E70 hitch/ harness install / programming question
 

So my 2012 X5 50i is a lease and i dont want to cut the bumper trim. So I decided to get aftermarket one that tucks under the trunk. I still need to trim on the bottom but at least it is not completely trimmed.

I decided on OEM Harness 71-60-2-156-526 - about $200.18 from tisher bmw.
and I just ordered Tekonsha 90250 Prodigy RF Electronic Brake Control



Now, about programming - is it completely necessary? Some dealers want $500 for programming, some want $280, some wont touch it since I will install the harness.

Ill be towing 5000# open trailer with a race car. trailer will have dual electric brakes on both axels. Some people tell me the car will be fine without all those fancy stability control programming. I personally dont need rear view camera option for towing or my PDC beeping wont bother me (ill just turn it off).

Without programming, will i get power to the harness for signal and brake lights? Brake controller I got seemed to work by plugging in trailer harness to brake controller, then from brake controoler, it plugs into T1 7 pinn connector of the car. No other wires needed. It is calibrated by RF signal from the front with a remote.

I live in socal.. any dealer experience with regards to programming? My distance of travel will be as much as 500 miles one day to race track but typically 300-400 mile round trip to Buttonwillow/Willowsprings.

Thanks guys

You will get lights out messages when you plug in the trailer harness, and the trailer lights may not work.

Get the programming done. If you are towing 5k LBS, then you want everything to work correctly. The reason the programming takes so long is the dealer updates the software in every module in your car before they add +AHMU to your vehicle order.

One of the independent coders can do it for you at a much more reasonable rate.

Thank you for the explanation. I did find a local coding guy but is there a list of things to activate for coding so I can let the coding guy know? AHMU - is that towing code to be turned on? And you are saying before u can do that, software needs to update every category before it can code that line?

thanks

Off topic... You are going to love the X5 as a tow rig. I haul my 328 to the track on a featherlite dual axle with electric brakes. It tows as good or better than my F150 did.
Bill

Featherlite is so much lighter than my steel junk trailer. Did you have dealer do all the install and programming? WHat brake controller are you using?

I just had the programing done. I used:

TRIPL3_O Coding
(585) 496-4648
https://www.facebook.com/Tripl3OCoding
TRIPL3_O Coding - YouTube
Twitter: @TRIPL3_OCoding

He is on the forums. Give him a call. He was outstanding. He can code the car remotely for you as well. He can also change lots of other things. He was great, honest and much less costly than the dealer. I reccommend him highly.

Agreed - I used Okee too. I've since learned to code myself but I'm glad I started with him. Great experience.

thanks guys. Ill try to reach out to him regarding this. Any socal local coding guys?

Mine came from the factory with the hitch. My controller is an older Prodigy... Same wiring as the one you have.

I installed Draw Tite hitch over the weekend.
Hardest part was taking the bumper off. Other than that.. very straight forward. Having a impact gun helped so much to bolt in 8 of those nuts holding the hitch. Then I got my trusty Snap on torque wrench and torqued to 65#ft spec. My dog got bored and started to fall asleep while I was sweating =)

I have 2012 50i - one thing that was interesting was NO CUTTING of anything. I just removed the bottom sliver plastic trim.. the bumper was already pre shaped for tow hitch. If i had gotten OEM hitch, I think i still would have cut through all the way. But my OEM bumper had bottom back portion already pre cut from factory. :dunno:


I will run OEM wires this week (ordered for $200 from online) and program with local coding guy. I was going to go aftermarket with modulite + universal 7 pin adapter ($80) but since i found a local coding guy, i rather have oem features. No need to go to dealer =)

As far as 7 pin T One connector, i bought a plate adaptor and my trailer shop will weld on to the hitch (left of it) so it looks like OEM one. I also need to flip the ball mount as I will need a 3/4 inch riser.

Once I get everything installed, i will take a picture of my open car trailer. From reading what people are towing, I think pulling 4500-5000# is no issue.

Kormaster, what coding guys will you use? Can you PM me their information? I have a 2013 diesel that I just put a hitch and oem wire harness on. I am also in SoCal. Only thing left is the coding.

Hi guys

I got the tow module programmed. How do you verify if it worked? I dont have access to my trailer right now so I bought a 7 pin connector tester

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/...3L._SX342_.jpg

All the lights work and left/right/reverse/brake works.

BUT - brake controller light and PDC/Camera function doesnt work. PDC still goes off when connected and no fancy reverse camera function.

Maybe programming didnt work? Maybe I screwed up on the install? :dunno:

Im using Prodigy RF controller. Since the oem harness has brake controller 4 pin and that is not hooked up to anything, is that part of the problem? RF module only hooks up to 7 pin and communcates with RF handheld so no wire to run inside the car. If brake controller pin is not active, maybe i screwed up tapping the 3rd pin from the tail light harness and that is the wire communicates with AHM module

My camera trailer function works without being hooked up. The vehicle pinout won't activate the electric brakes because it doesn't know you have it.
I would guess the RF will work independent of the vehicle system, with regard the brake control.

