X3 Towing Capacity

[joe7670]

Anyone here pulling their V with a BMW X3?

Towing capacity is rated at 3500lbs and it's got 4 wheel drive.

[dbetterred]

I think that would be pushing it. My v20 weighs over 4000 lbs including the trailer and 3/4 fuel. Will the x3 pull it, yes. Will the x3 do it happily, no. For a short run I would do it, but I wouldn't make a habit of it. Stopping the combination wouldn't be fun (unless you have good trailer brakes) and BMW transmissions aren't cheap (just a guess).

[BigAl331]

From what I've been told your towing ability is rated by your braking power. The X3 has enough power to pull a V20 + gear all day long but when it comes time to stop, that's where you are going to have a problem.

I have an '03 GMC p-up that is rated for 6900 lbs. I set it up for electric trailer brakes. I have towed a F350 that was around 10K plus a 2K trailer and the truck had no problem towing it for about 10 miles. What I was worried about was stopping. Even with E-brakes it was still a little hairy.

Like dbetterred said, short runs only. As long as your launch in close and you don't have to "stop and go" too much your X3 would be fine.

Almost forgot. You can add an external tranny cooler to help with heat.

[reelapeelin]

Short hauls, flat land you should be OK if you don't push it...haul out in 4-wheel low so no strain...X3 probably doesn't have a transmission cooler, so add one.

If you plan any serious towing, get something else to do it with...JMHO...

[joe7670]

Thanks for all the info.

I would be configuring it in Manual Tranny and not Auto. Sounds like stopping is the issue in which case my trailer without brakes is a problem.

Flat land around here and marina is about 10 miles away.

[reelapeelin]

Originally Posted by joe7670

Thanks for all the info.

I would be configuring it in Manual Tranny and not Auto. Sounds like stopping is the issue in which case my trailer without brakes is a problem.

Flat land around here and marina is about 10 miles away.

If you decide to add brakes to your trailer, take it from me and don't buy any Tie Down brakes...I went that route as have many others on The Hull Truth and been very disappointed...Kodiak, on the other hand makes brakes that are up to the task...