Great DIY...I've always wanted the tailgate lights to function w/ the parking lights. Can these lights be wired so simply come on w/ the parking lights or will that cause all kinds of issues w/ the LKM?

Great write up and pics. :thumbup:

Great write up by Mrtm2008,well done!Definitely DIY section material.

Sorry if I missed something here,but dont the X5s there have fog lights as standard,like the European counterparts?I have them on mine,for example....!Thanks

Front Fogs, yes....Rear Fogs, no :)

I would think you could if you connected each of the bushing contact wires into the (+) 12v wire that is already going into connectors at each rear tail light. The (-) ground wire that already exists in that connector, acts as the (-) ground for rear fog light (+) 12v power source at the TCM.

I hope this explains it well enough.

Sorry,I meant to say rear fogs.
Had no idea the X5s lacked this in the US!Rear fogs have been obligatory here for ages and the cars will not pass their "roadworthy test" without them!
They must have one rear fog .left or right,depending if you are in Uk or the rest of Europe!(rhd or lhd)
Mind you,these rear fog lights can be rather annoying as you get the odd idiot that turns them on ...even on a nice clear day,thus blinding the motorist thats following..

is it possible to do this install without the TCM? I have the plug for it, but not the actual unit.

Also, I looked up the p/n for the trailer hitch that the OP gave... nothing came back.

I did found the "TCM" on realoem, 61356955253, will this work? If so, is it all i need?

Home Page > Search_BMW > 61356955253 > ES#169157 Trailer Towing Module - 61356955253

:iagree:I don't even know what the TCM is, but I'm pretty sure I don't have it.

This I do not know since I already had the OEM tow package on the X5.

Tow Control Module