Brake controller for E70 experiences - Page 2

Mabuhay · #1 09-16-2008, 10:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wsanchez

...I've towed ... using the weight distributing hitch that I got with the trailer, and it's great. I've never noticed any sway, and I've never felt like the X5 was working very hard to pull the trailer. .

Ok, so I have a huge trailer box that's been sitting in my garage waiting for me to install it on the X5. Yes, I hope to get to it soon. So anyway, what's with this "weight distributing hitch"? Following the instructions in this thread, I know that I have to go to the dealer to have them "activate" something after I install the hitch. But how does it work? When I towed a Uhaul with a Ford F150 a long time ago, it always scared me when the back end felt like it was swaying left and right. So is this "weight distributing hitch" supposed to take care of that? If so, how? I am having a hard time envisioning it.

pebbrb05 · #2 01-07-2009, 09:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wsanchez

HoustonMtn, M3Armand:

The E70 is technically pre-wired for a brake controller.

The problem is that the connector is in the rear compartment in the panel on the right side, and the brake controller needs to be where the driver can reach it (front left). That means I had to run a wire bundle from under the steering wheel (where I put my controller) to the connector in the panel in the back.

This is an improvement over the E53, where, I'm told, one has to run wiring down to the trailer connector itself, which is more work.

An update on my situation: I've towed our 16' Airstream (3,500 Lb. GVWR) a couple of times now from San Francisco to Reno (over the Sierras) using the weight distributing hitch that I got with the trailer, and it's great. I've never noticed any sway, and I've never felt like the X5 was working very hard to pull the trailer. Granted, it's not a very heavy trailer, but it's easy to forget it's back there until you look in the mirror.

I plan to purchase an Airstream 23 FB with 4757#UBW and 500# hitch weight as soon as I get the brake controller issue worked out. After sending your info to my local BMW dealer I got a response that "this is something that we cannot get into. A hitch company would be the best to handle this."

Could you post pictures of the rear compartment connector and the manner in which the wiring was routed to the front left driver area? In addition, which controller by brand did you install? Thanks in advance.

bluvalley · #3 01-08-2009, 02:02 PM

The plug for the brake controller is attached to the wires in the right rear panel, you might need to reach in pretty far to find it. It's got a small plastic bag attached with a plug inside. BMW does not have the wires labeled.

The brake control wiring needs to be run from here to the dash. I would not accept an answer like that from your dealer about the install, if they installed the hitch than they should install the controller. My dealer was not thrilled about it either but I pressed them on it and they did a really nice job, one of the service guys knew all about controllers from installing them in his pickup.

The total cost was about 350.00. The controller I have is the Tekonsha Voyager, they do not recommend the more advanced Prodigy model because of the X5's complicated electronics.

I don't have a pic of the wiring bundle but I've attached one of my X5 and Airstream.

Good luck

pebbrb05 · #4 01-08-2009, 08:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bluvalley

The plug for the brake controller is attached to the wires in the right rear panel, you might need to reach in pretty far to find it. It's got a small plastic bag attached with a plug inside. BMW does not have the wires labeled.

The brake control wiring needs to be run from here to the dash. I would not accept an answer like that from your dealer about the install, if they installed the hitch than they should install the controller. My dealer was not thrilled about it either but I pressed them on it and they did a really nice job, one of the service guys knew all about controllers from installing them in his pickup.

The total cost was about 350.00. The controller I have is the Tekonsha Voyager, they do not recommend the more advanced Prodigy model because of the X5's complicated electronics.

I don't have a pic of the wiring bundle but I've attached one of my X5 and Airstream.

Good luck

Thanks for the info. Will take a look. Which Airstream are you towing? Any issues towing? What mirrors are you using?

bluvalley · #5 09-16-2008, 06:40 PM

Interesting information. I am also looking at the X5 to tow my 22 ft. Airstream. I currently tow with a Honda Ridgeline and it works very well. The Brake controller issue has been very difficult to resolve, but I'm glad to see someone finally has one installed and it's working properly.

Can you tell me if your X5 is the 3.0 or the 4.8?

Thanks again and happy camping!

wsanchez · #6 09-17-2008, 05:57 PM

bluvalley: I have a 4.8.

bluvalley · #7 09-17-2008, 06:58 PM

wsanchez: thanks. How do you think the 3.0 would do towing?

bluvalley · #8 10-27-2008, 02:28 PM

Hi,

Have my new 08 x5 with factory hitch installed. I found the empty connector for the tralier brake controller but the 4 wires are not labeled to correspond to the 4 wires on the brake controller.

Anyone have an idea of how to find this information?

thanks,

bluvalley

tdg · #9 03-30-2009, 10:59 PM

I haven't actually picked up the trailer yet - not sure if the family comes with it...

xDrive35d · #10 03-31-2009, 01:36 PM

This is interesting. I'm picking mine up later this week and I'm having them install the hitch. I think pretty much all SUV's and trucks these days come with a trailer controller connector under the dash. I'm really surprised to hear BMW doesn't have one. After all, they talk about towing in a lot of their sales literature. A few things to consider. I don't think I would use a weight distributing hitch when they state specifically not to use one. It's just my guess (ASSumption) that there may be some concern with the additional stress this places on the frame. Weight distributing hitches transfer a fair bit if weight to the frame of the tow vehicle. Maybe it's not designed to take that type of stress. It acts like a lever pulling up on the rear of the frame (over the axle) and pushing down on the front axle through the frame. Basically using the rear axle as a fulcrum if I understand correctly. The other reason may just be that they have a program that cures trailer sway using the brakes (Trailer Stability Control). This is per the sales brochure. I have quite a bit of experience towing and I think towing anything under 6K (lbs.) is unlikely to cause any real sway problems. I will tow without any kind of weight distributing hitch and see how it works using the BMW trailer stability control.

Does anyone know what the "Single Wire (blue/brown) Trigger signal for Electric Brake Control Module" as described in the hitch installation instruction's does? Do you think it's just the brake light signal that brake controllers use to know when to activate? I just wonder why they would have that separate from the 4 wire brake controller connector that's there also.

Here's a link that has info on brake contollers including a typical wiring diagram:

Brake Controller's

Thanks for any info,

Dave