2004 E53 X5 4.4i Rear Fog light Install...COMPLETE!

[TerminatorX5]

Originally Posted by Ricky Bobby

Ah yes, the C5 Audi I'm guessing? (1999-2004 A6?)


I remember those European switches well, one click over for parking lights, 2 for headlights, one pull out for front fogs, another pull out for rear fog lights (or something like that!)

yeap, precisely - that is the switch... she got a 2004 A6... under a 100K (about 80 K miles)... she barely drives it and i know it will kill that car... but... what can i do?...

why Audi, MB, Jag can have the rear fogs shipped to the US and the BMW does not???? well, besides the fact that the US operators do not really know how to operate a vehicle, is there another good reason???

[Ricky Bobby]

Originally Posted by TerminatorX5

yeap, precisely - that is the switch... she got a 2004 A6... under a 100K (about 80 K miles)... she barely drives it and i know it will kill that car... but... what can i do?...

why Audi, MB, Jag can have the rear fogs shipped to the US and the BMW does not???? well, besides the fact that the US operators do not really know how to operate a vehicle, is there another good reason???

I don't see any reason bc on my 99 Jetta as long as you had the euro switch you literally ran a wire from the pin on the switch to the tail light harness, and plug in your bulb and voila, it worked.

The only reason I see is that BMW maybe "Americanized" the cars somewhat, as opposed to Audi which brought over Euro features like that standard (didn't those also come with the warning triangle in the trunk?)

And 80k miles on that 2004! Wow that's nice, I always wanted a late model C5 A6, with manual transmission (the 2.7T was available with stick), I'm guessing hers is automatic and 2.7T? (great motor btw, ridiculously fast when the Biturbo is tuned)

[BeGuud]

Thanks guys for the reply and the warm welcome.

I have a US version of the car, which explains the lack of rear fog.

I had a go at the buttons (turn front light on and off) but no go. I actually had the LCM flashed to fit the EU version but I might have an old module that does not support them.

I do have another module from a e39 that might fit, perhaps I should try to install it.

[TerminatorX5]

hers is automatic indeed (can you imagine if i had to teach her how to drive stick??!!! i'd go grey before my time!!! bad enough that i had to teach her how to send me email while i was abroad!!!)... the one she has is a quatrro, and i think it is a 3.0...

not a turbo, c'mon, she is my mom, moms don't drive fast turbos!!!! lol

[Ricky Bobby]

Originally Posted by TerminatorX5

hers is automatic indeed (can you imagine if i had to teach her how to drive stick??!!! i'd go grey before my time!!! bad enough that i had to teach her how to send me email while i was abroad!!!)... the one she has is a quatrro, and i think it is a 3.0...

not a turbo, c'mon, she is my mom, moms don't drive fast turbos!!!! lol

I was keeping my fingers crossed I thought maybe even an automatic turbo LOL!

anyways I digress and back to our friend from Iceland's question, to be honest I just don't know, it must be an early model thing!

[TerminatorX5]

i just checked the operation of the rear fogs

engine is off - no lights
engine on - no lights, if i press rear fogs, nothing happens
if i press front fogs, the fogs and the low beams come up (switch in auto position)
with front fogs on, i press rear fogs, they come on
with front and rear fogs on, i turn off the front fogs, the rear fogs STAY on...

interesting....

[amancuso]

If you have AHL, does the switch without the green light cancel your AHL operation? I think I read one poster that mentioned the replacement switch he got without the green light didn't hinder operation.

[Overboost]

First a thank you to avonside, mrtm2008, TerminatorX5 and Ricky Bobby for their work and documentation on this mod. I am starting my parts acquisition and will be performing this mod over the next couple of weeks. I found a light switch out of a 2005 X5 with the AHL LED and auto lights position from a seller on fleaBay out of Latvia. I am hoping the LED operates like the one currently in my car but from my reading I realize it is not necessary but I still like having it to see when the lights are on or if there are any errors in the system.

I will wire the trigger wire from Pin 8 on the switch to pin 45 on the LCM as I install the switch and validate the signal operates the rear fog indicator on the cluster.

Once I have everything working up front I will head to the rear. Updates coming... Thanks again!

[amancuso]

Originally Posted by Overboost

First a thank you to avonside, mrtm2008, TerminatorX5 and Ricky Bobby for their work and documentation on this mod. I am starting my parts acquisition and will be performing this mod over the next couple of weeks. I found a light switch out of a 2005 X5 with the AHL LED and auto lights position from a seller on fleaBay out of Latvia. I am hoping the LED operates like the one currently in my car but from my reading I realize it is not necessary but I still like having it to see when the lights are on or if there are any errors in the system.

I will wire the trigger wire from Pin 8 on the switch to pin 45 on the LCM as I install the switch and validate the signal operates the rear fog indicator on the cluster.

Once I have everything working up front I will head to the rear. Updates coming... Thanks again!

I completed this mod myself, and found the same switch as you, it came out of Estonia via eBay. I also was able to source a TTM (TCM) from ebay for cheap out of an e39, it was plug and play, and the lights work great. Already used them once in a misty downpour!

[Overboost]

Tell me more about your project amancuso. I assume you had to do the front and rear wiring conversion too? Why did you go with a trailer module and not just use pins 10 and 12 on the TCM connector? Did you wire both lights to pin 3 on the TCM?