:14 AM   #7
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I just towed a ditch witch (mini skid-steer) with my x1 35i. I have the invisihitch set-up. Towed it no problem. The guys at the rental place thought I was crazy, HaHa. They said it weighs about 3,300 lbs and that the trailer is about 500lbs. No trailer brakes. I just took it easy and the X1 handled it no problem. Highly recommend Invisihitch by the way. Great customer service. I lost my key to the hitch and they sent me a new kit and instructions on how to swap out the locking mechanism for free.
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      09-15-2017, 02:17 PM   #8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mcdanielvzw View Post
Per Invisihitch, the E series X1 can tow 4400 lbs and IIRC the tongue weight is 400 or 440 lbs. You have to have a harness to handle braking on a trailer, the unbraked trailer weight is 2000lbs from what I recall reading. I'd be more comfortable towing with the 35i xDrive model (which I have :-D) or diesel.

http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/sho...90&postcount=9
I have no issues admitting when I am wrong. I don't see any mention of tongue weight though, maybe I missed it.
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      09-16-2017, 11:14 AM   #9
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No worries, I spent a long time looking it up myself before because I wanted to a vehicle with decent towing capacity. I'd have to look up the tongue weight again but the figures seem to be 10-15% of the tow weight is the tongue weight (the 2000lb rated hitches I recall having a 250 lb tongue weight, again calling from memory).
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      10-11-2017, 04:51 PM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by nicknaz View Post
Hey all,


Has anyone actually towed in the US?

I want to tow a spec Miata on a light open trailer. Should be about a 3500lb load
I've been towing a 16' Airstream with my 2015 X1 28i since October 2016. Trailer is 3600 pounds empty, approximately 4200 the way I travel. I've done approximately 6,000 miles so far, including some steep grades in Quebec and Newfoundland. Have a Class III receiver, a Tekonsha Prodigy P2 brake controller, an Eaz-Lift Elite weight-distribution hitch with 600-pound bars, and an Eaz-Lift friction sway control. It's an excellent combination. BTW, the E84 is rated to tow 2000 kg. (4400 pounds) in Europe.
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      10-11-2017, 06:34 PM   #11
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You sir are my hero! I've been thinking about doing this exactly (towing an airstream)! One of these days, I'll get my setup complete to do so.
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      10-12-2017, 09:14 PM   #12
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Very nice, Baron. Any ideas on how much of a difference the weight distribution hitch and sway control make vs.a standard hitch.
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      10-15-2017, 09:05 AM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Mtpisgah View Post
Very nice, Baron. Any ideas on how much of a difference the weight distribution hitch and sway control make vs.a standard hitch.
A weight-distributing hitch makes a big difference. Anything more than 250 pounds of tongue weight will have an adverse effect on handling by reducing the load on the steering axle. I have towed Airstreams with 3, 5 and 7 series and X1, X3 and X5 models. 335d in photo pulling a 25.
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Last edited by Baron von Tollbooth; 10-22-2017 at 07:44 PM.. Reason: Syntax
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      10-22-2017, 12:30 PM   #14
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Are you using trailer brakes with something that large or do the factory brakes suffice?
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      10-22-2017, 07:42 PM   #15
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In most states and provinces, brakes are required on trailers with a gross weight over 3000 pounds. In some states the limit is as low as 1500 pounds.
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      08-07-2020, 06:35 PM   #16
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Baron von Tollbooth View Post
I've been towing a 16' Airstream with my 2015 X1 28i since October 2016. Trailer is 3600 pounds empty, approximately 4200 the way I travel. I've done approximately 6,000 miles so far, including some steep grades in Quebec and Newfoundland. Have a Class III receiver, a Tekonsha Prodigy P2 brake controller, an Eaz-Lift Elite weight-distribution hitch with 600-pound bars, and an Eaz-Lift friction sway control. It's an excellent combination. BTW, the E84 is rated to tow 2000 kg. (4400 pounds) in Europe.
I have been looking everywhere to figure out the towing capacity of my 2017 X1. Thank you for your post!
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      08-29-2020, 10:56 PM   #17
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Surfergirl74 View Post
I have been looking everywhere to figure out the towing capacity of my 2017 X1. Thank you for your post!
This is an old post, and also a forum for the first gen X1 (2013-2015 US) and is a different car than your X1, which is 2016-current. Check out the F48 X1 forum to find the accurate specs for your car. Unfortunately it is a very different car than the first gen, and will have a lower towing capacity.
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      09-19-2020, 02:44 AM   #18
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I know this is an old post, but I wanted to share my experience.

Towed a 5x10 trailer loaded to about 800lbs. I had no issues at all even with hills in CA. I did however upgrade the small 28i brakes with 35i brakes afterwards.. I would consider upgrading the brakes if towing anything heavier that is unbraked.

btw I'm lowered on Coilovers with Koni yellows on 350/650 in/lbs
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      09-19-2020, 03:13 PM   #19
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Quote:
Originally Posted by DLag30 View Post
I know this is an old post, but I wanted to share my experience.

Towed a 5x10 trailer loaded to about 800lbs. I had no issues at all even with hills in CA. I did however upgrade the small 28i brakes with 35i brakes afterwards.. I would consider upgrading the brakes if towing anything heavier that is unbraked.

btw I'm lowered on Coilovers with Koni yellows on 350/650 in/lbs
Funny, I was just reading through this thread wondering how towing would be on coilovers. Happy to see another lowered/modified Lemans blue M sport out there!
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      09-19-2020, 08:14 PM   #20
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To add to this thread as well... I towed this trailer from Nashville to Orlando (took me about 12 hours) and I'm I problems at all!
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      09-23-2020, 01:05 PM   #21
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Westies View Post
This is an old post, and also a forum for the first gen X1 (2013-2015 US) and is a different car than your X1, which is 2016-current. Check out the F48 X1 forum to find the accurate specs for your car. Unfortunately it is a very different car than the first gen, and will have a lower towing capacity.
Guess someone's gonna be in for some hefty repair bills.
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      01-12-2021, 08:06 AM   #22
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I ´m late in this thread... But the E84 has enough power / brake to tow 1500lbs easily.
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