X-5 trailer brakes

[studioken]

Has anyone been able to install a trailer brake control into the X-5? My dealer says they don't know how without damaging something, I don't have a pedal control module for the electric brakes on my trailer, ( total weight loaded 4300#. thanks Ken

[JCL]

A couple of things:

1) You need brakes on a trailer over 1600 lb, but you don't necessarily need electric brakes. Surge brakes will work as well (depends on what the trailer is equipped with). Surge brakes don't require a controller, they are activated by a mechanism on the coupler.

2) Your BMW dealer is unlikely to know much about trailer brakes. The experts are the RV and trailer supply stores, who carry a variety of controllers. If you find a good supplier, they will know who can install it if you don't want to do it yourself. In essence, they don't connect to the X5 wiring but are activated by an additional switch on the brake pedal. The signal wire is run back to the trailer wiring harness, often using a spare pin on the electrical connection.

3) There are two good articles on X5 World. Go to Home, then scroll down to Miscellaneous. Both articles are posted there.

Good luck.

[studioken]

thanks, that's great information, I'll check the posted articles, Ken