Tow Hitch - brake controller?

[Riggodeaux]

Now that I have the hitch and e30 and X5Boise have me thinking about the install, what about a brake controller? I installed and rate favorably the Tekonsha Prodigy in a Ford truck. What looks to be a new product from Tekonsha in the Prodigy is a wireless remote front-end unit with a plug in for the BMW wiring: looks sweet, but a $200 premium over the 'wired' Prodigy!

Brake Controller by Tekonsha for 2006 X5 - 90250

Anyone have experience with this? The option for me is the standard Prodigy wired set up, like I installed [easy!] on Ford trucks. Instructions for X5s, not so easy ...... I found instructions at another website for the standard, wired, Prodigy, but the .pdf file size is a little big. Any thoughts/experience?

[Clockwork]

Rigg, did you ever install this part after?
I'm tihnking of doing this same controller.
sounds like a nice easy install with this unit since all wiring is done in the trunk by battery/wire harnesses
you just need to buy the BMW male pin 61131376195 and plut that into harness X393S Pin 11 slotting. then connect that wire to the Prodigy's RF transmitter part.
a bit pricy tho for a RF set up compared to the Tekonsha wired stuff.

[Riggodeaux]

Not yet. Will do so when we get a new horse trailer, probably later in the Fall.

[Clockwork]

I just realized there are NO wires period to install, but since I may have two trailers to haul, I'd need to constantly move this transmitter from trailer to trailer to operate it. so I may just go wit ha hardwired controller. I jsut hate the idea of seeing the controller sittil idle (by the steering column) when I'm not pulling the trailers.

[Riggodeaux]

I like the idea of an RF controller, since we have two German SUVs which are difficult to wire [unlike my old Ford trucks, plug and play]. No wiring is correct. Obviously trickier if you regularly pull two trailers, and would have to move the trailer mounted unit back and forth ....

[Clockwork]

not a regular occurance at all, but more or less a pain to hve to remove to fit onto one or the other from time to time, unless I just buy a second transmitter...

[ants_oz]

I run a "standard" P3 in my vehicle without any problems at all. Installation only happens once after all...

[Clockwork]

Ants, yeah I'm thinking I may lean that way, even though I bought a Prodigy RF alst night.
where did you mount your controller. that P3 is a nice looking device.

PS: I really only decided to put my hitch on after I came back from Oz and loved the look of the X5 with the trailer hitch ball still in it's socket even when not being used. everyone here removes the ball/tongue when its not being used and the black hole looks boring.

[rwilson]

I remove the ball when not in use and did this instead

[ants_oz]

Yeah, there are plenty of hitch socket plugs available to cover the space. I just use the plain black one which is supplied with BMW OE hitches here in Aus.