[mikester6]

Hey! Need some help with selecting the correct parts I need to get the harness working. It looks like bmw Canada has the tow harness in stock but need confirmation if I’m ordering the correct part.

If you look at the realoem site.
https://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/sho...diagId=71_1114

Item 06 is the wiring set

When I look at the bmw Canada site
https://shop.bmw.ca/a/BMW_2019_X5-40...n/71_1114.html

There’s no item 06. It’s show item 05 as the wiring set and pollak connector but if you take the part # from realoem and paste it in bmw.ca, it returns the wiring harness https://shop.bmwmarkham.com/p/BMW__/...129834453.html

Do you know if I need to order all 3 parts or just item 03 and 05 from bmw.ca site?

I plan on purchasing the stealth hitch package and want to buy the proper harness to get the tow option in iDrive.

Any help is greatly appreciated!

[denaliman]

I have the harness from BMW Canada- 61-12-9-834-453. You will also need the control module 63-11-4-A05 6D0. Don't waste your money on the Pollack connector BMW charges $150 bucks and it is the exact same as the one linked here. I know I have both. They are exactly the same. It is actually OEM replacement for Ford, GM,Ford. Pins are the same.

https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B00...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

you may be able to find it cheaper somewhere else.Hopkins Multi-Tow #40975. It's a Hopkins branded box, but the product actually says Pollack on it. Save yourself $120.

[denaliman]

If you plan on the tow hitch from Stealth you won't need the Pollack connector. Stealth should include one if you ask. If not go with the Pollack 11-893P the pins are the same as the BMW Pollack you may also need the bracket Pollack 12-711U. This should be compatible with the stealth hitch set up. If you decide to stick with the Multi tow pollack(or BMW) then you will have to fabricate a bracket or come up with a modification because it is not designed to face down like the stealth hitch shows. The BMW Pollack and the Hopkins are designed to pop into the bumper cutout for factory tow bumper, facing out.Who is going to install the Stealth Hitch for you? I am in Hamilton.

[mikester6]

Thanks so much! That is exactly what I needed to know. Now I can order those two parts from bmw and get the hitch from stealth. Thanks again!

[SmartSaves]

Do you order Stealth hitch from the States and get them to ship it to Canada? Am I getting the parts number and pricing right?

• Stealth Hitch $748 USD with shipping.
• Control Unit for trailer hitch Part Number: 63115A056D0 $220 CAD from BMW Canada.
• Wiring Set Part Number: 61129834453 $305 from BMW Canada.
• Pollak connector or Trailer Coupling from Amazon $42

By the way, attached PDF is the updated communications on retrofit trailer hitch package from BMW Canada. I don't know if this package will exactly look like the one fitted from factory. I am awaiting an answer.

[jad03060]

The stealth hitch will not look like the North American factory trailer setup...the stealth hitch has two different adapters that lock into the fixture behind the bumper that attach from below...a square 2" receiver module, and a ball adapter. When no adapter is plugged in, that's what gives it the 'stealth' attribute since you need to get down low to see the cutout required to access the latching mechanism and the socket itself. That opening can lead to crud getting up behind the bumper cover. The factory hitch has a square receiver that is on the outside rear horizontal bumper area that can take something like a bike carrier directly, or by inserting a ball adapter into it. Europeans use a bike carrier that sits on the ball of the gooseneck, and it is clamped to help hold it in place. And, there's a cutout in the bumper for the 7-pin electrical connector commonly used in the US and Canada. The factory 'stealth' like hitch used in say Europe is a gooseneck (no receiver) and I think it generally has a motor that moves it out of view. The NA version has a slightly higher maximum towing capacity than the European one, and I'm not sure on the Stealth one.

I think that BMW has moved towards using the waterproof, quarter-turn DIN 13-pin plug outside of the US, but that may change based on the market preference. IMHO, it is a superior connector, but a US trailer is not wired properly to make use of it most of the time without moving lots of wires around, and, the harness for NA is not setup for the separate brake and turn signal bulbs.

Now, once the harness is installed and programmed, if required (BMW's does require programming to work), functionally, except maybe for load capacity, it should operate as the factory system by disabling the rear PDC, enabling the trailer stability control logic, and giving you the different camera views.

[denaliman]

8SL is the factory preparation for the tow hitch. this is the prewiring required for the tow hitch installation. If the vehicle is not fittied with this I think it will be difficult to install any hitch to work with the lights. It is the communication port and connectors that the trailer hitch module connects to to talk to the car and work the lights and systems. I did hear that BMW was no longer going to prewire the X5's and X6's with this part.I hope this is not true.

[Shawzy44]

Originally Posted by denaliman

I have the harness from BMW Canada- 61-12-9-834-453. You will also need the control module 63-11-4-A05 6D0. Don't waste your money on the Pollack connector BMW charges $150 bucks and it is the exact same as the one linked here. I know I have both. They are exactly the same. It is actually OEM replacement for Ford, GM,Ford. Pins are the same.

https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B00...UTF8&psc=1

you may be able to find it cheaper somewhere else.Hopkins Multi-Tow #40975. It's a Hopkins branded box, but the product actually says Pollack on it. Save yourself $120.

