detachable tow bar
07-20-2009, 08:56 AM
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i recently purchased a late 2005 525d se from my local dealer.
i have been looking at tow bars and opted for a Westfalia detachable (303294) as it did not require any cutting and is invisible when removed. it does, however require a replacement trim to sit behind the spare wheel recess. My local dealer sourced this for me for around ?17.00
i also purchased the BMW retrofit electrics kit which came with a workshop manual that, to be honest isnt that helpful as it puts the fear of god into you before you start.
most of the wires are into a multiblock, excellent. there are a few trailing wires to deal with and this is where i run into problems. one of the wires is an earth. the other three i have no clue where they go. Does the car have to be reprogrammed? is there any precautions to take?
could do with any info you have to offer
i have been looking at tow bars and opted for a Westfalia detachable (303294) as it did not require any cutting and is invisible when removed. it does, however require a replacement trim to sit behind the spare wheel recess. My local dealer sourced this for me for around ?17.00
i also purchased the BMW retrofit electrics kit which came with a workshop manual that, to be honest isnt that helpful as it puts the fear of god into you before you start.
most of the wires are into a multiblock, excellent. there are a few trailing wires to deal with and this is where i run into problems. one of the wires is an earth. the other three i have no clue where they go. Does the car have to be reprogrammed? is there any precautions to take?
could do with any info you have to offer
07-20-2009, 01:13 PM
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My Ride: Estoril Blue 440i GC
Model Year: 2017
Wiring:
The main precaution is, as always, disconnect the battery before you start anything. you'll lose the time on the clock but little else (it will remember your radio settings) - unless you have active steering, whereas it will need a reset and will throw up an error message. (Reset can be done yourself, the error message will be removed when you take it for a service).
I did the fancy wiring on mine, and it is very good - I won't go back to the "7-way relay" again - even though it does take a little longer.
Having a look through the destructions for my wiring (made by RDM Automotive), there are only 3 wires that don't have connectors.
The twisted pair for the CAN Bus, and another long piece that I think is specific to the Touring.
The other wires are a multiplug to the electrickery box, an earth, a Red/Yellow to a multiplug on the fuse board, and a Blue/Yellow for a reverse light/beeper.
And of course the cable to the socket for the towbar.
You don't need any reprogramming - it works straight out of the box - detecting when you have a trailer on the back (or even a lighting board!), and monitoring the trailer bulbs, as well as switching off the rear PDC.
As a warning, if you have a caravan with doubel high level brake lights, this can cause a problem with the bulb failure sensors - just replace the high level light bulbs with LED ones, and apart from a very slight flicker of the LED's that you can't see until it's very dark, all will be well.
Mike
The main precaution is, as always, disconnect the battery before you start anything. you'll lose the time on the clock but little else (it will remember your radio settings) - unless you have active steering, whereas it will need a reset and will throw up an error message. (Reset can be done yourself, the error message will be removed when you take it for a service).
I did the fancy wiring on mine, and it is very good - I won't go back to the "7-way relay" again - even though it does take a little longer.
Having a look through the destructions for my wiring (made by RDM Automotive), there are only 3 wires that don't have connectors.
The twisted pair for the CAN Bus, and another long piece that I think is specific to the Touring.
The other wires are a multiplug to the electrickery box, an earth, a Red/Yellow to a multiplug on the fuse board, and a Blue/Yellow for a reverse light/beeper.
And of course the cable to the socket for the towbar.
You don't need any reprogramming - it works straight out of the box - detecting when you have a trailer on the back (or even a lighting board!), and monitoring the trailer bulbs, as well as switching off the rear PDC.
As a warning, if you have a caravan with doubel high level brake lights, this can cause a problem with the bulb failure sensors - just replace the high level light bulbs with LED ones, and apart from a very slight flicker of the LED's that you can't see until it's very dark, all will be well.
Mike
07-21-2009, 02:33 AM
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Originally Posted by AlwynMike' post='947864' date='Jul 20 2009, 10:13 PM
Wiring:
The main precaution is, as always, disconnect the battery before you start anything. you'll lose the time on the clock but little else (it will remember your radio settings) - unless you have active steering, whereas it will need a reset and will throw up an error message. (Reset can be done yourself, the error message will be removed when you take it for a service).
I did the fancy wiring on mine, and it is very good - I won't go back to the "7-way relay" again - even though it does take a little longer.
Having a look through the destructions for my wiring (made by RDM Automotive), there are only 3 wires that don't have connectors.
