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

[Ricky Bobby]

Originally Posted by TerminatorX5

here is a better picture of the trailer module (15 pins indeed), and the connector shows some stamping on it - unfortunately, i can't make out what those stampings are... i was hoping to see if a part number is embossed on that connector...

T, can you check your LCM connector for a part number? Look at this pic of the LCM it looks like one or two of the connectors may be the same part as the connector for the trailer module, 15 pin, I can't look at WDS at work either and RealOEM isn't much help. Looks like LCM X12 connector (15 pin) is the same connector we would need to connect to X609 in the rear.



NINJA EDIT: T, don't drive yourself crazy if you can't find this connector. Honestly to find the male pins for the X609 for each rear fog light was great work, and if that's the closest we get as far as a clean OE install, I think we can give ourselves a pat on the back. I'm heading out for a 5 day cruise tonight, so any research you do on that connector probably won't get read until I get back, but regardless if you find that connector or not, I am ordering 1 contact for S8, 1 contact for LCM, 2 contacts for tailgate harness, and 2 male pins for the X609 when I get home, and picking up a pair of 1156 bulbs with a spool of 18 gauge wire and will install as we have said so far.

[TerminatorX5]

have fun on the cruise, be safe outthere... when you order the regular pins for the regular connectors, do you get the ones with 1 foot of wire already attached, or you get just the pins? I am using Digi-Key pins, they are like dime a dozen... lol... about 8-10 years ago i got a couple hundred of them, they still last me for projects from E34, to E39 to both of the E53s...

the legal rambling that i had was about the implication of removing the wires 10 and 12 from the X609 and thus "depriving" a potential future install of OE trailer hitch from properly passing rear fog info to the trailer - non-issue here at all... sometime i like bubbling aloud, as the sound of the words scares me back into sanity!!!! lol...

have a good trip man, i am sure when you come back, things will be waiting for in the mailbox!!

[Ricky Bobby]

And I'm back lol! First cruising experience was great, would definitely go again, I literally would be happy just spending 5 days at sea there is so much to do on the boat!

And as far as the pins are there different part numbers with the foot of wire already crimped on? I'd get those if I could would make easier to splice wire on them. Gonna have to stop by my local parts dept over the weekend or when I am back at the office next week!

[TerminatorX5]

Originally Posted by Ricky Bobby

And I'm back lol! First cruising experience was great, would definitely go again, I literally would be happy just spending 5 days at sea there is so much to do on the boat!

And as far as the pins are there different part numbers with the foot of wire already crimped on? I'd get those if I could would make easier to splice wire on them. Gonna have to stop by my local parts dept over the weekend or when I am back at the office next week!

welcome back... while you were on the cruise, we got pounded by the snow!!! freaking Phil the Groundhog lied!!! again!!! this old man winter seems to hang around longer than it did in his native russia!!! and the spring is acting like a typical woman (sorry ladies!!!), she keeps saying, yeah, yeah, i am ready, i am coming, and it takes forever and a day for her to finally come out!!!!

As far as 15-pin connector - that thing is elusive... I know for a fact that there is huge, secret warehouse somewhere in germany, where those connectors are stored, otherwise, how else those german tuners manage to sell rare to find harnesses??? but I can't pinpoint it.

so, fo the time being I think we can go with your other proposal, and pull those two pins from the trailer connector, cut off the round pins, procure some nice male and female automotive connectors (ebay has plenty of them, and it does not matter what it is, could even be Molex), thus avoiding splicing, or soldering, install the newly procured connectors onto the two wires, run the extension wires to the lower lid (keeping track of left and right fog lights) and connect them to the existing connector on the lid.

should we find the proper 15-pin connector in some not distant future, we can recrimp the round pins (we know the part number), and reinstall them back into the 15-pin connector.

However, if the car is already equipped with a trailer module, I think, pulling the two wires from the 15-pin connector will be far more beneficial. in this case we should just abandon the idea of using the 15-pin connector, and stick to a 2-pin connector exclusively for the fog light application.

your thoughts?

[X5 Meister]

I can try to get some photos of this module on the weekend if you still need them, let me know.

Originally Posted by TerminatorX5

here is a better picture of the trailer module (15 pins indeed), and the connector shows some stamping on it - unfortunately, i can't make out what those stampings are... i was hoping to see if a part number is embossed on that connector...

[TerminatorX5]

Originally Posted by X5 Meister

I can try to get some photos of this module on the weekend if you still need them, let me know.

we were hoping to get the part number of the connector that is integral part of the module - those connectors are available as a standalone units (check the 12-pin trailer connector that is taped off on the rear wall of the trunk, next to the hole opening for the trailer harness), but it seems to be a very hard endeaviour to source them... removing the pins and direct wire them should work for people whoi already have the trailer module (thus hav ing each individual rear fog fed and monitored by the LCM directly, as opposed to splitting pin 3 of the trailer module), and for those folks who do not have trailer module and have no plans for the trailer module - they will get the rear fog functionality without spending an arm and leg for the tow hitch... those, who have the tow hitch and where the rear fogs are standard - they careless about this retrofit...

I am going to source the 2-pin connector for the application and will let you guys know...

[Ricky Bobby]

Originally Posted by TerminatorX5

I am going to source the 2-pin connector for the application and will let you guys know...

Interesting so did you want me to wait until you source a 2 pin connector then we can have pins 10 and 12 of X609 in their own connection once removed?

I was most likely going to do my own connection with scotchloks or something similar like you said above, a nice male/female connection and not solder it.


And to all who are reading the back and forth, all that Terminator and I speak about is for OWNERS WHO DO NOT HAVE THE FACTORY TOW HITCH KIT INSTALLED AND WOULD LIKE REAR FOGS WITHOUT SPENDING $160 on the Trailer Control Module. If you do have factory tow hitch in your car, please follow the DIY on page 1 of this thread. When my switch comes in (it hasn't yet, I checked the mail yesterday) and I get my rear fogs working I will do a separate thread and put a reference in this one, since the install is for 2 different applications.


Terminator just wondering, whats the best way to pop pins 10 and 12 out of the X609? small thin flat blade screwdriver? Been a while since I switched pins out of my tail lights when I installed the LED's.

[TerminatorX5]

the round pins have 4 prongs that hold the pin in place - i would use needles (or, worst case scenario, since those pins will get CUT OFF anyways, I may clip the wires right there and abandon pins in place)...

[Ricky Bobby]

Originally Posted by TerminatorX5

the round pins have 4 prongs that hold the pin in place - i would use needles (or, worst case scenario, since those pins will get CUT OFF anyways, I may clip the wires right there and abandon pins in place)...

Well in my case since those pins in the connector aren't going to be used in the X609 (i have no plans to install trailer module) I may just snip the wires off at the connector, then do as you suggested with the 9006/male female connection.

Just trying to gather how the best way to do a write up would be, the 9006 connectors I found for $9 on ebay.

I will still buy 2 male round pin connectors in the event that I can get pins 10 and 12 removed from X609 without much hassle, for the $1.00 on those I'll have both options.

OR alternatively I can leave pins 10 and 12 connected to X609, use the male pins on their own and just connect to X609 with the left and rear fog wires in place, sans a 15 pin male connector. Would look very clean and OE looking with leaving the stock wiring in place.

[TerminatorX5]

what do you think about this connector?

Weather Tight Pack SEALED Connector 2 Pin Male Female Kit MSD Ignition 8173 | eBay

does it look OE enough?