led trailer lights

Tomdownunder · #1 08-29-2015, 01:28 AM

I fitted a towbar and the proper tow module to my E53 and when I hook up my trailer the lights I turn on work fine, but the others are strobing dimly. Trailer has led lights and I did a whole of searching on the net and lots of people come up with all sorts of supposed fixes.

Most common fix (on various different cars) is to put resistors in parallel with led's, however the value of these resistors mentioned varies considerably.

I tried hooking up PAsoft and getting rid of cold scan, but trailer lights don't show up as an option.

Anyone had this experience and some sort of fix.

Sponsored Links

andrewwynn · #2 08-29-2015, 03:02 AM

The resistor solution not difficult to figure out. If you get me an amperage of the normal bulb and the led bulb I'll calculate the correct parallel resistance to simulate and you can try using a higher value so as to not be so wasteful. I did the math recently to use LED tail lights but ended up returning the lamps for standard because I didn't like the light pattern of that particular led.

Sent from my awrPhone using Tapatalk

kvc · #3 08-29-2015, 03:07 AM

Did you disable cold scan in PA soft? I'm unsure if this will have any effect, other than eliminating the warning on your dash. I installed after-market LED tail lights some months ago. They were apparently "eror-free" items, with in-line resistors incorporated. Brake lights work fine, however my tail lights flicker continually at high (strobe) frequencies. Contacted the eBay seller, who claims this 'cannot happen' and no longer replies to questions... I've learned to live with it to be honest, however if you discover a fix, I would be interested to hear though.

LVP · #4 08-29-2015, 09:17 AM

Check out my thread on the Tekonsha RF controller and trailer light bypass module. I had a trailer with regular and LED lights and it worked perfect. It stopped the rapid blinking.

http://www.xoutpost.com/bmw-sav-foru...use-notes.html

Tomdownunder · #5 08-30-2015, 06:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LVP

Check out my thread on the Tekonsha RF controller and trailer light bypass module. I had a trailer with regular and LED lights and it worked perfect. It stopped the rapid blinking.

http://www.xoutpost.com/bmw-sav-foru...use-notes.html

Looks like a great module at a good price. Only problem is that we don't have plug/socket anything like that in Australia. My trailer and the X5 have a 7 pin flat inline plug/socket with round pins.

I'll do some searching around as there would have to be an Australian equivalent.

Any Aussies looking at this thread that have found something????

andrewwynn · #6 08-30-2015, 11:54 PM

Depending how much time you had ID be willing to make you an adapter or work out the how too of you can't find. I may pick up one of those adapters just to have when I go to pull a trailer with led lights.

Sent from my awrPhone using Tapatalk

Tomdownunder · #7 08-31-2015, 02:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by andrewwynn

Depending how much time you had ID be willing to make you an adapter or work out the how too of you can't find. I may pick up one of those adapters just to have when I go to pull a trailer with led lights.

Sent from my awrPhone using Tapatalk

I'd be happy with the how to. I made up an isolating adapter for my E39 using low impedance relays to stop the check bulbs error. The E39 (1997) didn't have the trailer module like the E53 has.

The other possibility is if the US adapter is a one piece unit with wires going to the plug and socket at each end, then it would be possible to chop the ends off and just run leads out of each end, seal off with epoxy and use it as the trailer lead itself. (I have a socket on my trailer already and just use a lead which runs between the car and the trailer which can be unplugged both ends.) If on the other hand it is circuit tracks going to the spade connectors it might be a bit harder.

If you are happy to purchase one and disect it that would be great. At least that way I would know whether I can adapt a US version or copy the guts of it and make my own.

LVP · #8 08-31-2015, 08:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tomdownunder

I'd be happy with the how to. I made up an isolating adapter for my E39 using low impedance relays to stop the check bulbs error. The E39 (1997) didn't have the trailer module like the E53 has.

The other possibility is if the US adapter is a one piece unit with wires going to the plug and socket at each end, then it would be possible to chop the ends off and just run leads out of each end, seal off with epoxy and use it as the trailer lead itself. (I have a socket on my trailer already and just use a lead which runs between the car and the trailer which can be unplugged both ends.) If on the other hand it is circuit tracks going to the spade connectors it might be a bit harder.

If you are happy to purchase one and disect it that would be great. At least that way I would know whether I can adapt a US version or copy the guts of it and make my own.

Can you post a pic of what your connector looks like?

Tomdownunder · #9 09-01-2015, 03:48 AM

Here is a couple of pics of plug and socket.

LVP · #10 09-01-2015, 06:52 AM

I would get one of your 7-pin connectors, wire to something like this:
Adapter 4 Pole to 7 Pole Vehicle End Trailer Connector Tow Ready Wiring 30717

Then use the tow ready bulb out adapter

Then get the opposite connectors and make a reducer cable to get back to your 7-pin flat.

If you didn't want all that loose, you could get a small electrical box and have a pigtail out that goes to your vehicle with the 7-pin flat, has all the adapters plugged in and a pigtail out with the final 7-pin flat. Then mount the box to the trailer, similar to how I do with the RF unit.

I couldn't find anything that converts the US round plugs to yours, but you can buy the connectors.

Sponsored Links