Towing mirrors for 2018/19 BMW X5

JohnWirral
JohnWirral Forum Participant Posts: 5
edited October 2019 in Towcars & Towing #1

Hi all

Next question about our new car. We've had Milenco Aero mirrors since 2018 when we started caravanning, BUT the clamp is too narrow to fit the door mirrors on new car. I bought a new clamp but still doesn't fit. 

Can anyone recommend an alternative please?  

Many thanks in advance

John

 

Comments

  • lornalou1
    lornalou1 Forum Participant Posts: 2,169
    1000 Comments
    edited October 2019 #2

    Go to a dealer that sells 2 or 3 different ones and try them on your mirrors.

  • Tyke
    Tyke Forum Participant Posts: 20
    edited October 2019 #3

    Don’t even think of a clamp on mirror. They will crack your door mirror casing. You could have the mirror casing taken off and packed with a goo that sets rock solid.

    Go for the actual BMW brand or the equivalent EMUK (I think that’s the name) who seem to make the BMW ones. They’re upwards of £130 but that’s nothing compared to the value of the car and they are superb, rock steady and don’t need adjusting every trip.

    i think you’ll find the mirrors from an X3 as far back as 2016 will also fit but try them.

  • lornalou1
    lornalou1 Forum Participant Posts: 2,169
    1000 Comments
    edited October 2019 #4

    I bet 90% of caravanners use clamp-on mirrors and never have a problem.

  • Whittakerr
    Whittakerr Club Member Posts: 3,472 ✭✭✭✭
    1000 Comments Photogenic
    edited October 2019 #5

    I've got a 2019 X5 and had the same problem with my old Milenco mirrors.

    I bought theses.

    https://www.wohnwagen-spiegel.de/wohnwagenspiegel-bmw-x5-f15-sp49-1415

    Great mirrors. Easy to fit and no vibration whatsoever.

     

  • Tyke
    Tyke Forum Participant Posts: 20
    edited October 2019 #6

    They are the EMUK brand which I recommended and are, I think, identical to the BMW brand.

    I’m one of the 10% who did have a problem. What’s the point penny-pinching with a new car worth £50k or £60k?

  • JohnWirral
    JohnWirral Forum Participant Posts: 5
    edited November 2019 #7

    Hi all

    Many thanks for the replies, we had gone to the caravan show but didn't see anything likely to fit. Asked BMW dealer we bought the car from, they couldn't find the BMW ones on their system. So we bought the ones on the link posted by Whittakerr. Arrived really quickly from Germany. They fit easily and looks like they shouldn't need adjusting every time they're put on and as Whittakerr says rock steady. Well worth the extra imo and would recommend anyone looking for mirrors to check this brand.

    Many thanks again

    John

    PS after first trip away with X5 as towcar, it towed brilliantly (Swift Elegance 580). I now know what others mean when they say they didn't know they were towing 

  • Glenn T
    Glenn T Forum Participant Posts: 49
    edited April 2020 #8

    I have just bought a new BMW X3  On my recently sold X1, I used Milenco Aero 3, they fitted fine, but not so on the new car. I saw somewhere on this site a gent had bought towing mirrors for his X3 from Repusel. Have a look at www.repusel.com    Excellent service, they arrived in 3 to 4 day,  £125. Have fitted them onto the car in the drive, seem very secure. Collected car on last day before the lockdown.Cant wait to get back on site.

    These may also fit the X5 email your request  Good Luck

     

  • bel1
    bel1 Forum Participant Posts: 17
    edited April 2020 #9

    Great series of posts. I have a 2017 X5 (40D) sport to which I use Milenco mirrors, which have cracked the casing on both mirrors. I have asked BMW on purchase and at each service if BMW make or recommend any specific towing mirrors to which I get the same reply- NO!

     

    Will now explore Whittaker's recommendation - thankyou.

     

    ps Love my X5- but notice the oil temperature rises quite a bit when towing in the mountains or when external temperature are high. Car has  factory fitted towing gear and all BMW modification to the cooling system. Have discussed this with BMW and they said do not worry, the electronics will not allow and damage to occur.

     

  • Glenn T
    Glenn T Forum Participant Posts: 49
    edited May 2020 #10

    My above post dated  6/4/20

    The correct price s/b. £108.00.   I stated £125. ( this was the euros price )

  • Mono Micky
    Mono Micky Forum Participant Posts: 3
    edited June 2020 #11

    I too have Milenco and have just bought a n X5 and the Milencos dont fit. Are these OK for the 2019 X5 M50D? I put my VIN onto the BMW site for the genuine BMW X5 mirrors and it said not suitable for my vehicle.

    Also, I dont speak German and feel uncomfortable ordering from the link as nothing is in English and not really sure what I am clicking on.

    Can I view/order the website/product in English? or (sorry for sounding daft) can you tell me what I should click on to get the product if suitable for the X5 M50D?

