Towbar installation
 

Hi all
Brilliant forum by the way
I’m based in Peterborough England and want to install a tow bar on my e53 it’s never had one fitted before so I wanna know:
What one is best
How to install one?
And my main worry the wiring up properly?
I kind of have an idea on how to install one but the wiring is beyond me
Thanks for any help
Frank

Can't help much with which one to get as they vary from country to country, since BMW never made them but local BMW offices commissioned local manufacturers in each market to do so. The fitting instruction will then depend on what you get...

What doesn't change is the wiring - or at least shouldn't change. The car is pre-wired for trailer wiring but requires a trailer lighting module to be fitted, along with a trailer wiring loom (plug and play). Both items are hard to get; the module shows up on eBay occasionally but the loom less often....

The module is important since it provides the interface to the lighting system - don't be tempted to just tap into existing tail light wiring like the days of old - it messes up the cars lighting system, with issues like lamp failure warnings and damaged LCMs etc.

The trailer module also does two other important tasks. It disables the rear parking sensors when a trailer is connected (handy ...and quieter!) and it alters the ABS programming to invokes a trailer/towing stability mode when a trailer is connected. Safety first!

Westfalia made OEM hitches for the E53. I believe they made one hitch for the US and one for Europe. I do see the European hitch on Euro Ebay sites occasionally. This is the hitch to get. All the other hitches cut corners here and there and result in lower towing capacities. Some may actual damage the vehicle. I recommend OEM only for a hitch.

There is a OEM hitch DIY on-line, have a search.

As noted above, you should not attempt to wire in a generic tow harness into the tail lights. This will likely end in big problems. Find the OEM tow module and tow harness (loom).

Not quite true - my OEM hitch was not made by Westfalia - BMW NZ commissioned a local manufacture to produce the OEM hitch here. Basic design and mounting is identical to the OEM unit made by Westfalia - presumably because BMW shared the design specs with multiple manufacturers.

On the BMW NZ OEM unit, the hitch receiver design differs from what is in the USA, to meet local laws here, as does the trailer connector.

I have no idea what BMW UK did - quite possibly they imported the OEM unit made by Westfalia...

Ok so the lighting module is the little white box with Siemens written on it?
And the wiring loom is what goes from the lighting module to the tow bar?
Thanks for yah peeps

On the US model, the wiring loom goes from plug on tow bar to an empty factory plug inside the rear of the car near the right side tail-light. The tow module plugs into a separate empty plug on the outside of the battery cover.

Here is an OEM UK hitch on sale at Ebay..it includes wiring loom and module.
doesn't seem too pricey to me:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/BMW-X5-Seri...sAAOSwUDZcoezk

Thanks for clarifying this..I was unaware of the NZ OEM hitch.

I’ve just found this one 143593828544 that’s the eBay item number
Are the Siemens lighting module all the same? Even on the e39 and e46 models?
This one here 273198979581 is for an e39? Another eBay number
Thanks again for the help

Also this one is good and cheaper what u reckon?
303481511116

I think that will work.

I am not as familiar with the UK or Euro hitch. In the US, it came with several pieces including a new (long) bumper support that replaced the stock support. Before you buy a hitch on Ebay make sure it has what you need. I suggest you research this.

Yes, and it is easy to install wrong, due to the large number of parts and complexity. There are pieces that reach inside of the unibody members and require bolts inside the trunk and under the exhaust. I found mine had been in service for over ten years without all of the fasteners.



Remember that this was one of the first unibody SUVs ever built that could tow (like one of the first three) and they severely overbuilt the tow hitch.

Looks to me like the UK (Euro?) tow hitch has fewer pieces than the US version. For instance, it does not appear to include the long replacement bumper support that the US model includes.

Here is a picture of the UK part:
https://www.schmiedmann.com/en/produ...ct=71606796334

Here is a picture of the UK wiring loom - which is different than the US trailer loom
https://www.schmiedmann.com/en/produ...1-60-0-143-470

Here is a pic of the OEM US hitch kit.
https://xoutpost.com/attachments/x5-...-hitch-kit.jpg

The UK one looks pretty much like the one I have here in NZ.

The USA model has the large 2" square hitch receiver and bracketry and perhaps that interferes with the original bumper sport. The narrower verticle circular pin design of the Euro/NZ receiver design may not, so a replacement bumper support is not required. :dunno:

This is the same as original.

https://www.pfjones.co.uk/bmw-x5-e53...le-towbar.html

Check in the spare wheel well if you have wiring for towbar partially installed from the factory.

https://www.newtis.info/tisv2/a/en/e...0d-sav/UbOhty7

https://www.newtis.info/tisv2/a/en/e...module/aqJPW9Y

That site also had a link to the official Westfalia installation instructions for the E53 UK /Euro hitch which I haven't seen before.

https://www.pfjones.co.uk/westfalia_fitting/303207.pdf

Actually if the vehicle side wiring is already there the installation would be plug and play.

This wiring from the connector X393 (in the diagram) to trailer socket.

https://www.bmwautoparts.net/en/sear...61116906348%09

And a second hand original AHM module.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_f...acat=0&_sop=15

If needed I can dig the original BMW installation instructions from EBA.