[bmw335diesel]

Yes, there is a hitch for a 335d. U-haul makes it. $199 with free shipping and handling. I ordered it on July 18th and just got it today, August 21st. Installed this evening in about 3 hours. It is a 1-1/4" hitch receiver. The sticker on it says it's rated for 350# tongue weight and 3500# trailer. I plan to use it for my hitch mounted two bicycle rack. This bike rack doesn't touch the car at all, I can open the trunk and no lifting bikes onto the roof. I have no intention of towing anything with the hitch but it will be nice to be able to bring the bicycles along on vacations and other road trips.

The instructions are pretty good for installing the hitch. I would suggest putting some electrical tape on the bottom edge of the rear bumper cover to protect it since the cover has to get pulled out of the way and in the process, the hitch will rub on it some. Also, there was a gap of about a 1/4 inch between the hitches cross member and the support that runs forward and aft. I plan to fill the gap with some washers before I tighten up the bolts. The instructions also mention cutting a small tab to the right of the center trim screw, I didn't have to do it. There is no cutting of the rear bumper cover required. Lastly, the instructions reverse self-locking nuts and non-self-locking nuts, try finger tightening first so you don't strip anything. The instructions are incorrect, the parts provided are correct.

I'll post pictures as soon as I can.

Jeff
2010 335d
Portsmouth, VA

[Puerto Rican 335d]

Thanks Jeff, EXECUHITCH was not easy as the instructions stated specially when they advertise a 328i and NOT a 335d

[Puerto Rican 335d]

Final Product

[Puerto Rican 335d]

ok here we go again!!

[bmw335diesel]

Over 1000 miles with the U-haul and no problems. I encountered several driveways that had been scrapped by other hitches and trailers and I had no problems. The bike rack works perfectly without any slop, side to side movement or rattles.

[Puerto Rican 335d]

Amigo your u8sing the 1 1/4 hitch, correct. Mine is a 2". But yours looks pretty decent glad your enjoying it. I plan to use mines to buy the bikes in nearby future, will post photos once done!!

[bmw335diesel]

Yes it is a 1-1/4" receiver. Which works better for me since the bike rack is 1-1/4", now I don't have to use the 1-1/4"-2" adapter that came with the bike rack. FYI, the hitch is rated at 350# tongue and 3500# trailer, that's far more than I'd care to pull with my car, but plenty for a 2 jet-ski trailer, not that you'd ever catch me backing down a boat ramp in my 335d, gulp!
Jeff

PS first trip on Deal's Gap was a blast, cannot wait until tomorrow!!!!

[Puerto Rican 335d]

Yesterday I went Window shopping for 2 bikes yeah I hv to buy the misses on too

[senagal]

Originally Posted by bmw335diesel

Yes it is a 1-1/4" receiver. Which works better for me since the bike rack is 1-1/4", now I don't have to use the 1-1/4"-2" adapter that came with the bike rack. FYI, the hitch is rated at 350# tongue and 3500# trailer, that's far more than I'd care to pull with my car, but plenty for a 2 jet-ski trailer, not that you'd ever catch me backing down a boat ramp in my 335d, gulp!
Jeff

PS first trip on Deal's Gap was a blast, cannot wait until tomorrow!!!!

did you have part UHI36982 installed? see the capture from uhaul's page - they state 2500lb, can you clarify?

[taibanl]

Originally Posted by Puerto Rican 335d

ok here we go again!!

Originally Posted by bmw335diesel

Over 1000 miles with the U-haul and no problems. I encountered several driveways that had been scrapped by other hitches and trailers and I had no problems. The bike rack works perfectly without any slop, side to side movement or rattles.

Guys,

Puerto Rican 335d - I thought yours was supposed to be 'invisible'? No?

@bmw335diesel - is yours bolt on? does it require bumper removal? How fast could you bolt on / off if you didn't want to leave all the time?

Thanks!

[335dFan]

Originally Posted by bmw335diesel

Yes it is a 1-1/4" receiver. Which works better for me since the bike rack is 1-1/4", now I don't have to use the 1-1/4"-2" adapter that came with the bike rack. FYI, the hitch is rated at 350# tongue and 3500# trailer, that's far more than I'd care to pull with my car, but plenty for a 2 jet-ski trailer, not that you'd ever catch me backing down a boat ramp in my 335d, gulp!
Jeff

PS first trip on Deal's Gap was a blast, cannot wait until tomorrow!!!!

All those roads around Deal's Gap are great fun, but you gotta stay on your side of the line with all those blind curves. That's one thing I was disappointed about in my trip to Europe last month. The driving skills seem to have declined a bit over the years. About the only thing they continue to do better than us is in lane discipline on the autobahn/autoroute/autostrade. One man's opinion.

[335dM]

Here is mine

[Puerto Rican 335d]

Tai its the same as 335dM its invisble until you latch the tongue

[taibanl]

Ok so I gather the 'tongue' latches underneath and then you can separately mount the ball?

[Puerto Rican 335d]

yes tongue can be detached at any given time

[jheath]

Wanted to bump this thread back to the top and thank all that contributed. After some deliberation, I ended up biting the bullet and buying the Execuhitch / Invisihitch. Installation went really well, no issues, and I really like the fact that when the receiver / ball mount is not installed, you would have to be right underneath the car to tell that there was a hitch on it.

I've been using it to tow an aluminum trailer with a combined weight of about 1300 lbs and it's been great. The car has plenty of power for it, you hardly know it's back there. Fuel economy takes a massive hit, but I think it's more based on aero vs. load as the trailer has a pretty long ramp that sits at a 90 degree angle when up.

If anyone else is thinking about doing some towing with their D, I would think you could do a lot worse. The Execuhitch is pretty expensive, but very slick in operation and nice and hidden when not in use.

[335dM]

600Kg trailer + 2 sled (200Kg each approx.)
I'm trying to center the weight of the sled on the trailer so I don't put too much weight on the tongue.
Also some traction aid I just bought

[Puerto Rican 335d]

Congrats Jheath, damn 335dM Im glad I dont have to buy that robocop stuff for my wheels here in Puerto Rico which BTW its 80 degrees Fahrenheit partly cloudly today!!!!

[taibanl]

Originally Posted by bmw335diesel

Over 1000 miles with the U-haul and no problems. I encountered several driveways that had been scrapped by other hitches and trailers and I had no problems. The bike rack works perfectly without any slop, side to side movement or rattles.

Does the visible portion of the reciever detatch? I see the bolt heads are visible.

[BB_cuda]

The uhaul one you can see the receiver all of the time. For $500 less, I will accept this. I painted the bolt heads with black paint. I only removed the msport valence and all was simple to install.

[LAMPSguy]

Those who have gone with the execuhitch option, what do you use for the wiring harness to ensure 100% compatibility? I seem to remember someone a while back talking about westfalia and ordering from Germany.

[335dM]

Originally Posted by LAMPSguy

Those who have gone with the execuhitch option, what do you use for the wiring harness to ensure 100% compatibility? I seem to remember someone a while back talking about westfalia and ordering from Germany.

You have to buy their harness (invisihitch)
Plug and play