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Towbar Electrics on touring Help!!
Posted: Mon Apr 17, 2006 7:08 pm
by chrisuxi
Hi Guys and Gells
I have recently purchased a second hand towbar for my 325i Touring, Has anybody got any ideas on what wires go to what terminals on the relay I got with it? Also what colour wires are for socket?
Relay has two sets of terminals 8 and 6 have picture but not sure how to upload it.
terminals are:
KE---54---58L----58R ------------KAL--KAR---KKL
54L--54R--58L1--58R1-----------31----58KL--54KL
All help welcome.
Thanks in advance. Chris
Also looks like there is one of these relays already on the left side of car under compartment in boot.
Posted: Mon Apr 17, 2006 8:51 pm
by Widge
I didn't use a relay with mine.....
I just spliced the wires in to the rear light looms with some of those clippy things. Which wires to use can be found in the haynes, and the colours for the lighting boards/ towbar socket should be standard, or can be traced back form the pin numbers on the socket.
Posted: Mon Apr 17, 2006 9:23 pm
by gareth
i have a bmw towbar wiring loom. it's very nice to the car! you just unplug the connector from each rear light and plug the new loom in, then plug the (now loose) original lighting connector into the socket on the new loom. this does everything with no cutting of wires.
it's for sale too...
Posted: Mon Apr 17, 2006 9:27 pm
by Widge
Go on then how much do you want for it, I haven't got round to fitting the bar to my new touring.
Posted: Mon Apr 17, 2006 9:31 pm
by Brianmoooore
This "relay" is the bulb check module for the "check" panel up by the rear view mirror.
As you say, you already have one - you don't need another.
You need to connect your towbar wiring in front of this module, or the trailer lamps will trigger the bulb failure warning.
White, trailer = earth = BMW brown (stud in top of LH side compartment)
Yellow,trailer = LH ind. = BMW blue/red
Green, trailer = RH ind. = BMW bliue/black
Black, trailer = LH tail = BMW grey/yellow = 58L
Brown, trailer = RH tail = BMW grey/white = 58R
Red, trailer = brake = BMW green/red = 54
Blue, trailer = reverse = BMW grey/purple
Use proper soldered connections, not those "Scotchlock" things.
Brake light fuse, 6, should be changed from 7.5A to 15A, and the 3 pin indicator relay (inside lower steering column cover) should be replaced by a 4 pin towing type, and the extra pin wired to a warning lamp fitted in the place provided (green, arrows pointing both ways) in the lower row of lamps on the instrunent cluster
Posted: Mon Apr 17, 2006 9:33 pm
by Brianmoooore
gareth wrote:i have a bmw towbar wiring loom. it's very nice to the car! you just unplug the connector from each rear light and plug the new loom in, then plug the (now loose) original lighting connector into the socket on the new loom. this does everything with no cutting of wires.
it's for sale too...
Won't work on cars with the lamp failure module.
Posted: Mon Apr 17, 2006 9:40 pm
by gareth
that's a good point brian. mine worked fine and the check panel works fine but i've never had anything connected to the trailer socket so trip the warning. do i assume it'll all work fine with no trailer but trip the light warnings like a x-mas tree with a trailer?
i'm after £30 for the whole towball and wiring setup + £10 shipping if you're interested.
Posted: Mon Apr 17, 2006 9:50 pm
by Brianmoooore
gareth wrote:that's a good point brian. mine worked fine and the check panel works fine but i've never had anything connected to the trailer socket so trip the warning. do i assume it'll all work fine with no trailer but trip the light warnings like a x-mas tree with a trailer?
i'm after £30 for the whole towball and wiring setup + £10 shipping if you're interested.
Yes, will work fine untill a trailer is connected. Trailer tail lights and brake lights have to be connected before the module in the LH pocket.
Posted: Mon Apr 17, 2006 10:01 pm
by chrisuxi
Brianmoooore wrote:This "relay" is the bulb check module for the "check" panel up by the rear view mirror.
As you say, you already have one - you don't need another.
You need to connect your towbar wiring in front of this module, or the trailer lamps will trigger the bulb failure warning.
White, trailer = earth = BMW brown (stud in top of LH side compartment)
Yellow,trailer = LH ind. = BMW blue/red
Green, trailer = RH ind. = BMW bliue/black
Black, trailer = LH tail = BMW grey/yellow = 58L
Brown, trailer = RH tail = BMW grey/white = 58R
Red, trailer = brake = BMW green/red = 54
Blue, trailer = reverse = BMW grey/purple
Use proper soldered connections, not those "Scotchlock" things.
Brake light fuse, 6, should be changed from 7.5A to 15A, and the 3 pin indicator relay (inside lower steering column cover) should be replaced by a 4 pin towing type, and the extra pin wired to a warning lamp fitted in the place provided (green, arrows pointing both ways) in the lower row of lamps on the instrunent cluster
Not to sound stupid but the bulb check module has two plugs, one I presume going from the rear lights and one going to the check panel,
I have to patch into the loom that is going to the check panel?
Thanks
Chris
Posted: Mon Apr 17, 2006 10:01 pm
by gareth
ah, thinking about it there is a third place the loom connects, a white rectangular connector in the LH pocket. is this the place you refer to?
Posted: Mon Apr 17, 2006 10:10 pm
by Brianmoooore
Sounds like that could be it, but four of the seven wires would connect here.
Posted: Mon Apr 17, 2006 10:37 pm
by chrisuxi
Brianmoooore wrote:Sounds like that could be it, but four of the seven wires would connect here.
Thanks for all your help Brian
Cheers
Chris