The twisted pair for the CAN Bus, and another long piece that I think is specific to the Touring.
The other wires are a multiplug to the electrickery box, an earth, a Red/Yellow to a multiplug on the fuse board, and a Blue/Yellow for a reverse light/beeper.
And of course the cable to the socket for the towbar.
You don't need any reprogramming - it works straight out of the box - detecting when you have a trailer on the back (or even a lighting board!), and monitoring the trailer bulbs, as well as switching off the rear PDC.
As a warning, if you have a caravan with doubel high level brake lights, this can cause a problem with the bulb failure sensors - just replace the high level light bulbs with LED ones, and apart from a very slight flicker of the LED's that you can't see until it's very dark, all will be well.
Mike
The main precaution is, as always, disconnect the battery before you start anything. you'll lose the time on the clock but little else (it will remember your radio settings) - unless you have active steering, whereas it will need a reset and will throw up an error message. (Reset can be done yourself, the error message will be removed when you take it for a service).
I did the fancy wiring on mine, and it is very good - I won't go back to the "7-way relay" again - even though it does take a little longer.
Having a look through the destructions for my wiring (made by RDM Automotive), there are only 3 wires that don't have connectors.
The twisted pair for the CAN Bus, and another long piece that I think is specific to the Touring.
The other wires are a multiplug to the electrickery box, an earth, a Red/Yellow to a multiplug on the fuse board, and a Blue/Yellow for a reverse light/beeper.
And of course the cable to the socket for the towbar.
You don't need any reprogramming - it works straight out of the box - detecting when you have a trailer on the back (or even a lighting board!), and monitoring the trailer bulbs, as well as switching off the rear PDC.
As a warning, if you have a caravan with doubel high level brake lights, this can cause a problem with the bulb failure sensors - just replace the high level light bulbs with LED ones, and apart from a very slight flicker of the LED's that you can't see until it's very dark, all will be well.
Mike
07-21-2009, 02:35 AM
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Originally Posted by AlwynMike' post='947864' date='Jul 20 2009, 10:13 PM
Wiring:
The main precaution is, as always, disconnect the battery before you start anything. you'll lose the time on the clock but little else (it will remember your radio settings) - unless you have active steering, whereas it will need a reset and will throw up an error message. (Reset can be done yourself, the error message will be removed when you take it for a service).
I did the fancy wiring on mine, and it is very good - I won't go back to the "7-way relay" again - even though it does take a little longer.
Having a look through the destructions for my wiring (made by RDM Automotive), there are only 3 wires that don't have connectors.
The twisted pair for the CAN Bus, and another long piece that I think is specific to the Touring.
The other wires are a multiplug to the electrickery box, an earth, a Red/Yellow to a multiplug on the fuse board, and a Blue/Yellow for a reverse light/beeper.
And of course the cable to the socket for the towbar.
You don't need any reprogramming - it works straight out of the box - detecting when you have a trailer on the back (or even a lighting board!), and monitoring the trailer bulbs, as well as switching off the rear PDC.
As a warning, if you have a caravan with doubel high level brake lights, this can cause a problem with the bulb failure sensors - just replace the high level light bulbs with LED ones, and apart from a very slight flicker of the LED's that you can't see until it's very dark, all will be well.
Mike
The main precaution is, as always, disconnect the battery before you start anything. you'll lose the time on the clock but little else (it will remember your radio settings) - unless you have active steering, whereas it will need a reset and will throw up an error message. (Reset can be done yourself, the error message will be removed when you take it for a service).
I did the fancy wiring on mine, and it is very good - I won't go back to the "7-way relay" again - even though it does take a little longer.
Having a look through the destructions for my wiring (made by RDM Automotive), there are only 3 wires that don't have connectors.
The twisted pair for the CAN Bus, and another long piece that I think is specific to the Touring.
The other wires are a multiplug to the electrickery box, an earth, a Red/Yellow to a multiplug on the fuse board, and a Blue/Yellow for a reverse light/beeper.
And of course the cable to the socket for the towbar.
You don't need any reprogramming - it works straight out of the box - detecting when you have a trailer on the back (or even a lighting board!), and monitoring the trailer bulbs, as well as switching off the rear PDC.
As a warning, if you have a caravan with doubel high level brake lights, this can cause a problem with the bulb failure sensors - just replace the high level light bulbs with LED ones, and apart from a very slight flicker of the LED's that you can't see until it's very dark, all will be well.
Mike
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