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

[Ricky Bobby]

Originally Posted by SlickGT1

So what is the line to code. I can't wait for the writeup by Ricky, as I too don't have the tow module.

It's NSL_US_OPTION I believe, set to *nicht_aktiv*


Then all you do is pop your bulbs and bulb holders in, run a bushing contact wire from each tailgate harness to the spare tire area, snip off pins 10 and 12 from the factory trailer harness by the battery, and crimp one wire from the tailgate to each, so they are in fact wired up individually.

This is assuming you ran a wire from pin 7 or 8 (I forget right now) of the European light switch to pin 45 of the middle connector on the LCM as well.


I'll do a full write up in a few days, I would like it to be stickied on the first page of this thread so that both methods are seen in one place, but I may have to deal with just writing it here in the later pages.

[TerminatorX5]

here are the parts, that can be ordered from the site sponsor, the ECS Tuning or, your favorite dealer:

Home Page > Search > 61131378106 > ES#164462 PIN CONN. BLK. - 61131378106

Home Page > Search > 61131378108 > ES#164464 Electrical Connector Housing - 2 Pin - 61131378108

RealOEM.com * BMW E53 X5 4.4i Circular connector / D 2,5 mm System - 61131376193

Home Page > Search > 63216943036 > ES#174526 Bulb Socket - Priced Each - 63216943036

Home Page > Search > 63217160789 > ES#174562 Tail Light Bulb - Priced Each - 63217160789

Home Page > Search > 61131376206 > ES#2538093 Snap-In Receptacle 2.5 - Pack Of 10 - 61131376206KT

RealOEM.com * BMW E53 X5 4.4i Pin contacts ELO






NSL_AH_US_OPTION - rear fog lights (USA)
aktiv ---->> nicht_activ

[Ricky Bobby]

got mine coded yesterday, works like factory!

what a long road to get this working but as Terminator and I have proved, you can have factory operating rear fog lights for under 100 bucks, even if you don't have the Trailer module or factory hitch installed!

[X5SND]

Congrats on the accomplishment guys! It's looks as though it was a long road with this one....but the results speak for themselves!

When can we expect that write-up?! (some of us are to lazy to go back through all the posts, sifting through what did and did not work.)

[TerminatorX5]

speaking of theories...

i use follow-home function, when i park in garage in dark, turn engine off, flick the high beam flash to light up the garage so i can turn on the regular lights...

so, i noticed, the rear fogs are illuminated too, along with my high beams (i turned off low beams in NCS to preserve the xenons)...

this makes me think that the rear fogs may be fully operational with blown tail light or brake light, and also that they might work with brake distribution force - when you hit the brakes a la "HOLY SH!T!!!!", the brakes are supposed to light up the lights on the tail....

this is just a theory, did not test it yet...

[TerminatorX5]

ricky, using the two factory plug housings, male/female, and the round pins, male/female (i've said male/female so many times, it feels like a dating site!!! ), makes the wiring look so factory, that at one point i "lost" my mod - it got "hidden" in plain view... i might even consider reterminating (to live up to the nick TERMINATOR ) all of my 2-pin homegrown connections with this round pin setup... oh, and i use cloth electrical tape to wrap some of my wires - i got that tape from germany, as OE as it gets...

let me know if you need anything for this write up... i will borrow my wife's phone and snap some pics - my phone got a mental issue, and his IQ plummeted... it is not as smart as it used to be...

[TerminatorX5]

another theory...

it seems that LCM scans the light switch (S8) for the ground on the pin 8 to turn on the rear fogs...

so, in theory, one can save some serious dough and wire a regular light switch to pin 45 on the LCM and to the ground to activate the rear fogs and avoid buying a euro switch!!!

more savings realized!!!!

[SlickGT1]

Shit term where were u before? I have this nasty factory looking switch, when i could have just gotten one of those from my garage.

