Not joined yet? Register for free and enjoy features such as alerts, private messaging and viewing latest posts and topics.

Towbar electric problem

Discuss your latest mods or ideas, and anything to do with the BMW X5 (E53).
Post Reply
Rayman
Newbie
Newbie
Posts: 7
Joined: Tue Mar 19, 2013 8:50 pm

Towbar electric problem

Post by Rayman » Thu Jun 02, 2016 5:04 pm

Was away with my caravan last week & the fridge didn't work off the car, connected my friends car to the van & it worked. Checked all the fuses on the car that in can find.I use a splitter cable from the 13 pin plug on the car to two 7 pin plugs on the van. My splitter cable is o k as I used that when I connected to my friends car. I checked the 7 pin plug out of the car with the engine running there is only one pin with 12v. pin7 Earth & pin3 has 12v & I think ther should be three. Any ideas. Many thanks Ray.

buzz
Newbie
Newbie
Posts: 16
Joined: Wed Jul 08, 2015 4:45 pm

Re: Towbar electric problem

Post by buzz » Thu Jun 02, 2016 7:08 pm

BMW do not provide a live feed for the fridge. Some after market companies like ph jones splice into the loom so you have power forthe fridge.....

Online
User avatar
X5Sport
Global Moderator
Global Moderator
Posts: 18774
Joined: Fri Sep 03, 2010 4:09 pm
Location: Planet X6......

Re: Towbar electric problem

Post by X5Sport » Thu Jun 02, 2016 7:10 pm

BMW do not wire up all the pins.  They also fail to warn owners of that little gem!  I had mine sorted by the Dealer as I ordered a car with 13-pin electrics and nothing in the brochure said it would not be provided with the complete system.

You will need to get a specialist to wire in the missing wires, unless you feel competent to have a try.

Apparently only the UK use the full wiring and BMW chose not to bother.

P F Jones will be able to provide the kit and probably the fitting instructions.  They are a helpful bunch (based in Manchester I think).
:ant: Never anthropomorphise computers. They hate that.

kanewesley
Member
Member
Posts: 199
Joined: Sat Apr 09, 2016 8:01 pm

Re: Towbar electric problem

Post by kanewesley » Thu Jun 02, 2016 8:49 pm

He needs to buy that "TEC3M" relay I was telling you about X5Sport !!

( see my post . . http://xdrivers.co.uk/forum/index.php/t ... .html 

Rayman......email me and I'll send you a wiring diagram and instructions on how to mod. your car to power fridge while travelling.

I've just found out it's easy,...2 wires, straight across the battery, an inline fuse and a TEC3M relay.

EbAy .... Relay = about £12, plus bit of wire and an inline fuse

Which will power up your fridge when the car is running.

chrisn7
Member
Member
Posts: 151
Joined: Fri Sep 05, 2014 9:31 pm

Re: Towbar electric problem

Post by chrisn7 » Thu Jun 16, 2016 9:54 pm

It is easy. On later facelift cars, the very last fuse in the boot was not occupied by the self levelling electrics, so is an ideal point to provide a supply to a split relay. You should have 3 earths: pin 3 for all the road lights; pin 11 for the fridge; pin 13 for the live on pin 9. None of these should be joined on the caravan side-each wire must run to an earth point in the car.

Boatybob1
Newbie
Newbie
Posts: 2
Joined: Fri May 22, 2015 3:09 pm

Re: Towbar electric problem

Post by Boatybob1 » Fri Jun 17, 2016 9:25 pm

Had the same problem. It's not just the fridge, it's also the battery charging. Mine was a Westfalia bar and electrics and was fitted by a Witter agent. When I took it up with them, they fitted the extra wiring for free. This was 5 years ago!

TimX5
Member
Member
Posts: 337
Joined: Thu Jul 10, 2014 9:34 pm
Location: ooop north

Re: Towbar electric problem

Post by TimX5 » Sun Jun 26, 2016 12:47 pm

Contact pfjones and they will supply you with oem electric kit plug and play easy to fit .

Post Reply