Ordering new Q5 - should I pay the pricey $800 for a hitch with the order or add an aftermarket after the car arrives ? After seeing what is involved installing an aftermarket one and the fact I am 175 miles from nearest dealer (to get computer re-set) leaves some question in my mind.

 

I'm looking into getting now one year after getting the car. One I saw that was dealer installed was hidous, they used a dremel to cut the rear bumper cover.

 

I wanted a hitch also but thought it was too much.
I went to a hitch dealer here in town (been doing hitches for 50 years) and they put the (Reese/Hidden Hitch) on just fine.
BIG PROBLEM in wiring it. They couldn't do it. They ended up taking the hitch off and refunding my money. They said 6-8 hours labor to install the wiring because of LED circuits.
If I had it to do over, I would have had factory installed and been done with it.
I called my Audi dealer to install and they said $795 plus labor of $600.
Wish I had just ordered it on the car to begin with!
If you can afford an Audi, you should be able to afford the factory hitch.
Take it from one who tried to save a little money.

If the car is on the way, pay the $795 but make them pay the labor if they want your business.

 

Number 5 - thanks for the comments - so did you ever have a hitch installed? I saw on one of the forums a comment from someone who had a hitch installed that it drastically changed the driving characteristics of the car...........ie. the pep it had. Curious to know if others have experienced this.

 

Has anyone had any luck getting an aftermarket trailer hitch and wiring installed?

 

I certainly agree that the OE add-on trailer hitch kit is expensive, but it's also very complete. Our dealership's service dept. has been asked to wire-up several 'previously installed' aftermarket hitches on Q5s & Q7s. In almost every case, the parts/labor cost of an aftermarket hitch w/dealership wiring exceeds the price of OE hitch w/labor.

UberTeile

 

I had a Reese hitch on for a week but not wired. They took it back since they couldn't wire it for what they quoted.
The installer tech as the hitch store was an A$$ and stupid. He tried to wire it to the lights in the bumper and not the LED circuit because they were on when the tailgate was opened. When I asked him why he was doing that he looked at me like I was crazy. When I explained those only came on when the tailgate was opened he said "well I sure wish someone had told me that an hour and a half ago" like it was my fault he didn't know his products. The company has been around for 60 years here in town but their employee will NEVER work on any of my cars again.
NO, I am still wanting a hitch, just can't bring myself to pay $1,300 for the hitch and installation at the dealer.