Coding e70 trailer hitch
 

Hello all! I just picked up a 2011 x5 35d a few months ago, and am loving it so far. I installed the factory trailer hitch and wiring harness, and now I'm on to coding. I found several threads and comments throughout the internet, but none really summarized everything neatly into a "this is everything you need to do to code for trailer hitch installation." The closest was probably THIS thread, starting on Post #55.

Anyhow, I compiled the attached directions as best I understand them. Can anyone that has done this coding verify the correctness/completeness of this?

Thank you in advance!

Assuming we are talking about manually detachable towbar.

AHMU ANH_KUPPLUNG_US //Retrofitting Towbar with removeable ball head for US

With NCS add +AHMU to FA list. Save the new FA on both FRM and CAS. Then code all modules (does it according to new FA list).

Thank you for the response! The first part (adding +AHMU) checks with what I've seen, and I suppose the second part (code all modules...) as well, but the coding specifics are unclear. Your wording appears to insinuate that there is a "new FA list" that could be referenced for this?

When you add that new option to FA list NCS will do the basic coding (SG_CODIEREN) based on this new FA list and change the parameter values accordingly. Depending on NCS version you can do all modules at once "Code Car" or those modules mentioned in PDF (modules which have parameters with different value with this option) individually "Process ECU".

So if I use the below-linked instructions on how to use NCS to update the FA list, that will be all? (file is too large to upload on this forum)

https://www.xbimmers.com/forums/atta...3&d=1587485402

That instruction is just the first part, updating the FA list. After that you do the actual coding to modules so parameter values are changed according to this new FA. On that instruction's NCS version it's the "Process Car" which will code all modules when Job is "SG_CODIEREN".

Ok, I think I understand, I've just never used the "Process car" function of NCS before. Will it only update module coding to support the VO change selected, or will it write over everything? It seems like this would be an automated method to avoid me having to make all the individual coding changes unlisted in the first PDF. Can't find much info on the function via searching.

Just got done coding - we'll see how it goes. I did the VO add, and then just coded the modules individually since I'm a bit uncomfortable with the 'write vehicle' option. Ended up making the following changes; the others identified in my PDF were already at that setting.

KOMBI Module:
AHM_APPL_MONITOR - from nicht_aktiv to aktiv

RPDC Module:
ANHAENGERKUPPLUNG - from nicht_aktiv to aktiv
AHK_OFFSET - from offset_0 to offset_1
AHK_AUSBLENDUNG - from nicht_aktiv to aktiv

CIC Module:
MACRO_TRAILER_COUPLING - from nicht_aktiv to aktiv

AHM Module:
CCMELDUNG_ABRISS_AHV - created entry and set to cc_04bh
CCMELDUNG_FEHLER_AHM - created entry and set to cc_04bh
CCMELDUNG_VERRIEGEL_AHV - created entry and set to cc_04bh
START_CCM - created entry and set to klemme_15
TYP_AHV_SG - created entry and set to keine_ahv
SL_BEI_KZL_AKTIV - from aktiv to nicht_aktiv

Process car would have done all those changes according to FA. Coding with NCS is not updating any softwares. It's only changing parameter values one way or the other. Of course you can get to the same goal via different routes. If you change the parameter values manually there would actually be no need to change FA. FA itself doesn't do anything it's just like instructions on how NCS default codes any module. Though if not altering the FA coding would change back if for example you take the vehicle to dealer for software updates.

Do you have the AHM module installed? I haven't done any coding on mine since I got everything working, but if you have issues I might be able to help. In that thread I listed everything I had to code to make it work. It even tells me when I have a trailer light out.

I guess I did add the wiring for the brake controller last summer. No need to code anything, just run wires to the front. Worked perfectly.

Thanks for chiming in! I did install the AHM module, and it showed up in NCS when I went to code it, indicating it is connected properly. I don't have a trailer to test the lighting, but when I put it in reverse the "trailer hitch" view (or whatever it's called) is grayed out and I can't select it. Does this mean I did the coding wrong? I think it's weird that I coded "SL_BEI_KZL_AKTIV" in the AHM module from aktiv to nicht_aktiv, but I have no idea what that is ... maybe because I didn't use the "process car" function in NCS?

I've never used the process car feature, just the process ECU. I coded each individually.

If I remember right... I had to add the trailer zoom feature after, but it was only changing a simple code I believe.

Did you follow my post and write the extra code in the FRM? I also had to write a bunch of code into in the AHM. Also, you leave "SL_BEI_KZL_AKTIV" alone, and just write nicht_aktiv.

I did the coding that I pasted into Post #8 here, which I got from your posts in the linked thread. The only deviations were the values that were already set to what you had listed. I did add the several entries to the AHM module, and changed the selection "SL_BEI_KZL_AKTIV" from aktiv to nicht_aktiv (as you said, the toggle, not the name itself).

Specifically, you discussed coding the following, which were already set that way on my car, so I did not make any changes to them:

HKL
SCH_FBD -> aktiv
SCH_TOEHKI -> aktiv
TASTER_FBD -> aktiv

FRM (these entries do not exist and must be written in)
LWR_STROM_HALT -> wert_01
LWR_STROM_NORMAL -> wert_01
LWR_STROM_RAMPE -> wert_01

AHM
LAENDERVARIANTE_AHM -> us


I'll go back and review your thread to see if there was any discussion on the zoom feature, but I do not recall any.

Thanks again!

The trailer zoom code is the one you changed in the CIC. I'm not sure why it is grayed-out. Maybe check wiring and re-check the coding in each module? Hook-up to a trailer and see if everything else is working properly.

Strange. Unfortunately I don't have a trailer to test out, but I re-read all the modules and they have the correct coding. I also did a check of the wiring and did not find any smoking guns (or wires...).

Update: I'm an idiot! Or at least not as smart as idrive. I normally use the birds-eye-view mode of the backup camera, but I switched it to the normal-view today and BAM, hitch-zoom-view is available and working! Not sure why it depends on that since it's a completely separate menu option, but oh well.

I'll still try to find a trailer to verify light operation, but everything appears to be working well for now with the coding I've documented here.

Coming a bit late to the game on this one, but I'm looking at installing my hitch and AHM module while away from my coding laptop. Does anyone know if either of these options is feasible? I just need the vehicle to be driveable... I won't be hooking a trailer up until I've completed the coding.

1. Add the AHM module code in advance (before installing the hardware)
2. Drive with the AHM hardware component installed without doing any coding updates

I don't know if option 1 is doable or not. Option 2 should not cause any problems. Or if you really want to be certain, just leave the trailer module uninstalled until you're ready to code it. It is a simple install.

AM.

Thanks -just read a few posts of people reporting issues with their signal lights not working and it wasn't clear if it was due to errors in their wiring or not completing the coding part. I'd just rather not take the old coding laptop on vacation with me or drive from AZ back to Canada without signal lights!

Sounds like a reasonable course of action would be to do the full install, without coding, and see if the car works as expected. If not, then pull the AHM module which should hopefully get things back to normal where the car isn't surprised by having any hardware bits reporting back without being added to the VO.


EDIT: Update on this... I haven't done the coding yet (plan to do that today), but I installed the wiring harness and AHM hardware module without doing any coding changes and didn't have any issues at all with errors, lights not working, or things like that. It did throw some codes since I had to move the car partway through the work, so my rear lights and proximity sensor were unplugged, but those cleared easily and nothing else popped up.