BMW X3 Trailer Hitch Buyer’s Guide (Canada)
A hitch turns your X3 into the one that takes a bike rack, a cargo carrier, a utility trailer or a small boat. CURT builds four hitches for the BMW X3 from 2004 to 2026, Class 1 to Class 3, rated 2,000 lb to 5,000 lb, from $279.47 CAD with free shipping anywhere in Canada.
Your year decides the part. Find it in the table, open the year page for the exact hitch, price and wiring, and you're done in a few minutes.
2011 through 2015 and 2017 through 2026 X3$348.68 CADSee the hitch →
Which hitch fits your X3, by year
| Years | Hitch | Class, receiver, rating | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
2011 through 2015 and 2017 through 2026 X3 | CURT 13578 | Class 3, 2-inch receiver, 5,000 lb / 750 lb tongue | $348.68 CAD |
 |
2011 through 2015 and 2017 X3 | CURT 13316 | Class 3, 2-inch receiver, 3,500 lb / 350 lb tongue | $317.77 CAD |
 |
2017 X3 | CURT 11478 | Class 1, 1-1/4 inch receiver, 2,000 lb / 200 lb tongue | $452.88 CAD |
 |
2004 through 2010 X3 | CURT 13573 | Class 3, 2-inch receiver, 3,500 lb / 350 lb tongue | $279.47 CAD |
Pick your X3 year
Each year page has the hitch, the harness and the ball mount that go together, with the price of each.
Class 1 or Class 3 on an X3?
Class 1 is the lighter one, with a 1-1/4 inch receiver and 2,000 lb of trailer. It's plenty for a bike rack or a small cargo carrier. Class 3 moves you to a 2-inch receiver and 5,000 lb, which is what you want for a bike rack, a cargo carrier, a utility trailer or a small boat, and it takes the common 2-inch racks and carriers without an adapter. Either way the X3's own tow rating in the owner's manual is the ceiling, and the lower number wins.
CURT parts for the BMW X3
Wiring, ball mount and the rest
A bike rack needs nothing but the hitch. A trailer needs lights, and CURT 55151 ($35.54 CAD) is the four-flat harness that plugs into the X3's factory connector for 2004 through 2011. No cutting, no scotch-locks. Other years have their own harness; the year page shows the right one.
Then a ball mount sized to the receiver: CURT 45836 ($41.70 CAD) drops straight into a 2-inch receiver. Pick the drop or rise that keeps the trailer level, and match the ball to the coupler. The ball mount guide covers both in two minutes.
Canadian winters eat hitch hardware. Salt and brine get into the receiver and the trailer plug, so a smear of grease on the pin, a cap on the receiver and a rinse under the bumper in spring keep a CURT hitch looking new for years. The rust and salt care guide has the full routine.
BMW X3 hitch questions
Which CURT hitch fits my BMW X3?
It depends on the year. CURT 13578 is the newest, for 2011 through 2015 and 2017 through 2026, and the table above matches every other year to its part. Open your year page and the exact hitch, price and wiring are on it.
Can I put a bike rack on an X3 with this hitch?
Yes. The 2-inch receiver takes any 2-inch rack, and a loaded rack counts against the hitch's tongue weight (750 lb on CURT 13578), so a four-bike platform rack with bikes on it is well inside the limit.
Can I install the hitch myself?
CURT rates CURT 13578 professional, about 90 minutes, so expect some trim or drilling work. The main body tucks behind the bumper so only the receiver shows. The install video above is the real job, uncut.
How much can an X3 tow with a CURT hitch?
The hitch is rated from 2,000 lb to 5,000 lb depending on the part, but the X3's own tow rating in the owner's manual is the ceiling. The lower of the two numbers is your limit, every time.