[avonside]

Well done guys,
I was the one who wrote the origonal 2005 fog light install, its great to see there are cheaper and quicker options out there.
Still dont understand why rear fogs arent a global standard fit , they are such a great safety feature in bad weather.Luckily 7 years on and mine still work fine and back here in the UK I get to use them quite a lot

[Ricky Bobby]

Originally Posted by X5SND

Congrats on the accomplishment guys! It's looks as though it was a long road with this one....but the results speak for themselves!

When can we expect that write-up?! (some of us are to lazy to go back through all the posts, sifting through what did and did not work.)

S,

Just for you I will bold and condense in one post, I can always make a separate thread if needed, but one can always reference this post by searching google hopefully:

DIY FOR REAR FOG LIGHT FACTORY SWITCHED OPERATION, FOR CARS WITHOUT TRAILER WIRING OR FACTORY HITCH INSTALLED:

Parts needed:

1 x European Switch 61-31-6-909-775 (I bought mine from ebay.de for 50 bucks, search for "e53 lichtschalter" and you should be able to find a few)

2 x 61-13-0-006-626 (These are the 2 contacts for the tailgate light plugs, basically there is one spot open on each of the existing tail light plugs, insert your bushing contact until it clicks and lock it in, so that when you install your bulb holders or bulbs that is the 12v wire for the fogs)

1 x 61-13-0-005-201 (Solid brown wire with pin which connects to pin 45 of the middle connector on the LCM)

1 x 61-13-0-006-663 (contact which goes to pin 8 of the Light switch wiring, this contact and wire will be extended to the passenger side and will connect with the contact above, so will make a connection from pin 8 of light switch wiring to pin 45 of LCM)

On my E53 I have LED Tail lights which have bulb holders and bulbs for the rear fog lights installed in the tailgate lights already so I did not need these, but for all with factory tails you will need 2 bulb holders and 2 21w bulbs, part numbers are as follows:

2 x 63-21-6-943-036 (bulb holders)

2 x 63-21-6-926-920 (21w bulbs)


MANDATORY: Coding of the LCM, at the conclusion you must change the line "NSL_AH_US_OPTION" to "nicht_aktiv", if you do not change this line with the install your rear fogs will be operational as rear blinkers (quad blinkers haha!)


-Wiring connectors (I used posi-lock connectors)
-Roll of 18 gauge wire

1) Follow the instructions on the entire first page of this thread, as far as the "front section wiring" which entails how to install your European switch, and wire up the front portion which goes from pin 8 of the switch to pin 45 of the LCM (or as Terminator referenced in the first post, you technically could go with a standard switch and run that connection to pin 45 of the LCM, but this way you will not get the cool "rear fog icon" in the dash when pressing the button!)

2) Follow the instructions for the entire "Rear section wiring" of the first page, however, instead of crimping each rear fog connection together and running one wire back into the trunk area, you will be running each rear fog light wire separately into the trunk.

3) With each rear fog wire ran into the trunk area, underneath the battery cover with the "BMW" on it, locate the factory installed trailer harness plug, X609 (It looks like this)



4) You could choose to use Terminators X-cellent reference above to making a complete OE connection, he has referenced part numbers of a nice male/female connection which really will make this install underneath the battery look factory! However, since I was the first to undertake the wiring portion I used Posi-lock connectors, whatever you use to wire each fog light make sure it is a good connection!

Locate pin 10 and 12 on the X609 trailer lighting connector referenced above, you may choose to manually release each pin/wire, or like I did and just snip the wire off the connector, from here you will connect pin 12 to the wire from the trunk for the left rear fog light, and pin 10 will go to the same wire that you ran for the right rear fog light.



Tuck your wiring away, put everything in the trunk back together, test your European light switch to be sure the icon lights up in the dash when pressed (front fogs must be on also!), and button your car back up.


If you have not already coded the line for the rear fogs referenced above, do so now! You should now have factory operating rear fogs! If you do not, please post up here, PM me or TerminatorX5 if you need help. If you have followed the directions exactly, your install should be correct, as I said, make sure you are making good electrical connections as that is really the only part of this install that can go wrong!



I hope that helps, until I can make a more informative thread (I did not take pictures of the install, if Terminator did I can take these instructions and paste into a new thread!