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  #1  
Old 08-04-2015, 09:57 PM
LVP LVP is offline
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Wireless Brake Controller - Tekonsha Prodigy RF - Install and adapter use notes

Hi,

I have finally got around to getting a thread started that captures my notes and findings in regards to getting a brake controller operational for my 2004 X5 4.4. I figured I would throw this in a separate thread to avoid it getting buried in the pages and pages of tow hitch installation threads already out there. Hope it helps.

To start, my X5 did not come with the factory hitch. I scored one from a dealer, mounted it up and wired it in with the factory harness and control module. For the short term, towing my non-brake, single axle, standard bulb, 4-pin trailer harness, this worked fine. I didn't need a brake controller, the PDC was disabled when I plugged in the trailer, the signals blinked at the proper rate, no programming was required. Bliss.

Then I needed to tow a trailer with dual axle, brakes, 7-pin connector. I looked at the hard wired solutions and having to tap in the modules up at the front of the car - not desirable. I came across the Tekonsha Prodigy RF Wireless unit.
Tekonsha Prodigy RF Wireless Trailer Brake Controller - 1 to 3 Axles - Proportional Tekonsha Brake Controller 90250

All indicators were that it would work. I called etrailer's tech support and they said it uses the signals from the connector for "brake" to activate the braking. This was perfect as the factory harness did not have the "brake" signal in it. So I ordered up the controller and prepped for the first tow. Great price, service and shipping. No issues with the etrailer folks.

Notes on the unit:
- It mounts to the trailer and plugs into the X5. Pretty straightforward. No wiring and/or programming required on the X5. You only have to plug the wireless controller part into the cigarette lighter for power and control from the driver's seat.
- I was renting a trailer, so drilling screws into the rental frame was a no-no, so I had to make up a bracket. It was pretty simple. I took a flat piece of aluminum and bent it in an "S" shape to position the module such that the top cleared the trailer frame (as per mounting instructions).



- I used heavy duty zip ties to secure the unit to the frame. I put some large headed screws into the unit's mounting holes to keep the zip ties from slipping off the end.



- The cable from the Tekonsha unit to the X5 is long enough to not have to worry. I wrapped the spare length around the jack without issues.
- Then the trailer cable plugs into it. Finding a spot on the frame rails that allows the safety wire, input and output plugs to clear, plus has it poking above the rail, left me with just one spot on the rental.
- Pairing was exactly as the instructions said. No issues. Once it was paired, I could unplug the unit from the X5 and/or the wireless unit from up front and it would retain the pairing. Some people who had had issues pairing on certain vehicles do the pairing on another car and then transfer the unit to their car (some VW's had this issue I think - my X5 did not).
- I could use the manual button on the wireless controller to activate the brakes to whatever level I wanted, whenever I wanted.
- There are several levels of boost. Select according to load.

Trailer items to note:
- The rental trailer I had was a mix of standard and LED bulbs. They all worked, but they made the X5 signals blink like crazy. No bulb out errors appeared though.
- If you hung around the back of the trailer, every so often you would see a pulse flick in the LED lights. I suspect this was the pulse signal to test the signal circuit. I've heard of other cars on other forums actually disabling the trailer circuits if the signals pulses fail. I towed for 7 or 8 hours without the signals or trailer lights dropping out the whole trip. Only thing was the fast blinking signals. I couldn't stand it.
- I went on a limb and ordered the following 7-pin to 7-pin adapter (also from the etrailer folks). Although no site I found, nor the etrailer site says this will work for BMW's, it wasn't too pricey so I took the risk. This adapter basically cuts the trailer lights out of the brake test circuit and is supposed to fix the fast blinking signals. I tested it tonight and it works.
- The Tow Ready adapter goes between the Tekonsha box mounted on the trailer and the trailer cable. With nothing plugged into the Tekonsha, my signals didn't blink fast, so I knew the issue was after the Tekonsha unit.

Tow Ready Adapter #20142
Trailer Connector Adapter w/ Lamp-Out Sensor Bypass - 7-Way RV to 7-Way RV - Vehicle End Tow Ready Wiring 20142

Cheers.
__________________
Daily Drivers:
- 2008 535i, 290,000km
- 2004 X5 4.4, 01/2004 production, 380,000km
- 1998 328i, 370,000km

Track:
- 1996 328i, track/race car, ~300,000km

Winter:
- 2013 Ski-Doo MXZ X 800 E-TEC, trail can
- 2001 Ski-Doo MXZ 600 w/800 engine, exhaust
- 1978 Ski-Doo Olympique 340 (vintage race sled)
- 1977 Ski-Doo Olympique 340E

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  #2  
Old 08-05-2015, 10:55 AM
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Needs to be sticky in technical archives. Makes using x5 for towing a lot easier.
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  #3  
Old 08-31-2015, 11:49 AM
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thanks for the heads up on this Tow Ready 7 pin-7 pin adapter for LED trailer lights.
GREAT to see you tried it on a whim and it works. will have to grab one myself one day soon.

PS: great write up on the Tekonsha Prodigy RF.
I have one as well as I did not want to splice into my X5's wires either. LOVE the product/freedom it provides.
__________________
I swear, my cars are like a girlfriend.
Sometimes its a rough ride, sometimes its smooth motorin'.
Sometimes she doesnt like how i treat her and sometimes i dont like how she behaves.
BUT at the end of the day, she loves it when I am inside her.