Thanks for the info. I guess it makes me believe that programming probably didn't work. No camera function available. Then brake controller light doesn't light up w tester so it is not even sending output signal.

So possible that AHM module is not even activated?

^^ For some strange reason, the programming on the US models doesn't activate the rear camera towbar function on the LCI models.

you have to change the one setting to ECE instead of US

AHM Module = Trailer module

Change VO/FA in CAS and FRM
+AHMU

LAENDERVARIANTE_AHM
us
CCMELDUNG_ABRISS_AHV
cc_04bh
CCMELDUNG_FEHLER_AHM
cc_04bh
CCMELDUNG_VERRIEGEL_AHV
cc_04bh
START_CCM
klemme_15
TYP_AHV_SG
keine_ahv
SL_BEI_KZL_AKTIV
nicht_aktiv

I got it all figured out!!! Everything works! Thank you so much everyone :thumbup: CIC module, Macro_Zoom code was the only way to add zoom mode on hitch reverse angle on LCI E70.

Was the information I posted correct? I need to code mine.

Any help is appreciated

I had a local coder to help me on this issue. I couldnt do this on my own

well I've got most of the things to work... My car is a 2008 4.8i... maybe this will help someone

Added +AHMU to the FA for both CAS and FRM

AHM Module
changed LAENDERVARIANTE_AHM to "us"

also changed
PDC module
ANHAENGERKUPPLUNG aktiv-> nicht

CAPPL module
Same change as above

My brake lights/running lights work now and PDC turns off when I hook up a trailer

Btw, I'm using the OEM hitch kit and OEM wiring. Also using the BMW converter from 7 to 4 pin

Now I was getting two errors, Trailer Wiring Malfunction and Right stop light malfunction. I double checked all my wiring, everything seemed OK...

I went ahead and disabled the bulb checks same way you would do when installing LCI tails.

Now the Stop Light warning is gone. I'm still getting the Trailer Wiring Malfunction. Anyone know what would cause that? I spent 3 hours going through every single module trying to find anything to do with trailers, but no luck so far

I used ISTA/P for retrofitting mine and it worked flawlessly.When you manually code the modules there is a big chance to miss something or put a wrong value.

What is ISTA/P and where do I get it?

Look on the torrent sites for Rheingold, it comes with ISTA/P for programming and ISTA/D for diagnostics

I know this is a little off topic, but I have been looking for an OE wiring harness and no dealers have them in stock, and don't expect them b/f October.

Anyone on her looking to sell an OE trailer wiring harness, or know of one for sale (new or used)?

I'm starting to think I have a defective module. Hopefully i can find another one cheap

I found one at Tisher-getbmwparts :thumbup:

I put the invisihitch on today. Unfortunately, I'm a but disappointed that my hitch did not come with any instructions and I'm hoping some one may be able to offer some guidance.

How dose this bracket that holds the electrical harness attach to the hitch (see last picture) and not sure what the hardware is for in that picture. I used the 4 longer bolts to mount the hitch atchment and have two extra long bolts and nuts? How do I mount the bracket to hold the electrical connector to the tow bar?

It would have been helpful if directions were included with the hitch.

Also, I have the factory wiring harness and have 2 plugs that I don't see where or what they connect to. Could these be unnecessary for my vehicle (2012 X35d).
Thanks in advance.

The big one is for the brake controller-positive,negative,brake pedal signal and brake signal to the trailer.The other one-no idea.I have installed my connector on the bottom of the bumper.Not touching the ground even with an adaptor connected,but I am not sure it doesnt dip in the water when I splash and retrieve the boat.

http://i1362.photobucket.com/albums/...ps674111e9.jpg

I think your right as just three weeks ago BMW sold me a wire harness and the module was defective.

May not be of help, but I came across a towing wire harness problem and solution. I've been towing a couple of trailers/caravans, ranging from 3500-5000 lbs, and have been really happy with the diesel's performance. I have the OEM setup: hitch, Tekonsha P2 brake controller, and harness.

Started getting a new set of errors with the newest trailer. It gives repeated taillight/marker light lamp (bulb) outage messages, plus the clearance marker lights flash periodically when the 7 pin umbilical is simply plugged into the X5. But, the brakes, brake lights, and marker lights operate normally with the ignition on.

News to me, this is an issue with all the German SUVs (Audi, VW, MB, BMW) with the same towing electricals - it's the newer LED lamps in the trailer taillights/clearance markers. The previous trailer had a mix of incandescent and LED bulbs, so it didn't reach the low voltage threshold that generates the errors. the clearance lights flash at the same rate as the anti-theft LED lamp on the dashboard.

A pigtail or plug styled bypass adapter solves the flashing, and errors.
Bypass Adapter So, in case this applies to anyone chasing towing bugs...

Can you share the steps? I am not able to find this option as per the installation guide.
Ista/P Select the “Vehicle” menu item in the navigation bar.
A submenu will appear. Select “Retrofit, Detachable Trailer Tow Hitch”.

I don't see "Retrofit, Detachable Trailer Tow Hitch”. option any clue where it might be? I am using ISTA P with loader 6.3