Hitch Set-Up

[jetblackbimmer]

I have been looking for a hitch set-up and am having trouble, of course. I was wondering if anyone has one for sale...?

Also, does anyone know if this will fit? http://www.ebay.com/itm/1994-1999-BMW-300-SERIES-ALL-EXC-M3-TOW-HITCH-KIT-/200643159389?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&fits=Model%3A318ti&hash=item2eb743a55d&vxp=mtr I'm getting desperate here.

[Mini M3]

i'm looking for the exact same thing! i've never had the chance to look at a 318ti vs 3series e36 rears. i know the sub's are different but unsure about how it bolts up. If they guarantee it, then go ahead and then let us all know...i'd be most grateful

i also found this
http://www.318ti.org/forum/showthread.php?t=34277

[jetblackbimmer]

I was able to get under the car this morning and I saw that it would be extremely easy to build a hitch. Just some square tube and channel, about 4m, and 3 or 4 U bolts. I am going to ask my friend if his welder friend can help me out. I might be able to do this for only $100. If only I still had a membership to www.techshop.ws

I was also thinking about mounting a cheap universal hitch where the spare tire is located. There are some real simple bolt on hitches that I think I could distribute the weight enough for it to not tear out. I am getting a second opinion on this tonight. This option might only cost about $50.

I saw the post you linked to, but I was wondering about saving a nice chunk of change. If you look at the installation instructions for the hitch, it just bolts into the same metal I was refering to. That's what the bumper supports are hanging on. Depending on what exactly needs to be done to the z3 hitch, it might be a good choice so I don't have to drill many holes. I wish the guy from the post would have posted pictures of the modification.

[jetblackbimmer]

I installed the z3 hitch today. Was way too simple.

Remove everything from the deck of the cargo bay, tool pan and the donut do not have to be removed. I then removed the 6 plastic retaining pins for the bumper plastics then removed the 4 nuts to remove the entire bumper supports while connected to the plastics. Bolt the hitch cross member to the supports. Drill the muffler heat shield. Mount it the longitudinal bar to the cross member of the hitch. Drill the cross member of the car where indicated. I used 3.5 inch long 1/2 inch bolts with fender washers. Mount the last 2 bolts. Replace bumper. Replace retaining pins.

Depending on the size of your drill, you may have to jack the rear a couple of inches.

I will post the photos after I can edit the size. I forgot to shrink the resolution before I snapped them with my phone. Sitting at the DMV to register my trailer right now. I also got the BMW roof rack installed.

[jetblackbimmer]

The hitch I installed with zero modification to the hitch and required the drilling of 3 holes in the car was Curt Manufacturing #11748

[jggonzalez]

Sweet! I've been looking for a hitch so I can use my bike rack (mounts to a receiver hitch). Please post pics when you can. Good luck at the DMV!

[jetblackbimmer]

Everything at the DMV is good to go, but I had some VERY bad stuff go down and I might be going away for a while and might not be able to move. Anyways, here are the pics I took.

The first picture is the bumper removed that shows exactly how the crossmember is attached.

The second picture shows that I did in fact drill through the heatshield.

The third picture is the location of the bolts that go though the cargo bay floor through an appoxiamately 3 inch thick, but hollow, crossmember on the car. 1/2 inch x 3 and 1/2 inch bolts was my selection.

The fourth picture is the same thing but from the bottom. The half inch bar was almost in the way. Give it a slight pull to the rear to give more access.

The last picture is of the tiny amount of clearance for the donut.

In the pictures I removed the donut and tool box. Removal of the tool box is needed so that you can remove the carpet padding to drill the holes.

[jetblackbimmer]

This hitch is Curt Mfg. Item number 11748

This picture shows how far it drops underneath the rear bumper plastics.

[1996 328ti]

Which hitch did you use?
Here is one from another thread.
http://www.fcpgroton.com/product-exec/product_id/46794/nm/1998+BMW+318+Ti+Trailer+Hitch

[jetblackbimmer]

That is the ti hitch. The one that I installed was part number 11748 from Curt. It is for the z3. As you can see from my notes, the part was not modified. Since we have the same rear end and all...

http://www.google.com/search?tbm=shop&source=mog&hl=en&gl=us&tab=wf&q=curt%2011748&sa=N&biw=602&bih=772

On a side note, do not buy anything from 'bestinauto' on Ebay, they screwed me.

[jggonzalez]

Thanks! I thought I was going to have to get one custom made!