E70/71 OEM fit towbar electrics

[X5Sport]

For those with a factory fitted towbar and electrics, please can someone confirm what wiring is catered for, and what it actually missing - but should be there?

The 13-pin Euro connector should only have one pin unused, but it seems from a search around the web that BMW have not fully wired the connections and actually the caravan power connection for items such as the fridge is actually missing. This means 3-pins are unused. There is no warning in the manual, and from what I can find on the web, a few folks have been caught out and are not best pleased.

I'll check with my own dealer - but based on previous questions of this type they are pretty clueless. Might get the meter out and see what I can identify if it stays dry!

Anyone actually got an OEM bar and hit this snag, or did eveything work?

[marlin758]

Did anyone ever clarify what is wired in the towbar euro socket ?

I do know that the fridge in my caravan doesn't work on 12v when towing .

Is the wiring terminated in the towbar socket but not terminated in the car or just not in the wiring loom ?

I have purchased a split charge relay to sort it out but it's a bit cold at the moment to go lying under the back of the car   

[dennys]

i have the oem towbar and electrics on mine and read the various threads also so checked it out and all works so must be down to the individual dealer how its wired up.

[marlin758]

Oh - interesting . Mine is OEM but the caravan fridge doesn't work on 12v . Better get the voltmeter out !

Thanks 

[lezmtaylor]

This is a long running saga, you need to check that all is wired up BEFORE accepting the car,and get them to prove that all is working ok  as it is a lot more work to connect' on the  road' fridge charging.
do not accept if all is not working, even if it means taking the van to dealers to prove the point.
Most towbar fitters have a dummy lightboard, plus the extras to check and /or prove it all works.
Lez