trailer hitch saga

[jigaro]

I was just thinking, it's like always having another person driving arround with you, when you have the hitch installled on your car, cause that thing is heavy as shit

[kishg]

just the e53s ones in short supply. e70 is fine, the lucky bastids! shipping from Tbilisi would be a packet. prolly not worth it, might be cheaper to buy another truck at the rate domestic trucks are plummeting in value.

[X5_Rob]

Does anyone know the name of the company that was providing the OEM trailer hitches? Are they still in business?

[Weasel]

Originally Posted by X5_Rob

Does anyone know the name of the company that was providing the OEM trailer hitches? Are they still in business?

Don't know the name, but do know they are no longer in business...

[nra0707]

I thought it was Westfalia or something. I remember during my OEM hitch install, there being a sticker with that on a couple of the pieces.

[kishg]

yup westfalia. i believe they made oem parts for vw as well. no idea why they've stopped making the hitches for bmw unless it had something to do with their acquisition by daimler.

http://www.westfalia-van.de/

[markesq]

I thought about doing that before I found the wiring kit.

The kit included that setup, plus a BMW modulator. I think it is for shutting down the PDC when you have a trailer hitched. Maybe for something else too.

That would seem to be the only difference.

[JCL]

While you can tap into the tail and brake lights, and you may not get any dashboard warnings, you do not get the benefits of disabling the rear PDC (you have to do it manuall). I don't think you get the trailer stability control feature activated either.

Some have had no trouble with wire taps for lights. Others have had lots of problems. My advice would be to go ahead and try it if you can't find the BMW part, but if you have warning signals be prepared to remove the wiring.

[X5Dawg]

Originally Posted by JCL

While you can tap into the tail and brake lights, and you may not get any dashboard warnings, you do not get the benefits of disabling the rear PDC (you have to do it manuall). I don't think you get the trailer stability control feature activated either.

I will agree - I don't have PDC, so I didn't even think about that. And I was not aware of a "trailer stability control" - was this available on all models/ years?? I am assuming this makes use of the vehicle's braking / stability system to keep the trailer from getting out of control??

[JCL]

Originally Posted by X5Dawg

I will agree - I don't have PDC, so I didn't even think about that. And I was not aware of a "trailer stability control" - was this available on all models/ years?? I am assuming this makes use of the vehicle's braking / stability system to keep the trailer from getting out of control??

Not sure when it was introduced, but my 2003 had it, and all models since then. Yes, it is essentially a different program on the DSC, using the braking system to counteract trailer sway if the vehicle senses it (presumably beyond a certain threshold)