OK 2006 3.0 with OEM Hitch KIT installed and trailer lights/PDC work properly when trailer hooked up. No programming needed!

Good luck all, great to be towing in the X5 once again! :beerchug::beerchug::beerchug:

Bavarian ship out the missing wire harness yesterday, so I wont get it before next week. I will perform the installation myself so I will let you all know how it goes.

BTW I don't have brakes on the trailer, but that is not a problem, as I already pulled the trailer with the boat few time and so far so good. I'll keep you informed.

Thanks for all the inputs.

Cheers

AA

Double A did you ever get this installed and was it difficult to do?
I have a reese tow hitch installed but no wiring yet! I would like to do it myself.
would you be able to help me out.

Sorry guys, I had lost trace of this thread, I guess I'm chasing too many rabbit at the same time.... Long story short, it took me the afternoon to install the hitch wire. The instruction supplied was showing a different diagram than the reality of my 2k4 X5.

First I had to remove the rear bumper, I found out they used an exa socket ( sorry my french brain doesn't know the English word for this socket that we call star socket in french ) lol... I had to run to the local store to get a socket kit.

While I was removing the spare tire and all the bracket underneath, I found out that there was plenty of battery oxidation each side of the battery, so I took it off and cleaned that mess, I also cleaned the battery holder, and battery post with a special brush made for that. The wiring thing was fairly simple, there was only a connection box or whatever it's called to install, then it was just a matter to pass the wire true the rear of the tuck. The fun part started when I look at the wire plug that goes somewhere in the bumper, the frame on my X5 is totally different than the one showed on the diagram, therefore it was impossible to install it the way the instruction tell you. Each side of the hitch there is a metal plate wich is close to half a inch thick, what I did is drilled a whole using a 17/64 bit and then I tap in with a 1/4 tap so I could screw in a 1/4" bolt that hold the the wire plug adapter. Only one screw is enough the hold the adapotor solidely.

BTW, if you guys want to see my build car project check the link here and give me some feed back: Login to a private Photobucket.com album

Here some pics:
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y89...a/IMG_0790.jpg
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y89...a/IMG_0791.jpg
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y89...a/IMG_0792.jpg
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y89...a/IMG_0793.jpg
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y89...a/IMG_0794.jpg
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y89...a/IMG_0795.jpg
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y89...a/IMG_0796.jpg
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y89...a/IMG_0797.jpg
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y89...a/IMG_0798.jpg

Didn't get around to this until now. If I find anything else I'll add to this post.

In regards to the need for retrofit coding, according to the various instructions it is as follows:

- US 7-2000 - No mention of coding
- US 5-2009 - No mention of coding
- Euro 3-2000 - No mention of coding
- Euro 8-2009 - Does not require coding
- Euro 10-2001 Wiring Harness - Cars built prior to 10-2001 do not require coding. Cars built after 10-2001 do require coding
- Euro 4-2004 Wiring Harness - Does require coding

Attached:

1. US Hitch installation instructions - Date 7-2000 (in 2 parts due to board size constraints)
2. US Hitch installation instructions - Date 5-2009 (p/n 71-60-0-009-711 Retail $495.00 (Class III with a 2" receiver))
3. Euro Hitch installation instructions - Date 3-2000
4. Euro Hitch installation instructions - Date 8-2009
5. Euro Wiring Harness installation instructions - Date 10-2001
6. Euro Wiring Harness installation instructions - Date 4-2004 (in 2 parts due to board size constraints)
7. 8 photos of Euro Hitch Tow Bar and it's mounting location in the trunk
8. Hitch Step instructions (p/n 82-11-0-417-602 Retail $79.00)

I came across information confirming the existence of an "Electric Trailer Brake Kit" P/N 82-11-0-420-083 however I still have no other information on it yet.

Great link on installing an US Hitch:

http://www.xoutpost.com/articles/x5/...tion-tips.html

I put together a similar post for the E70. See post # 27. http://www.xoutpost.com/bmw-sav-foru...tml#post725271

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