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  #1  
Old 08-27-2025, 01:51 PM
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Using LED tail lights for cargo carrier/trailer & OE Trailer Harness

Hi all, I have the OE trailer hitch/wiring installed.
I know about the e53 not being friendly to LED lights on trailers/cargo carriers when the 4 or 7 prong connectors are hooked up tot he OE trailer wiribng connection.
I know Curt and other sellers make a resistor plug/adapter that connects to the OE wiring connector first then you can apparently plug in the LED light harness and avoid the "Lamps out" error, and I have 2 separate versions of this device (one sold by e-trailer.com and a Curt brand).
I was still getting a Lamp Out error on the last trailer I tried to connect with that had LED (and I believe filament) bulbs on it.

Has anyone here successfully used an e53 with OE trailer wiring and LED lights, somehow?
I've tried researching threads to avoid another one, but I only get other answers about LED this and that... never about use with trailer hitch/wiring.
thanks kindly
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  #2  
Old 08-27-2025, 03:29 PM
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I have no expertise on this. Did you see this thread?

https://xoutpost.com/bmw-sav-forums/...er-lights.html

From search:

https://www.google.com/search?hl=en&...3Axoutpost.com
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  #3  
Old 08-27-2025, 03:44 PM
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thanks for this, yes I did, and in that post, LVP post #4 is what was more interesting and if you clicvk that, it takes you to LVPs post about a wireless trailer brake system (which I too own that Tekonsha Prodigy RF) and yes the link to e-trailers for that resistor is also one that I have. that is the e-trailers.com resistor I have and I also bought a similar deevice, but with an extension cable on it from Curt (Part # 57003). nice part, but never got to use that extension with resistors in it, Sold the trailers.

I'm in the position to outfit my amazing cardo carrier with tail lights, so the big back that sits on the cargo carrier isn't obstructing sighnal and brake like functions. I want to to LED, but may have to stick with larger housing filament bulbs

I could just ask someone with a trailer with LED lightys to allow me to hook up to them to see if my Curt or Tow Ready LED resistor devices work.
for some reason, they never did with the horse trailer I had that had LED and filament bulbs.
__________________
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

Last edited by Clockwork; 08-27-2025 at 03:50 PM.
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  #4  
Old 08-27-2025, 03:57 PM
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pic of cargo carrier i'm trying to illuminate.
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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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  #5  
Old 08-27-2025, 04:08 PM
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Yeah, I use a LED adapter, like the Curt 57003 with my factory harness, module, and trailer with LED lights... Works great...I'll see if I can find exactly which LED adapter I have.. I know it is a 7-way to 4-way LED adapter.
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  #6  
Old 08-27-2025, 04:55 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Effduration View Post
Yeah, I use a LED adapter, like the Curt 57003 with my factory harness, module, and trailer with LED lights... Works great...I'll see if I can find exactly which LED adapter I have.. I know it is a 7-way to 4-way LED adapter.
many thanks.
Glad it works for you. the LED housings are just so much slimmer and easier to mount on this cargo rack, as they take up less room ON the carrier where the bag sits.
__________________
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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  #7  
Old 08-27-2025, 06:59 PM
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I use the Curt LED adapter as well...works for me. Though I wasn't getting a bulb out error, I just had erratic turn signals and flickering trailer lights even when vehicle was shut off.
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  #8  
Old 08-27-2025, 07:03 PM
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Definitely possible. I also use a Curt (I think) for the license plate LED bulb I’ve got on my spare tire swing arm. Plug and play, and zero problems with it and going on 3 years. I’ll look at mine as well and see if it has a model number, etc.

It’s a small but bright LED light down by the receiver hitch.
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  #9  
Old 08-28-2025, 05:48 PM
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Ok, you guys are getting me a bit excited, with the USABLE LED lights on items, comments. I'd love to run the slim LED housings. I've seen the flickering/fast pulsing signals before soi was curious if a newer product, that what I own was available but it seems you run the same as me, potentially. When I get home from vacation, I will look into connecting my e53 to someones trailer which has LEDs, to check my devices.

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__________________
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 08-29-2025, 02:38 AM
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Are these Curt adaptors available outside of the US?
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