XSeries-forum

Can anyone help I've got a x5 e53 , I've bought a new caravan and it has led lights the problem is that I had fast flashing indicators and the brake lights flash up very dull , I fitted a Sargent vlm4 B3 light control unit to the caravan which was supplied by the caravan dealer and the indicators now flash as they should but the brake lights come on and off on their own very dull and the dash on the car says check trailer lights.

Cheers Tim

Not sure which van you have but there is a wire that is not used in the 13 pin affair but causes big trouble with brake lights I think it's the one of the earths on pin 11 or 13try disconnecting one or the other and re check

[quote="allforus"]
Not sure which van you have but there is a wire that is not used in the 13 pin affair but causes big trouble with brake lights I think it's the one of the earths on pin 11 or 13try disconnecting one or the other and re check
[/quote]

I've got a sterling Eccles 580 2016 model

You are probably seeing the cold bulb check triggering them..

It sends a low current pulse to check bulbs are ok.
Filament bulbs will not light, but there is sufficient current for LEDs.

[quote="Steamyrotter"]
You are probably seeing the cold bulb check triggering them..

It sends a low current pulse to check bulbs are ok.
Filament bulbs will not light, but there is sufficient current for LEDs.
[/quote]

What will resolve the problem any idea's.

[quote="TimX5"]
[quote="Steamyrotter"]
You are probably seeing the cold bulb check triggering them..

It sends a low current pulse to check bulbs are ok.
Filament bulbs will not light, but there is sufficient current for LEDs.
[/quote]

What will resolve the problem any idea's.
[/quote]

Not entirely sure!!

I added a 250ohm resistor in parallel to eradicate bulb failure warnings on my horsebox,
But still get the odd pulse..
I am not sure you can programming them out, but haven't really delved into that too much.
Never scanned the car with the trailer hooked up yet..

[quote="Steamyrotter"]
[quote="TimX5"]
[quote="Steamyrotter"]
You are probably seeing the cold bulb check triggering them..

It sends a low current pulse to check bulbs are ok.
Filament bulbs will not light, but there is sufficient current for LEDs.
[/quote]

What will resolve the problem any idea's.
[/quote]

Not entirely sure!!

I added a 250ohm resistor in parallel to eradicate bulb failure warnings on my horsebox,
But still get the odd pulse..
I am not sure you can programming them out, but haven't really delved into that too much.
Never scanned the car with the trailer hooked up yet..
[/quote]

Delved abit further into this while the car is in sleep mode there's 0.56 volts going to the 13pin electric socket on my towbar , side lights ,  indicators , brakes etc and when the car is opened and "woken up " that is when the brake lights on the caravan flash dull but if I put some sort of resistance in the system ie test light I don't get the dull flash,  so I might be able to wire a brake light hidden under the caravan seat next to the fuse box if Sargent who supplied the light control unit can't come up with a solution.

My caravan also has LED sidelights. I found my lights had been wired incorrectly, so I started again, and changed to the proper BMW set up.

Buy a trailer module off ebay - there are loads about. There is a slot for this by other modules near the battery, and the car already has a plug there ready to fit, to one of the module sockets. Now get yourself the short section of harness from your dealer,  that plugs into the second module socket and goes through the rear valance hole already there, to the 13 pin socket. If the Sargent item is a bulb bypass unit, send it back - the trailer module does what is required.
As with other makes, this piece of harness does not have the fridge wires, but there is enough space in the harness sheathing to run them, and maintain the waterproofing. You've probably got a split charge relay so run your fridge power and ground leads to the 13 pin. Cut the adapter plug off the BMW harness and wire these plus fridge to your new 13 pin socket

[quote="chrisn7"]
My caravan also has LED sidelights. I found my lights had been wired incorrectly, so I started again, and changed to the proper BMW set up.

Buy a trailer module off ebay - there are loads about. There is a slot for this by other modules near the battery, and the car already has a plug there ready to fit, to one of the module sockets. Now get yourself the short section of harness from your dealer,  that plugs into the second module socket and goes through the rear valance hole already there, to the 13 pin socket. If the Sargent item is a bulb bypass unit, send it back - the trailer module does what is required.
As with other makes, this piece of harness does not have the fridge wires, but there is enough space in the harness sheathing to run them, and maintain the waterproofing. You've probably got a split charge relay so run your fridge power and ground leads to the 13 pin. Cut the adapter plug off the BMW harness and wire these plus fridge to your new 13 pin socket
[/quote]

I've got the proper bmw set up which powers my fridge and Atc control,  I've been back in touch with Sargent electrical who manufacture the caravan electrics and they've sent me a resistor to fit to the van so problem solved.

Thanks for your help.

Chrisn7

I have the correct module in mine and it doesn't like LED lights unless you trick it..
With this year of car the LEDs were not so abundant and therefore was not something that was considered in the design..