Cycle/trailer lighting board project done :)

avonside · #1 06-01-2013, 07:10 PM

Sorted out a lighting board at last on my X, here in the UK its a legal requirement to have a light board if your bikes cover your tail lights.My problem was that my X is from the US so although I fitted the full OEM trailer hitch and wiring it was never going to work here.So I had to find an alternative.after much research found this relay designed for exactly the job, was a simple fit by taping into the light cluster to get the signal wires for turn,brake,side.the out-side of the relay then gives a full 12v supply to the 7 pin Euro trailer plug and bingo job done

It works like a dream, the relay even has a built in buzzer to warn you the turn signal is working

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frozenwaffles · #2 06-01-2013, 08:29 PM

I'm intrigued as to why you thought the oem wiring was 'never going to work'???
I have an Australian X5 and put the US hitch kit on, wired my own custom harness and it all works beautifully

upallnight · #3 06-01-2013, 08:56 PM

It's because us Yanks drive on the wrong side of the car, but on the right side of the road. LOL

avonside · #4 06-02-2013, 03:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by frozenwaffles

I'm intrigued as to why you thought the oem wiring was 'never going to work'???
I have an Australian X5 and put the US hitch kit on, wired my own custom harness and it all works beautifully

Sorry didn't explain myself very well about that bit ......it's because in the Uk it is illegal to have the turn signal and stop light function together as one bulb.I did initially try to wire up the light board to the OEM electric plug but when I pressed the brake pedal the yellow side markers lit up.it uses one wire for both functions and I couldn't see anyway of separating that.
This was a very easy and relatively cheap fix.The relay and prewired cable and plug comes in a kit for £40 and it doesn't give any bulb failure warnings even though you are drawing a small current from the tail light cluster in the vehicle.

frozenwaffles · #5 06-02-2013, 06:10 PM

Hi check this out.... it might help but I guess you are already sorted

http://www.xoutpost.com/bmw-sav-foru...er-wiring.html

avonside · #6 06-02-2013, 07:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by frozenwaffles

Hi check this out.... it might help but I guess you are already sorted

http://www.xoutpost.com/bmw-sav-foru...er-wiring.html

Hi frozenwaffles
Thanks for that, but it looks like the same issue would stop it working for me, it is programmed for the turn signal and stop light as one function.which is illegal here in the uk.In Austrailia is the turn signals and brake light the same bulb with a dual filament.Here in the uk the turn signals are always orange front and rear and are completely separate form the brake light at the rear and the side lights at the front.When I imported my X home to the uk I had to get the front lights changed to stop the orange turn signal from also switching on as a side light US spec,it would not pass the SVA test otherwise and then could not be registered here.

frozenwaffles · #7 06-02-2013, 07:26 PM

Hi, its not programmed like that at all. That one plug delivers all the options you want/need.
In Australia the turn lights are completely separate form the brake lights.
Anyway looks like you have it sorted

TerminatorX5 · #8 06-02-2013, 09:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by avonside

Hi frozenwaffles
Thanks for that, but it looks like the same issue would stop it working for me, it is programmed for the turn signal and stop light as one function.which is illegal here in the uk.In Austrailia is the turn signals and brake light the same bulb with a dual filament.Here in the uk the turn signals are always orange front and rear and are completely separate form the brake light at the rear and the side lights at the front.When I imported my X home to the uk I had to get the front lights changed to stop the orange turn signal from also switching on as a side light US spec,it would not pass the SVA test otherwise and then could not be registered here.

it is all water under the bridge, but in the E53 the turn signals are one set of light bulbs, and the brake lights are different light bulbs... in the programming you can tell the front turn signals to glow in amber when the headlights are on (US spec), or turn them off and activate only for the turn signal function, and the in the rear you can tell the brake lights to operate as turn signals but normally it comes pre-programmed for separate operation of the brake lights and the turn signals...

the trailer module comes in a variety of models, and the US model is probably different from the UK version - in the US we can get by with a 4-pin trailer plug (ground, left, right and brakes feed, with left/right operarting as parking lights). the factory hitch is wired up for 6 wires (7th is electric brakes but i have not seen it wired up to the trailer modules in the US)... so, theoretically, you could have had the programming do what your relay is doing... just in theory

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