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

[TerminatorX5]

some observation points to some earlier posts - in most countries that the rear fog lights are required, they only call for one side, usually the side where passing happens, in other words on left-hand drive cars it is on left side. the opposite spot is used for reverse light, so it is possible to see a car with a red lens on left and clear lens on corresponding right side. higher end cars go for dedicated fogs and dedicated reverse lights. I believe the TUV (or is it DIN?) standars calls for not less 10cm distance between the brake light and the rear fog light (if in the same cluster).

Also, in my other E53 ('06 4.8iS) with adaptive lights, i plugged in euro switch that does NOT have a little green dot light next to auto lights. The adaptive function of the low beam operates as NORMAL, so the presense of that green light should NOT affect the adaptive lights - they move up, down, right and a little to the left.

[petrolhead]

it looks in the photos like the wire run from the tcm into the tailgate is a single solid copper core not stranded cable. single core cable will break eventually from fatigue where it flexes when the tailgate is opened.
The reason only 1 foglight is used is so that in foggy conditions the brightness of the fogliht can overpower the brakelight, so only having one foglight means that at least 1 brakelight is visible. not so much of a problem now we have high level 3rd brakelights but still done by some manufacturers.

[ake53]

whats the total cost?

[Ricky Bobby]

I wonder if you could theoretically run the wire from the euro switch to the LCM and then use power from that same wire in the glovebox, then run 2 separate wires to the tailgate to power up the bulbs in the rear fog?

is there a way to use a relay and run the wires manually to the back hatch and not have the TCM?



would that work? bypassing the Trailer module? hmm....

[X5 Meister]

I don't see why you would want to do this. It's so much easier to use the TCM. Running the wire the entire length of the car is a huge PITA.

Originally Posted by Ricky Bobby

I wonder if you could theoretically run the wire from the euro switch to the LCM and then use power from that same wire in the glovebox, then run 2 separate wires to the tailgate to power up the bulbs in the rear fog?

is there a way to use a relay and run the wires manually to the back hatch and not have the TCM?



would that work? bypassing the Trailer module? hmm....

[TerminatorX5]

the answer is hidden in WDS diagrams... lol...

[Ricky Bobby]

i dont get it, WDS diagrams lol?

[TerminatorX5]

WDS BMW Wiring Diagram System - Model Selection

the wiring diagrams for BMWs

[TerminatorX5]

all E53 are prewired with Level 1, it is a "plain Jane" model. then, once you have one option from Level 2, all options in Level 2 are pre-wired...
If you have one option from Level 3 - all options in Level 3 AND Level 2 are pre-wired...

So, if you have the Level 5 - you are prewired for all the lower level options, even if they are not installed...

this is only confirmed so far with heated seats and the PDC.

Level 2
S235 - trailer hitch
S502 - SRA (whatever it is)
S508 - PDC
S609 - Nav
S624 through S629 - telephone/radio

Level 3
S248 - steering wheel heater
S261 - rear airbags (interesting, I wonder if this is retrofittable)
S265 - RDC, tire pressure
S461 - backrest heating system in the rear
S496 - seat heating system in the rear
S533 - rear air conditioner
S536 - auxialliary heating system

Level 4
S220 - single axle level control

Level 5
S522 - xenon lights

[Ricky Bobby]

I ran the wire the length of the car to install my ipod interface to my armrest and it was done in an hour, and that was a thick 8 gauge wire or so, a small 16 or 18 gauge is nothing.


I'm looking to not use the TCM because I dont have the OEM hitch and I'm not looking to spend 150 on the hitch after almost 100 for the OEM switch. I'm just theorizing if we were to run contacts from the headlight switch to the LCM, and then find our power somewhere in the front (say cigarette lighter) and run our wires to the back would it be doable?



Terminator I have level 5 since I have xenon is that correct?