Non-towing, tow package...???
 

Hi all, new to the forum. Just picked up an 01 X5 4.4i that does not have the towing package....

However, when I was going through the vehicle I noticed there is a fuse in rear rear fuse box for the "towing lights." Also saw this plug next to it....

So are these things pre-wired for the electrical? I was thinking I would have to splice into the taillight wiring...??

That's not the connector for the towing harness.

This is
http://www.xoutpost.com/attachments/...r-img_1994.jpg

Got it thanks....so is that installed in all X5s? Or only if it came with the towing package?

Just would seem strange If I have a fuse for it, but no wiring....??

All prewired

Not as "plug & play" as you might think.

The rear bumper has to be removed to install the OE harness, and that's IF you can find a harness and module.

ECS has the Siemens module (no harness) $230.

Even so, sound better than running all the wire to me.

You don't need the factory harness if all your looking for is running lights, infact you really don't need it at all. I install hitches on these rigs quite often at my shop and there is aftermarket pieces that are available. The only thing that I have seen going OEM offers is that it will disable the PDC when your in reverse, lock out the ride height control, and on some will monitor the lighting of the trailer, that may have been the e70's tho.

I have a 7 way with charge line on the back of my e53 with brakes being controlled from a p3 control mounted in the center console.

I always found disabling the rear PDC when a trailer is connected to be handy. I also like the fact that with the factory wiring module, when the vehicle senses a trailer is connected it can access a Trailer Stability program in the Dynamic Stability Control if it detects trailer sway.

Towing package is a misnomer. There is no factory towing package in the sense that the vehicles are built any differently. All vehicles are prewired, but only partially.

There is a BMW trailer hitch kit available from dealers that includes not only the physical receiver hitch, but the Siemens module and interconnecting wiring that runs from the factory harness to the plug on the receiver.

This has been discontinued, ecs had a few of them but now it look as tho they are out themselves. I have always found using a trailer sway bar combats any sway the trailer can cause and is adjustable, course all I ever tow with mine are my quads.

Trailer lighting monitoring is enabled on the E53 - or at least it is on my '05.