BMW X5 E53 DIY OEM Hitch Installation Notes and factory installation PDF - Page 15

Riggodeaux · #1 05-19-2014, 01:00 PM

Thanks guys, I had noted the posts about the possibility of requiring coding in my 2006. If I can't do it myself, maybe a dealer can get to it when they do the warranty fix on my passenger seat airbag warning pad .....

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LVP · #2 05-19-2014, 07:35 PM

So, lesson learned. Installation is reverse of removal. If you forget to install the heat shields before you put the bumper on, you will need to pull the bumper off again, install the shields and then do the bumper again.

Other than a few fitment issues, it went well. Looks sweet. I'll move my sleds around towards the end of the week and give it a test. Not sure if bulb or LED trailer lights or if that will mess up the system, but I'll know soon enough.

Thanks for all the write-ups on the forum that helped throughout the install.

Cheers.

Riggodeaux · #3 05-19-2014, 07:49 PM

LVP, being above the 49th parallel, in a land of road salt, I'm surprised you could get the heat shields off. The inside? nuts on mine had corroded so that I couldn't turn the heads so I just removed the outside fasteners and folded the screens down enough on top of the 'lowered' mufflers [used milk cartons, no jose cuervo cases handy

] to reach where needed. I'm looking forward to confirming my electronics with a load of hay, and getting ready for the real test: hauling 5k plus of quarterhorses, tack and trailer to the trails in the N. Ga. mountains [once I hook up the brake controller] ......

LVP · #4 05-19-2014, 08:17 PM

4/4 screws and 3/4 of the nuts came off for the shields. I want to say I was lucky, but then forgetting to put them back on makes me reconsider that statement.

As for rust, this one, although high mileage and not maintained particularly well, lived a sheltered life in underground parking for at least half its life. That owner washed and detailed it a lot, so it was kept pretty clean. The guy before that did all the 4.8 looks, so I assume he cared a lot about how it looked too. There is a small spot of rust lower inside of right door and the underside is near spotless (a few small patches here and there, but barely an issue).

Good luck with the tow. I'll keep you posted on how mine works too.

Cheers.

LVP · #5 06-07-2014, 05:17 PM

Looking at the Tekonsha Prodigy RF Wireless Brake Controller (Tekonsha Prodigy RF Wireless Trailer Brake Controller - 1 to 3 Axles - Proportional Tekonsha Brake Controller 90250). Can anyone using it confirm the need to still take the signal wire from the front LCM module all the way to the back harness connector pin? I suspect from all the threads I've read, that regardless of whether you have the RF or hardwired version, this signal is still required as the OE harness doesn't have that pin pre-wired.

Thanks!

Riggodeaux · #6 06-09-2014, 07:28 AM

LVP, my impression is that the RF version of the Prodigy does not require any additional wiring to stock - primarily from the owner reviews. The key is getting the two units [a sending unit, portable, in the cabin, and the receiver, mounted on the trailer] to synch, and it appears the best method is to do it on a domestic US vehicle, then move the sending unit to your X5. I plan to get one to mount on the next horse trailer and move the sending unit between the X5 and the CEO's Benz diesel SUV.

LVP · #7 06-09-2014, 09:52 AM

So how does the unit in the vehicle "know" the brakes are being applied? I would think that the unit would still need the "brake applied" signal. When it sees the signal, then the level of braking as selected from the unit in the vehicle is applied. Does anyone have this actually installed in an E53 X? Thanks.

When I get the X5 back, I'll test the pins to see if the "brake" signal is actually generated on the OE pinout. I doubt it is and I'll need to tie it in.

JCL · #8 06-09-2014, 11:13 AM

You still have to wire the controller to a brake signal, either the LCM or a switch on the brake pedal.

It doesn't use the harness pins for the brake signal to the trailer; that is the part that is wireless. What you save is running a wire from the front of the vehicle to the luggage compartment.

Riggodeaux · #9 06-09-2014, 11:50 AM

Check out this install description for the 'wired' Prodigy - LCV?, its the .pdf I couldn't attach to my PM. Note his addendum at the end. Please let me know what conclusions you guys with much more electronic knowledge than I have reach: Do we need to do wiring or add a module to get the RF Prodigy to control electronic trailer brakes? This guy Kitchens has a Linked In page, but the website noted in his description didn't work for me. X5 02-04 Electric Trailer Brake compressed.pdf

Prodigy RF trailer brake install.pdf

LVP · #10 06-09-2014, 12:20 PM

Thanks. If you look at the RF install, it says the unit uses an inertial sensor to sense braking and generates the output accordingly (I assume wireless to the unit on the trailer). This would lead me to assume the Pin 2 on the trailer connector (electric brake) is not required. Ideally, I could use this unit on a trailer that already had electric brakes. Just plug this box upstream on the trailer and then use the RF unit to determine braking without having to wire anything.

Again, if someone has this working on an X5 and did not modify wiring, other than add the OE harness, chime in. I'll call the Prodigy people when I get a chance and report what they have to say.

Cheers.