Quote:
Originally Posted by workingonit
I recently traded my old drag-racing '66 Chevelle (+ dovetail trailer w/all-wheel brakes) for a '01 X5 3.0i (+ 4.5x12 single axle utility trailer, no brakes); the previous owner had installed a used Drawtite X5 hitch, plus the rudimentary 4-pin plug in order to tow the trailer with, at my request. There is no brake controller or tow package installed.
Attachment 80978Attachment 80979
He just ran the wires to the taillights/brakelights (surprised he did it using red-neck engineering, since he is a degreed EE), and not thru the LCM. I found this statement somewhere, somehow on a BMW forum??: That quote made me wonder if I could piece together the components needed (cheaply) in order to make the X5 ready to tow my braked 2225 lb home-built squareback trailer.
Attachment 80980
Perusing etrailer.com, I found that they say I just need an electric brake controller, a 4-pin to 7-pin adapter, and their universal installation kit; but on ebay I found a kit that uses an additional "circuit-protected" 4-pin wiring harness. Somehow, I suspect that BMW has something hidden that will not like the add-on aftermarket wiring (assuming I get the correct combination of parts). $260, plus $120 for the circuit protector wiring. It was much easier on the plug & play wiring-up my (old model) Hopkins Impulse brake controller on my '04 Chevy 2500HD. Attachment 80977 |
That's similar to the route I went, but I already had 4-way wiring, so I picked up a 4 to 7 way adaptor receptacle with bracket and it also has the 4 way still available next to it too, mounted just left of the 2" Receiver inside the oval knockout.
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2007 M5 V10 ESS Supercharged 750chp SMG
2001 X5 Topaz Blue/Tan 3.0 
2005 X5 V8 M Sport Black on Black 
2001 530i 5 Speed Turbo Project 
and a number of other vehicles...
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