  • Stonehenge
    Stonehenge Forum Participant Posts: 16
    edited July 2020 #12

    I have a 2019 G01 X3 and have adapted my Milenco mirrors to fit.  The new 2019 G series X5 is the same.  You mount the Milenco on the underside of the mirror.  You remove the pad from the screw and replace it with one of these:

    https://www.amazon.co.uk/M6-Black-Plastic-Protection-Hexagon/dp/B076YB77NL/ref=sr_1_10?crid=1F57EKQEST28C&dchild=1&keywords=nut+covers+black&qid=1593966842&sprefix=Nut+covers%2Caps%2C487&sr=8-10

    or similar (I am not sure of the actual size, these look right but are just some I had lying around).  

    The issue is that the screw that the pad was fitted to has a round end that will act like a drill and cut into your mirror - cracking them.  By covering the end of the screw with the cap that will revolve, the screw will not hurt the mirror housing.  Mount underneath and screw behind the lip (both mounts need to be pretty close to each other, so that both go BEHIND the lip) and the Milenco cannot come off, it is locked in place.  

    Hope this makes sense and is helpful.

  • Fenda F
    Fenda F Forum Participant Posts: 4
    edited July 2020 #13

    Hello,

    We ordered these and are delighted with them.

    We managed to get the Website from German to English, using Google Translate.

    Mirrors arrived within 4 days, most impressed.

  • Perlican
    Perlican Forum Participant Posts: 1
    edited September 2020 #14

    Just a note to say that this thread was incredibly useful - 

    I have a GO5 and previously used Milenco mirrors, but the housing shape made the clamps difficult to fit and I was worried I'd crack them. It turns out that the housing is £80 or so - but if you also crack the glass (as you can if you have the mirror set to lower when reversing, for instance) then you can expect a bill for £300 or so - it's packed with sensors for lane departure etc.

    Using this thread, I've ordered some mirrors today from the site - address is https://www.wohnwagen-spiegel.de/ - and when I did so, Google offered to translate.  I've ordered the basic pair at £108 or so, and already have an email saying they're with DPD and expect them by Friday.

    And JohnWirral is right - I too tow a 2018 Swift Elegance 580 and it's barely noticeable with the 3.0 Turbo Diesel engine.  This is my 3rd X5 for towing and I've always found them very good, albeit they're not the cheapest car to run.  I always fit run-flat tyres, too (which I discovered by accident were not included in the new model I'd bought, so spent £1500 buying them too) as it's a major relief to know that you're not going to get a blow-out at speed when towing - just a gentle reminder that "you have a flat tyre!"

    Anyway, thanks to all contributors - I'll advise when I've got them and give a review then.

     

  • IanTG
    IanTG Forum Participant Posts: 419
    100 Comments
    edited September 2020 #15

    I too recently bought a 2019 X5 (although an X30D)  and was helped by the dealer, as a member of staff had previously purchased mirrors which did fit, and they brought them in to confirm to me which brand did fit.

    I purchased this brand (EMUK) from Germany by phone. They spoke perfect English, and sent me English links to enable me to order, after first establishing beyond doubt that they were the correct ones. And the mirrors took all of 48 hours to arrive at my home, from Germany.

    This is the website https://www.autoteile-herr.de/

    and the phone number +4923719210691

    Ask for Stefanie, she is most helpful, and says she smiles at the many times she gets orders from uK.

    if you need any more help, private message me.

  • IanTG
    IanTG Forum Participant Posts: 419
    100 Comments
    edited September 2020 #16

    Additional to my previous post

    There is another alternative, in that Tamworth Camping are UK agents for a different German wholesaler who does not supply direct to UK individuals. If you call them, they can order on your behalf from the wholesaler. I I did begin to explore this option but as I needed the mirrors in a hurry, found the single step ordering from Stefanie quicker.

  • EmilysDad
    EmilysDad Forum Participant Posts: 8,973
    1000 Comments
    edited September 2020 #17

    ...  private message me

    If only ..... 😕

  • IanTG
    IanTG Forum Participant Posts: 419
    100 Comments
    edited September 2020 #18

    Ah yes, Emilysdad, I see it doesn’t seem possible to pm.

  • EmilysDad
    EmilysDad Forum Participant Posts: 8,973
    1000 Comments
    edited September 2020 #19

    Something that was asked for from the start. There was some feable excuse as to why they couldn't /wouldn't but it now escapes me

  • MJG1954
    MJG1954 Forum Participant Posts: 2
    edited October 2020 #20

    Just thought I'd add my thoughts.

    I had the Milenco mirrots and indeed there was cracking noises while fitting them so I took this discussion's advice and bought the EMUK type.

    They fit like a dream to my 2017 X5 40d.

    However I wasn't that keen on the mirrors themselves, so I've modified them and put the Milenco mirrors on the EMUK brackets.

    The EMUK mirrors have a clamp fitting onto the bracket, whereas the Milenco fit over the end and have a screw through fitting.

    The brackets needed an inch taken off , a little insulating tape to take up the small gap when fitting the other mirror and a small hole drilled to take the Milenco mirrors screws, other than that they give a superb view and they don't vibrate.

    Thanks to the OP and other contributors for a most helpful post..

  • jzgreen
    jzgreen Forum Participant Posts: 1
    edited October 2020 #21

    Hi Perlican

    how did it go with the mirrors for your G05 ?

    Just got a GO5 myself and need new mirrors

    cheers