A 2021 updated Trailer hitch & brake controller thread

[Lowblock]

Originally Posted by HansBimmers

The hopkins Impulse is not activated for a period of time, as that is only a misunderstanding of its name.

It is considered a time based brake control. It even says it in the company's own description of the product. In the 25+ year I have being in the RV industry and setting up countless wire to tows, I have seen far too many of these types of controllers fail, if it works for you great, I was just giving you an opinion.

Originally Posted by HansBimmers

Thanks for the replies, but to repeat- Does anyone know where and which wire gives a clean brake pedal signal for hard wired controllers? Mine is pretty much done and towing/braking fine in daytime.

Thanks Again!

You would do this at the LCM, like its been previously stated.

[HansBimmers]

Okay then, I guess I'm going to be spending hours digging around for this information then. Yay for me.

[Attacking Mid]

Mine never had a "clean" signal from any wire in the LCM. There are two wires in the LCM that give a brake signal, but one also pulses with the turn signal, and the other seems to be slightly under-voltage, which results in my Prodigy2 controller display spazzing out. Despite the display issues, the controller DOES work, so I put up with it for a couple years. Supposedly, you can find a clean source at the high-mounted brake light on the rear hatch. I never bothered, so I can't verify.

AM.

[Bdc101]

Yes, I believe that's my problem too. It was a few years ago so my memory might be hazy. But taking the brake wire out of the LCM, it gives me the proper signal all the time EXCEPT when my left turn signal is on. If the left turn signal is on the brake signal blinks with the turn signal. I feel like I determined that there was a logical reason for this back when I wired it up, but I can't remember what it is now.

[Lowblock]

Originally Posted by Attacking Mid

Mine never had a "clean" signal from any wire in the LCM. There are two wires in the LCM that give a brake signal, but one also pulses with the turn signal, and the other seems to be slightly under-voltage, which results in my Prodigy2 controller display spazzing out. Despite the display issues, the controller DOES work, so I put up with it for a couple years. Supposedly, you can find a clean source at the high-mounted brake light on the rear hatch. I never bothered, so I can't verify.

AM.

I will see if I can find what wire I have, I have no problems with mine after install. Keep in mind that you need to use a PWM trailer light module as well, are you doing this or did you tap directly into the tail lights for the right/left/tail signals?

edit; 15 pin black connector on LCM Pin 10 "high mounted center stop light"
blue with yellow trace.

This is what it is for my 03 4.4, I would assume the other model years are the same but I dont know

[Attacking Mid]

Originally Posted by Lowblock

I will see if I can find what wire I have, I have no problems with mine after install. Keep in mind that you need to use a PWM trailer light module as well, are you doing this or did you tap directly into the tail lights for the right/left/tail signals?

I had the BMW harness installed. Only the brake controller wiring was separate, as BMW didn't provide for that in their harness.

I have recently removed my hitch and sold it as I'm preparing to sell my E53. I really liked my E53, but the M54 just didn't have enough power to tow my camper trailer. I now have an E70 35d that pulls it with much more authority, and the trailer wiring harness in it DOES include provisions for the brake controller.

If only the actual hitch was as beefy and well-engineered as the E53 hitch!

AM.

[Salty B.]

Sorry to resurrect an old thread,

The prior owner of my X installed a "Genuine BMW Westfalia Hitch". The receiver has a peeling sticker with a BMW part number. There's a covered connector next to it for the wiring harness adapter that's in the glovebox. It looks very OEM.

What I don't know is if the BMW brake controller was installed, was already present, or is missing. Planning to tow my F30 this summer about 400mi to my new home, after towing a rental box trailer with my crap prior. I really don't know anything about towing to be quite honest, but I will have to learn.

Seems it wants a drop hitch, 4"? And towing weight I've seen as either 5,000 or 6,000lbs for a manual 3.0.

[Effduration]

Originally Posted by Salty B.

What I don't know is if the BMW brake controller was installed, was already present, or is missing. Planning to tow my F30 this summer about 400mi to my new home, after towing a rental box trailer with my crap prior. I really don't know anything about towing to be quite honest, but I will have to learn.

Seems it wants a drop hitch, 4"? And towing weight I've seen as either 5,000 or 6,000lbs for a manual 3.0.

I've towed many things with my '05 X5 3.0 auto. I have 6,000 lbs of capacity. I know the early 5-speeds had 5,000 lbs of capacity per the manual, but I think the later 5 speeds and 6-speeds were upgraded to 6,000Lbs

Not sure BMW ever offered a brake controller. My car hauler and the Uhaul auto transporter have "surge brakes" which work fine. If you have a trailer with elec brakes, and want to add an aftermarket brake controller have at it.

Wait until you have a trailer before you figure drop...My tow bar drops a lot less than 4 inches...maybe 2 inches.

[Bdc101]

Originally Posted by Salty B.

Sorry to resurrect an old thread,

The prior owner of my X installed a "Genuine BMW Westfalia Hitch". The receiver has a peeling sticker with a BMW part number. There's a covered connector next to it for the wiring harness adapter that's in the glovebox. It looks very OEM.

What I don't know is if the BMW brake controller was installed, was already present, or is missing. Planning to tow my F30 this summer about 400mi to my new home, after towing a rental box trailer with my crap prior. I really don't know anything about towing to be quite honest, but I will have to learn.

Seems it wants a drop hitch, 4"? And towing weight I've seen as either 5,000 or 6,000lbs for a manual 3.0.

Manuals all had either 6,000 or 6,500 tow rating according to different sources. Some of the autos were either 5,000 or 5,500, I don't recall to be honest.



There is no OEM BMW brake controller like Effduration mentioned. But what you do want to look for is the towing module, which is next to the battery underneath the spare tire and air compressor (if you have air suspension). The wires coming from the trailer wire connector at the hitch will go into this module, if you have it. If you don't have it, the person who installed it likely just spliced into the brake light wires. That's not the end of the world, but you will get a bunch of warning lights on your dash whenever you plug the trailer in.



If the trailers you'll be towing have electric brakes, you need to get the brake controller ordered and installed well ahead of time.



And lastly, don't worry too much about towing. The 3.0 is a bit underpowered but generally the E53 platform is an extremely solid and stable tow vehicle. It gives me much more confidence than the Tahoe I used to tow with. And first gear is so short that it makes starting off super easy. Just make sure you figure out the wiring first!

[X5chemist]

Does the Curt hitch look like this one? Curt S019(?) model? I found this one locally from a shop. The shop works on BMWs. It was recycled off an X5 about a year ago. I need to straighten out the wiring. It does have some kind of box. There are two harnesses. For ease of installation, I plan to look for an OEM towing module and harness.