So how does the unit in the vehicle "know" the brakes are being applied? I would think that the unit would still need the "brake applied" signal. When it sees the signal, then the level of braking as selected from the unit in the vehicle is applied. Does anyone have this actually installed in an E53 X? Thanks.

When I get the X5 back, I'll test the pins to see if the "brake" signal is actually generated on the OE pinout. I doubt it is and I'll need to tie it in.

You still have to wire the controller to a brake signal, either the LCM or a switch on the brake pedal.

It doesn't use the harness pins for the brake signal to the trailer; that is the part that is wireless. What you save is running a wire from the front of the vehicle to the luggage compartment.

Check out this install description for the 'wired' Prodigy - LCV?, its the .pdf I couldn't attach to my PM. Note his addendum at the end. Please let me know what conclusions you guys with much more electronic knowledge than I have reach: Do we need to do wiring or add a module to get the RF Prodigy to control electronic trailer brakes? This guy Kitchens has a Linked In page, but the website noted in his description didn't work for me. Attachment 63498

Attachment 63499

Thanks. If you look at the RF install, it says the unit uses an inertial sensor to sense braking and generates the output accordingly (I assume wireless to the unit on the trailer). This would lead me to assume the Pin 2 on the trailer connector (electric brake) is not required. Ideally, I could use this unit on a trailer that already had electric brakes. Just plug this box upstream on the trailer and then use the RF unit to determine braking without having to wire anything.

Again, if someone has this working on an X5 and did not modify wiring, other than add the OE harness, chime in. I'll call the Prodigy people when I get a chance and report what they have to say.

Cheers.

I stand corrected on the signal, if it is using an inertia sensor.

I think you will still need to power the trailer connector pin, not for the signal, but to power the trailer brakes.

I called. As a minimum, the required signals are pins 4, 5 and 6 (battery, left stop/turn, right stop/turn respectively). It has the inertia sensor in the box that you mount on the trailer, but still looks to the left stop and/or right stop to determine if brakes being applied. It also monitors trailer angle (this tidbit wasn't captured in print anywhere). Pin2 (electric brake) isn't required. If you lose, smash, throw out the window the hand held unit in the vehicle, the unit will still perform to the last settings (good to know, but not recommended) assuming there is still power to the trailer (some vehicles drop power under certain conditions).

So, it should work, based on a conversation with the tech support people, but what I have typed above is based on a conversation and not documented succinctly in the manuals. Worse case, I'll be wiring in a signal from the LCM module :).

Cheers.

Would anyone happen to know if the OEM bumper cover insert piece is really needed? I pulled the OEM hitch setup from a junkyard X5 and I forgot to grab the bumper support piece (the piece that goes inside the bumper cover). Would it be feasible to modify the standard one to make it work? The pictures don't quite show or explain why it's needed. I hope I didn't grab all that stuff for nothing!

It is totally different. You will never get the bumper back on without the hitch part.

See my note on your other email, and look to the start of this thread for the .pdf of official installation instructions [and good how to pix]

LVP, from my doing the OEM install and reading the Prodigy RF instructs, I think the trailer draws 12v from the OEM wiring harness [along with the lights, etc., once you plug in the module behind the battery] to feed the receiver unit on the trailer. The trailer does need to have electric [not just hydraulic surge] brakes install for a Prodigy to work. I have used the Prodigy on Ford F250/350 7.3L trucks to haul gooseneck horse trailers - a fine, simple piece of equipment in the wired version. RF looks like the ticket for our rides ....... as you note from the .pdf I posted from Mr. Kitchen, wiring the standard Prodigy would be a PITA in E53s.