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'91 850i
'05 X5 4.4i
'09 Clubman S
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  #4  
Old 03-15-2016, 10:06 PM
LVP LVP is offline
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Plug the Tow Ready in after the Tekonsha and it'll work without the extra cable you made
__________________
Daily Drivers:
- 2008 535i, 290,000km
- 2004 X5 4.4, 01/2004 production, 380,000km
- 1998 328i, 370,000km

Track:
- 1996 328i, track/race car, ~300,000km

Winter:
- 2013 Ski-Doo MXZ X 800 E-TEC, trail can
- 2001 Ski-Doo MXZ 600 w/800 engine, exhaust
- 1978 Ski-Doo Olympique 340 (vintage race sled)
- 1977 Ski-Doo Olympique 340E

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  #5  
Old 03-15-2016, 10:29 PM
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Location: Calgary, Canada
Posts: 2,192
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LVP, after...you mean between the Prodigy and trailer it is connected too correct? I thought of that for sure BUT what if I'm pulling a trailer which needs no/has no brakes therefore no need for a Prodigy, then it's a situation where I'd need to plug the LED bypass module into x5 directly.
So this trailer wire extension covers everything basis (would prefer not to have to use it to simplify things of course).


Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk
__________________
I swear, my cars are like a girlfriend.
Sometimes its a rough ride, sometimes its smooth motorin'.
Sometimes she doesnt like how i treat her and sometimes i dont like how she behaves.
BUT at the end of the day, she loves it when I am inside her.

_______________________
'91 850i
'05 X5 4.4i
'09 Clubman S
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  #6  
Old 03-16-2016, 07:15 AM
LVP LVP is offline
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When using brake controller:
X5 -> Tekonsha ->Tow Ready LED bypass -> Trailer harness

You are correct though, if you don't need the brake controller, your extension cable would be required. I'm guessing they don't make simple, hard plastic extenders.
__________________
Daily Drivers:
- 2008 535i, 290,000km
- 2004 X5 4.4, 01/2004 production, 380,000km
- 1998 328i, 370,000km

Track:
- 1996 328i, track/race car, ~300,000km

Winter:
- 2013 Ski-Doo MXZ X 800 E-TEC, trail can
- 2001 Ski-Doo MXZ 600 w/800 engine, exhaust
- 1978 Ski-Doo Olympique 340 (vintage race sled)
- 1977 Ski-Doo Olympique 340E

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  #7  
Old 03-16-2016, 10:13 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by LVP View Post
When using brake controller:
X5 -> Tekonsha ->Tow Ready LED bypass -> Trailer harness

You are correct though, if you don't need the brake controller, your extension cable would be required. I'm guessing they don't make simple, hard plastic extenders.
Nope, and they dont sadly. they make 5-7' extensions for ppl using 5th wheels...but 5-7ft is too long, so I ordered a 3ft extension and added the Pollak female end myself. for $24 USD, VOILA....
__________________
I swear, my cars are like a girlfriend.
Sometimes its a rough ride, sometimes its smooth motorin'.
Sometimes she doesnt like how i treat her and sometimes i dont like how she behaves.
BUT at the end of the day, she loves it when I am inside her.

_______________________
'91 850i
'05 X5 4.4i
'09 Clubman S
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  #8  
Old 03-16-2016, 11:25 AM
LVP LVP is offline
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I was going to see if maybe I could buy two plastic ends and make an extension, but that would take some good effort and I haven't the need for it.
__________________
Daily Drivers:
- 2008 535i, 290,000km
- 2004 X5 4.4, 01/2004 production, 380,000km
- 1998 328i, 370,000km

Track:
- 1996 328i, track/race car, ~300,000km

Winter:
- 2013 Ski-Doo MXZ X 800 E-TEC, trail can
- 2001 Ski-Doo MXZ 600 w/800 engine, exhaust
- 1978 Ski-Doo Olympique 340 (vintage race sled)
- 1977 Ski-Doo Olympique 340E

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  #9  
Old 03-17-2016, 10:44 AM
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Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Calgary, Canada
Posts: 2,192
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LVP, I was going to buy just the two ends as well adn then some wire to connect them, but by time I looked at cost of wire, and two ends it would be more expensive than just buying these two parts from etrailers.com (and wiring was 100% correct/weatherproof shielded)
__________________
I swear, my cars are like a girlfriend.
Sometimes its a rough ride, sometimes its smooth motorin'.
Sometimes she doesnt like how i treat her and sometimes i dont like how she behaves.
BUT at the end of the day, she loves it when I am inside her.

_______________________
'91 850i
'05 X5 4.4i
'09 Clubman S
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  #10  
Old 09-16-2016, 03:09 PM
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Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Vancouver, CANADA
Posts: 19
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****** SOLVED ********

You need to purchase the LED bypass unit here:

https://www.etrailer.com/Wiring/Tow-Ready/20142.html

And use it when pairing. Worked perfectly.

After that, if your trailer has no LEDs you won't ever need it.

Tested on a 2006 BMW X3
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