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

[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....

[TerminatorX5]

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

[Ricky Bobby]

i dont get it, WDS diagrams lol?

[upallnight]

Originally Posted by papasmurf

Why did you do only 1 side?

In Europe only the driver side have the rear fog light. With fog lights on both sides the driver behind might think that you are riding the brake since they will appear as bright brake light.

If I was to do this I will only put the rear fog on the driver side.

[TerminatorX5]

WDS BMW Wiring Diagram System - Model Selection

the wiring diagrams for BMWs

[upallnight]

Originally Posted by killcrap

no vehicle is ever prewired for PDC, if you see plugs in it, most likely cause is the vehicle originally had PDC and someone removed it.

Some X came prewired for front PDC. It all depend on how the X was outfitted. If your X had xenon headlight, you have the wiring for at least the front PDC. The wiring may have extended back to the rear. The wiring harness for the rear PDC always came with the rear PDC.

[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

[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....

[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?