Page 1 of 1

tow bar electrics

Posted: Thu Feb 26, 2015 8:12 pm
by russ25
looking at getting dedicated electrics. any recommended suppliers of kits and what sort of job to do
my self

Re: tow bar electrics

Posted: Thu Feb 26, 2015 10:29 pm
by X5Sport
PF Jones.  Not too tricky.  Instructions are on their website.  OEM Towbar is a rebadged Westfalia detachable swan neck.  If you can, get one of their OEM equivalent dedicated wiring kits.

You may need to modify your rear bumper if not already fitted with a Towbar.

Re: tow bar electrics

Posted: Fri Feb 27, 2015 1:48 pm
by chrisn7
I would recommend using BMW wiring and trailer module, even if you buy a non OEM towbar. The trailer module does a few useful features:

-if conditions require rear fog lamps to be on, it cuts power to the cars fog lamps, leaving on the trailer foglamps. This avoids dazzle in the mirrors from light reflected off a caravan for example. However, some 13 pin sockets have a pin/extra wiring socket that does this
-in reverse, the PDC gong is de-activated, as it would otherwise operate due to the nearness of the trailer (its very irritating switching off the pdc multiple times, believe me).
-in reverse, the reversing lamps are de-activated as per the fog lamps, but only when the trailer is attached of course.

Re: tow bar electrics

Posted: Fri Feb 27, 2015 2:02 pm
by X5Sport
The OEM system also changes the DSC operation to take a trailer into account.

Re: tow bar electrics

Posted: Fri Feb 27, 2015 9:14 pm
by russ25
This is what iv been looking at of pf jones  Towbar Electrics for BMW X5 (E70) 2007-2013 7 Pin Wiring Kit item 291112818259