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towing open trailer with bmw x5d

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Old 03-03-2014, 05:02 PM
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Spyerx
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Default towing open trailer with bmw x5d

Considering getting an aluminum open trailer (featherlite etc). Would tow gt3 with 5 diesel. Total weight around 5,000 lbs, if that. 2014 X5d has towing capacity of 7600lbs.

Realizing I'm having too much fun with this but getting beyond the few tracks in socal up to norcal, etc will test my patience in the RS.

Mooty you're not allowed to respond to this. I have no space for a 50ft trailer and a dually! :-)

Is this doable?
Old 03-03-2014, 05:04 PM
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tlarocque
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Sure. Slow and easy.
Old 03-03-2014, 05:08 PM
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PasPar2
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buddy has an e46 based racecar on an open traler with tools, tires etc, he tows his all over the northeast with a bmw x5m. Its doable.
Old 03-03-2014, 05:17 PM
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M3EvoBR
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never went over 95MPH with a steel trailer behind my Touareg TDI.
keeping at 70-75 would allow me 19MPG.
Old 03-03-2014, 05:19 PM
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Serge944
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My buddy tows an e30 track car on a heavy steel trailer with his X5D. He's happy with it.
Old 03-03-2014, 05:25 PM
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mooty
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no prob with open trailer.
Old 03-03-2014, 06:41 PM
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Spyerx
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ok. thanks. drove x5d yesterday. i hate suvs. I didn't hate this. Weird.
Old 03-03-2014, 06:52 PM
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Mvez
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Like a boss. Self leveling rear suspension, big fat rear wheels/tires, and it's very stable for what it is. My buddy tows open steel with E46 M3 all over the place, no issues the past 2-3 years. Good gas mileage, great double duty SUV.

Welcome to the slippery slope.
Old 03-03-2014, 06:56 PM
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Spyerx
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Originally Posted by Mvez
Like a boss. Self leveling rear suspension, big fat rear wheels/tires, and it's very stable for what it is. My buddy tows open steel with E46 M3 all over the place, no issues the past 2-3 years. Good gas mileage, great double duty SUV.

Welcome to the slippery slope.
Glad you mentioned that... assume you want it optioned with the rear air suspension correct? That's an option on the M sport with either 3rd row seat or adjustable suspension option...

The slope. LOL.
Old 03-03-2014, 07:01 PM
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ranger22
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Just buy a real truck. We had an X5D and it was ok. Ultimately got rid of it for the GTS because the ride sucked. The GTS rides much better and handles better to boot.
Old 03-03-2014, 07:02 PM
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Mvez
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Originally Posted by Spyerx
Glad you mentioned that... assume you want it optioned with the rear air suspension correct? That's an option on the M sport with either 3rd row seat or adjustable suspension option...

The slope. LOL.
100%....don't even think about towing without the self-leveling rear suspension. Add the sport wheels, which give you a massive rear stance, and it's a recipe for as much stability as you can get when towing with an SUV.

I just want to face palm every time I see a Cayenne doing a wheelie with a trailer behind it......bye bye axles.
Old 03-03-2014, 07:11 PM
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mdrums
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Originally Posted by M3EvoBR
never went over 95MPH with a steel trailer behind my Touareg TDI.
keeping at 70-75 would allow me 19MPG.
Randy use to tow all over with his X5d...seemed to work great.

How have ya been...long time no see...any track events you are doing? Haven't down 1 yet this year myself...not good!
Old 03-03-2014, 07:14 PM
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AudiOn19s
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I too have been heavily considering x5d's. Like you I hate SUV's. Sadly I also hated the x5. Going to be my wife's driver though so what she thinks about it is more important than what I think about it. Going from 550hp daily driver to diesel SUV isn't going over well with her. Technology and luxury are good though.

Air suspension is very desirable and almost impossible to fine. Only comes with 3rd row seating. The guy MVEZ and I know that tows an open trailer with his does NOT have air suspension and says it still does ok without it.

X5 drives like a truck make no mistake. I think I'm just trying to find reasons not to buy one though. Cayenne diesel is better in every way...but it's $$$ I don't want to spend.
Old 03-03-2014, 08:12 PM
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Originally Posted by AudiOn19s
I too have been heavily considering x5d's. Like you I hate SUV's. Sadly I also hated the x5. Going to be my wife's driver though so what she thinks about it is more important than what I think about it. Going from 550hp daily driver to diesel SUV isn't going over well with her. Technology and luxury are good though.

Air suspension is very desirable and almost impossible to fine. Only comes with 3rd row seating. The guy MVEZ and I know that tows an open trailer with his does NOT have air suspension and says it still does ok without it.

X5 drives like a truck make no mistake. I think I'm just trying to find reasons not to buy one though. Cayenne diesel is better in every way...but it's $$$ I don't want to spend.
Dealer I talked to said with x5d, the rear air can be had with 3 options: 3rd row seat, adaptive m suspension, or the full adaptive handling package. Need to confirm that.

Cayenne are really nice, but cash price once configured same as X5 is about 15k more, give or take. Plus BMW covers all services for 4 years. Plus BMW lease REALLY well. Like "cheap" well. Big residuals and really low MF (especially when you buy down with multiple security deposits). Porsche residuals and MF are quite a bit worse than BMWs subsidized rates. For a bunch of reasons prefer to lease my DD.

My DD for me now is a 535. And while the 535 is faster, the x5 drove as nice. I don't like the drive of the 535 msport that much, mushy, too soft. X5 actually felt firmer and drove better. Plenty of torque for around town. I've purposely stayed away from big power DD ... makes RS and my sports cars a little more special!

If I had the space, I'd consider a "real truck" but living by the beach, very limited parking, the RS and wife get the garage (that alone is a luxury here). My DD gets street parking. Trailer will live at my uncles shop yard tucked in a corner.

Anyway its a balance of compromises and for my needs/wants the diesel SUV as a DD / occasional tow vehicle appears to be winning at this point.
Old 03-03-2014, 08:20 PM
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Izzone
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Originally Posted by mdrums
Originally Posted by M3EvoBR
never went over 95MPH with a steel trailer behind my Touareg TDI.
keeping at 70-75 would allow me 19MPG.
Randy use to tow all over with his X5d...seemed to work great.

How have ya been...long time no see...any track events you are doing? Haven't down 1 yet this year myself...not good!
Put 20k tow mile on my x5

Trailex

Cruise at 85-90

12 mpg

At 50k miles it stArted breaking

Then bought a real truck...dint miss towing with a SUV

My pepper diesel feel like a mini compared to 3/4 ton truck

Skip SUV phase go direct to real truck u won't regret it.


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