Tailgate Control Unit
 

I have a 2009 X5 4.8

My tailgate wouldn't go down because the LH actuator appeared to be frozen in place. Upon further inspection it was still activated and trying to open an already open hatch. It got extremely hot and in a couple moments it burned out.
I got a new one and when I put the battery cable back on it tried to do the same thing.
So I got a tailgate control module. It won't do anything. The close button won't even light up.

My question is, does the module have to be coded or is there a procedure to make it work.

It will probably need a start-up procedure where it will learn the end positions of the liftgate.

Is a start-up procedure a dealer thing or something I can do?

The tailgate control module does need to be coded. General rule of thumb ... anything that sits on the database needs coding (or more, the car needs to know the device exists on the bus).