I suspect I know the answer, but since electrical systems aren’t my strong suit, I figured I’d ask.

The spare tire carrier I put on the back of my E53 comes with a tiny led that plugs into two pins on the hitch. So I plugged a 7 pole to 4 pin adapter, then plugged the two pin plug for the LED (parking light pin and ground I assume) and the LED started a slow blink. It lights up steady as it should with the headlights on, but the blinking is a problem.

My guess is that this is due to the pulsed power that the car sends the lights to test the bulbs? It seems odd to me that it does this with the key in off though. I suppose I could leave it plugged in as it is likely a tiny draw, but blinking 24/7 will get old.

The real fix then I guess will be to tap the right flavor of switched power from inside the car (non lighting, 12v) and run a line outside somewhere?

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Current
Original owner 2002 E53 X5 4.4i to 4.6i swap
2026 G80 M3 6 spd
2025 G06 X5 50e
Former
1972 Audi Fox
1986 Saab 900S
1996 BMW Z3
1998 BMW E36 M3 Sedan
2004 BMW E46 M3
2006 Audi A3 Quatro
1993 Mopar 318 Jeep Grand Cherokee
2015 V6 Jeep Grand Cherokee