Will a Class I Trailer Hitch for a 2010 BMW 3 Series Fit with a Yakima 2 Bike Hitch Mount Bike Rack

Question:

I want to carry a single bike on my 2010 BMW 3 Series Sedan. Neither roof nor trunk racks are appealing and I already own a Yakima 2-bike receiver rack. Will the 24857 do the job? Are there any photos available so I can see how it will look? The instructions speak of trimming a driver side panel so will this permanently change the appearance of my Beemer it only has 5k miles on it? Can I install it without need for elevating the vehicle?

asked by: John B

Expert Reply:

There are several different 3 series models for the 2010 BMW 3 series. The Draw-Tite trailer hitch, # 24857, fits the 2007 to 2011 328i and 328xi Sedan. If you have one of those models the hitch will fit. I have included a link to all of the hitches we carry for the 2010 BMW 3 Series.

We do not have any pictures or a video showing installation for the Draw-Tite hitch. We have not yet had the opportunity to install the hitch on a vehicle. I have included a link to the instructions. You can see in the diagram that the receiver will be the only visible part and it will be positioned directly below the rear bumper.

The appearance panels on the vehicle cannot be seen unless you are under the vehicle or very low to the ground. You will only be trimming a small part, about 2-1/2 inches square, from the panel. You will probably need to use a floor jack and jack stands to install this hitch. The attachment point furthest forward on the vehicle would be difficult to get to without extra space.

You will need to make sure that your Yakima bike rack is compatible with a Class I trailer hitch. If you can tell me the model of the bike rack, I can tell you if it will fit.

expert reply by: Michael H