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

[fizzx]

Originally Posted by Micah247

The OEN hitch kits are NLA! PN# 71600009711

What's my next best bet? I found one on eBay that looks like it bolts to the same spot behind the bumper supports.

Attachment 65957

Setup an ebay alert for OEM e53 X5 hitch. That's what I did. Took MANY months of waiting, but finally got a used one for a 'reasonable' price.

[UNLIMTD]

I have an E53 X5 OEM hitch kit for sale.

I have all of the parts except the bumper reinforcement (not sure if the original can be modified), including the tow module.

I bought it to install on my 2002 X5 E53 however my wife decided she wanted a different daily driver, so I no longer need the hitch.

I live in Star Idaho zip 83669, I give you that info in-case you would need it shipped. I would much prefer someone local, because shipping this would be a pain and expensive. I will do it but buyer will need to pay actual shipping costs.

I want $500 for the kit.

IMG_5136 by Jared Thompson, on Flickr

IMG_5137 by Jared Thompson, on Flickr

IMG_5138 by Jared Thompson, on Flickr

[Micah247]

Sold!

Originally Posted by UNLIMTD

I have an E53 X5 OEM hitch kit for sale.

I have all of the parts except the bumper reinforcement (not sure if the original can be modified), including the tow module.

I bought it to install on my 2002 X5 E53 however my wife decided she wanted a different daily driver, so I no longer need the hitch.

I live in Star Idaho zip 83669, I give you that info in-case you would need it shipped. I would much prefer someone local, because shipping this would be a pain and expensive. I will do it but buyer will need to pay actual shipping costs.

I want $500 for the kit.

IMG_5136 by Jared Thompson, on Flickr

IMG_5137 by Jared Thompson, on Flickr

IMG_5138 by Jared Thompson, on Flickr

[UNLIMTD]

Well that was fast, Micah247 bought the hitch, but not the module.

Anyone interested in the Module 61.35-8 369 019?

[rwilson]

Originally Posted by UNLIMTD

Well that was fast, Micah247 bought the hitch, but not the module.

Anyone interested in the Module 61.35-8 369 019?

does it work with a 2006 x5?

thanks Rich

[UNLIMTD]

Originally Posted by rwilson

does it work with a 2006 x5?

thanks Rich

I am not an expert in this vehicle, but a 2006 is still an E53 right?

I expect it would work just fine, maybe someone with some expertise can chime in.

Thanks

[JCL]

The hitch kits were sold with a single part number, to fit E53 models from 2001 through 2006. They included the trailer wiring module, although not always the same trailer wiring module over the years.

The trailer wiring module part number you have ended in 2001, and was superseded by a new part number (it looks the same, but something is different about it). The later one is part number 61356908767.

That one was also later ended, and replaced with part number 61356955253. Still looks the same. That last one fits E53, E83, E46, E39, and the Mini R50 (!).

So, it may be a small change between versions, and the one you have may work fine in any E53. It plugs in the same. But it also may be missing something internally that the 2004 and later models look for (and so not work correctly). Only way to tell is to try it. I'd take a chance on it, myself.

[TerminatorX5]

the facelift E53 comes with BFD (brake force distribution) and EHC II for air ride height, so the trailer module at least accounts for these...

[JCL]

I think it is the other way around.

The trailer module just works the lights. Everything else is done by the vehicle, if it sees a trailer module. Things like TSC are included in the DSC system, just waiting to be activated by the presence of a trailer module. I don't know why a trailer module that is also used on an E83 and an E46 would have anything in it to control ride height or brakes, but perhaps there is a bus signal to tell a new system that the trailer module is there and to take the appropriate action when a trailer is connected.

[TerminatorX5]

From reading the WDS, it seems that the trailer module is billed as an "extension" to the LCM. I used the same module from 2002 on the 2006 E53. The LCM is probably a "master", and the TM is a "slave". The 2006 has an updated LCM (I could not code 2002 LCM to have fogs on at the same time as highbeams).

When the TM senses the lights connected (resistance of about 300 Ohms or so), it tells the LCM that the trailer is hooked up, and in this case the LCM communicates to the PDC (probably via GM) to shut off the rear PDC sensors, tells the EHC II to not change the height using the manual buttons (when I try to raise or lower the car manually, I get a TRAILER MODE message), and also kills the rear fog lights.

also, it seems that some programming needs to be updated to include the TM into the rest of the car, since the Tm does not pass the voltage to the trailer lights - when it was installed in 2002 E53, the trailer lights were working, in 2006 E53 the trailer lights are not working, even though the car still knows about trailer being present.

I hope I did not confuse folks much with my blubbering - i am getting confused just by reading what i just typed!