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  #11  
Old 06-13-2016, 04:58 PM
kvc kvc is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Clockwork View Post
The problem is the LED taillights on trailer will not work with e53
You must buy a canceller device from etrailers.com.

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Checked the website and couldn't locate anything called 'canceller device'. Are you referring to their many diode kits? Would this remedy my problem?
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  #12  
Old 06-13-2016, 05:16 PM
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Okay.... the saga continues....
I spent about 3 hours with my auto-sparky mate Glen yesterday. When I first discussed the issues with him, he had a quick look and said the trailer socket (on the rear of the car) was probably NOT the issue. We plugged-in his testing unit, went through the motions (indicators, park and brake lights) and all was working as it should. Fortunately he owns a trailer similar to mine, which is also fitted with LED tail lights. Our next step was to plug in his trailer. The symptoms were similar to those I experienced with my trailer, although not quite as bad (his trailer has older LED lights, being 2 years older than my trailer). Indicators were coming on at the same time as brake lights. When headlights were on, the park lights on the trailer were on, but also the amber (indicators) were dimly illuminated. Problems were 'less' evident, when headlights were on, but nonetheless, still not doing what they are supposed to.
He noticed the after-market LED tail lights (Spyder if memory serves) that I fitted to my vehicle about 12 months ago and that the tail lights 'flickered' slightly, more so when the engine was running. He suggested we wire in a resistor to each tail light, in an attempt to address this issue then re-check the trailer lights. Incidentally, there are only LED's to the tail/brake circuit - the rest use conventional bulbs.
Once the resistors had been wired in, we checked the flickering and there was little to no difference...still flickering away, despite the eBay sales pitch clearly stating these lights were 'plug n' play' with no error codes, flickering or other issues. I must admit though, that I love the look of the smoked lenses and would like to keep these if I can.
So after the resistors were wired in, we reversed the car up to his trailer again, plugged in to the socket and checked the lights once more - still the same result! Glen was getting a bit frustrated at this point and suggested I re-install the original tail lights to see if this had any effect. I have not yet done this, as I'm of the opinion that the LED tail lights on the vehicle should have no impact on what's happening to the trailer lights.
Still searching for a resolution folks. My next option is to remove the LED tail lights on the new trailer and fit older style lights with incandescent bulbs/globes, unless I can resolve this issue more easily. All suggestions, no matter how ridiculous, welcomed.
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  #13  
Old 06-13-2016, 05:32 PM
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I have the factory incandescent tail lamps, but run a trailer with LED tail lights. On the first hook-up, tail lights worked fine, but the turn signals flashed at high speed as if a bulb was burned out. The BC reported "Check Trailer Lights" on the dash. Since all the lights were working fine on the trailer, I left the issue alone until my next dealer visit and checked with the technician there. We learned the lighting control module is looking for a minimum current draw to determine if bulbs are lighting (even on the trailer). So I added incandescent marker lights on the trailer, wiring the two rear ones into the turn signal leads and now everything works fine.

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  #14  
Old 06-13-2016, 05:47 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by srmmmm View Post
We learned the lighting control module is looking for a minimum current draw to determine if bulbs are lighting (even on the trailer). So I added incandescent marker lights on the trailer, wiring the two rear ones into the turn signal leads and now everything works fine.
Thanks for offering your experience and suggestion. This my friend, is probably the most plausible resolution to my dilemma. Adding some 'marker' lights and perhaps some indicators to the sides at the rear of the trailer should not be too difficult.
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  #15  
Old 06-14-2016, 03:13 AM
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I have led lights on my trailer and when I first hooked it up, the trailer lights flickered like a christmas tree. I have the correct BMW trailer module installed (sourced on ebay from Europe) and modified the wiring from the rear of the boot (trunk) to install Australian type trailer socket.

I fixed the problem of flickering lights by installing small incandescent side lights in parallel with the led lights. All the lights work fine, but when I hook up the trailer I still get a "Check Trailer Lights" error on the instrument cluster.
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Old 06-14-2016, 05:33 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Tomdownunder View Post
I fixed the problem of flickering lights by installing small incandescent side lights in parallel with the led lights. All the lights work fine, but when I hook up the trailer I still get a "Check Trailer Lights" error on the instrument cluster.
Tom, in your case, the "Check Trailer Lights" issue is easy to fix - you need to add a couple of diodes to the trailer connector to connect the reverse light circuit of the car to the tail light circuit of the trailer. The problem is the car is expecting to "see" reverse lamps and in Australia and NZ we rarely fit reverse lamps to trailers, so the car detects the lack of reverse lamps as lamp failure.

Just buy two heavy duty diodes (a couple of 1N5408 diodes from Jaycar will do nicely) and connect each of the anodes (the end without the stripe) to each of the tail lamp and reverse lamp circuits in the trailer connector) then twist both cathodes together (the end WITH the stripe) and solder or crimp to the wire leading to the tail lamps. Job done.
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  #17  
Old 06-15-2016, 02:12 AM
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Here's the diode modification to resolve the "Check Trailer Lights" warning...



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  #18  
Old 06-22-2016, 07:29 PM
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Awaiting delivery of a pair of Narva side-markers (with incandescent bulbs). Once wired up, will report the results (fingers crossed). Thanks for all the suggestions and advice from members.
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  #19  
Old 06-23-2016, 03:54 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by kvc View Post
Checked the website and couldn't locate anything called 'canceller device'. Are you referring to their many diode kits? Would this remedy my problem?
Trailer Connector Adapter w/ Lamp-Out Sensor Bypass - 7-Way RV to 7-Way RV - Vehicle End

Part number 20142.

OR the even better part by CURT C57003. as the 20142 part does not fit well with factory hitch and harness receiver positioning. I made an extension harness ( http://www.xoutpost.com/1072283-post17.html ) but it looks exactly like the new Curt C57003 part, YET I do not have the LED error canceling resistors built into my extension like this one does, So I still have to use the 20142 with my extension. this Curt part is a smarter part (so I just ordered it hahahaha, damn my curosity).

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Last edited by Clockwork; 06-23-2016 at 06:42 PM.
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  #20  
Old 06-23-2016, 06:03 PM
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Thanks Clockwork - found the part you referred to and this would certainly do the trick. Other X5 owners have posted reviews on this site saying this fixed their problem. I will contact the vendors to see if they offer this device in plug configurations other than the one listed, as this suits N American applications only. May have to do a bit more research to see if there's something similar for sale here in Aus for our plugs, as I'm sure this problem is commonplace. Can't believe the number of different style plugs there are. Pic of our style plug FYI.
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