Recommended Hitch and Wiring for 2016 BMW 328ix Gran Tourismo

Question:

Hi I have a 2016 BMW 328ix Gran Turismo and was thinking of getting the C11367 installed to it. Your blog is great BTW and has answered the question that it can support a 2 bike rack, but I was interested in hauling a sofa, table and 4 chairs on a 7 hour road trip. Is this advisable for the 328ix and will it be able to pull this load which I estimate to be around 1000 lbsnot counting trailer weight 2nd question is about heat shield. One blog said they do not reinstall whereas another said it is reinstalled and trimmed slightly. Can you please clarify that and whether not having a heat shield will affect the performance of the car. Thanks

asked by: Sham K

Expert Reply:

The best source for information on whether or not your 2016 BMW 328ix Gran Tourismo can tow this trailer is going to be the owner's manual; the Curt # C11367 has a capacity of 2000-lbs towing/ 200-lbs tongue weight, so it will handle a load that size but I am not able to find conclusive information on the vehicle's towing capacity with any of my sources. Additionally, removing or trimming the heat shield does not affect performance of the vehicle, so there's nothing to worry about in that respect.

If you're going to tow a trailer there are some other components you'll need including a wiring harness, ball mount, hitch pin and clip. For the wiring I recommend the Curt T-Connector # C56377 to provide you with a 4-way trailer wiring harness to power the trailer's lights. This is a plug and play installation, so it's easy to install and just plugs in behind your tail lights. For the ball mount/hitch ball I recommend using the Curt Euro Style Ball Mount with 1-7/8" Hitch Ball # C45571, which has a 2-5/8" rise that will help keep the trailer level during towing. You'll also need a hitch pin and clip like part # F-4.

I've linked some review videos of these parts for you to have a look at, as well.

expert reply by: Erik B