A 2021 updated Trailer hitch & brake controller thread

[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!