You actually have the wiring harness? Did you order it from BMW Canada? I was told it's not available. This would be excellent news. Please confirm. Thanks!

[SmartSaves]

Originally Posted by denaliman

8SL is the factory preparation for the tow hitch. this is the prewiring required for the tow hitch installation. If the vehicle is not fittied with this I think it will be difficult to install any hitch to work with the lights. It is the communication port and connectors that the trailer hitch module connects to to talk to the car and work the lights and systems. I did hear that BMW was no longer going to prewire the X5's and X6's with this part.I hope this is not true.

This is great point. If true then it'll be really bad news for aftermarket hitch installation for 2021 models onwards.

Does anyone know if 2021 X5 40i comes with 8SL factory preparation as standard option? VIN lookup site https://bimmer.vin not working this morning. Here is a 2021 40i VIN if someone could look it up 5UXCR6C00M9E09944

[Shawzy44]

According to Mjbmw1 no programing is required if you have the BMW controller.
I am going to install mine this weekend and verify it.

https://g05.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh...7&postcount=79

[SmartSaves]

Originally Posted by Shawzy44

According to Mjbmw1 no programing is required if you have the BMW controller.
I am going to install mine this weekend and verify it.

https://g05.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh...8;postcount=79

For 2019 and 2020 X5 models I believe the vehicle is pre-wired to add controller and harness. I am wondering if that has changed with 2021 X5 models.

[Shawzy44]

Originally Posted by SmartSaves

For 2019 and 2020 X5 models I believe the vehicle is pre-wired to add controller and harness. I am wondering if that has changed with 2021 X5 models.

@SmartSaves it's a mystery. But doesn't look promising.

When I plug your VIN into https://www.mdecoder.com/ the trailer prep is not listed.

Mine appears in the "Environment and Safety" section.

[SmartSaves]

Originally Posted by Shawzy44

@SmartSaves it's a mystery. But doesn't look promising.

When I plug your VIN into https://www.mdecoder.com/ the trailer prep is not listed.

Mine appears in the "Environment and Safety" section.

I got the 2021 VIN from a dealer just to see if it has the preparation. It's not my X5 🙂.

You are correct, it doesn't have preparation (screenshot attached). I think many of us with 2021 models will be screwed. That perhaps explains why BMW added this electrical part (instead of the regular wiring harness 61129834453 $305) in their retrofit package:

* Electrical: 71602475103 $585

Two other part numbers in the upcoming retrofit package:

* Tow hitch set: 51126889278 $1280
* Control Unit: 63115A056D0 $220
* Labour: 3 hours

In the pre-August 2020 build we just needed the following parts if we were to install aftermarket hitch:

Control Unit. Part: 63115A056D0 $220

Wiring Set. Part: 61129834453 $305

Pollak connector or Trailer Coupling. Part 61136840334 $120

[denaliman]

Originally Posted by Shawzy44

@SmartSaves it's a mystery. But doesn't look promising.

When I plug your VIN into https://www.mdecoder.com/ the trailer prep is not listed.

Mine appears in the "Environment and Safety" section.

Was this an american VIN#? I can't seem to have mdecoder do my VIN. It says error and daily limit exceeded.

[SmartSaves]

Originally Posted by denaliman

Was this an american VIN#? I can't seem to have mdecoder do my VIN. It says error and daily limit exceeded.

This was a random Canadian VIN for a 2021 X5 model I copied from a dealership website. Mdecoder is very finicky now-a-days. It only allowed me to use one VIN toady and said I need to wait until tomorrow to get another report. I wanted to check one 2020 model year VIN to see if those models were pre-wired with 8SL factory preparation (confirmed by Shawzy44).

[denaliman]

Originally Posted by SmartSaves

This was a random Canadian VIN for a 2021 X5 model I copied from a dealership website. Mdecoder is very finicky now-a-days. It only allowed me to use one VIN toady and said I need to wait until tomorrow to get another report. I wanted to check one 2020 model year VIN to see if those models were pre-wired (confirmed by Shawzy44).

Thanks. This is a deal breaker for me. I don't mind I have to install the Stealth hitch, I prefer this. However, not having the factory prewire is unacceptable IMO. I was told prewire is standard. I already have the BMW OEM harness, combox and connector, but if there is no prewire to connect into, these parts are useless. I will just cancel my order....for my 2021 X6MC.

[SmartSaves]

Originally Posted by denaliman

Thanks. This is a deal breaker for me. I don't mind I have to install the Stealth hitch, I prefer this. However, not having the factory prewire is unacceptable IMO. I was told prewire is standard. I already have the BMW OEM harness, combox and connector, but if there is no prewire to connect into, these parts are useless. I will just cancel my order....for my 2021 X6MC.

Before you cancel please have your sells person double check with BMW HQ and please share your findings. Have them confirm using some form of writing and should be a sale condition. Our research may be incorrect, until someone can show us some pictures/video of the wiring. I also want the pre-wiring to be there and haven't placed my X5 order yet. Check my PDF attachment a few post back for the internal BMW communications on the retrofitting option, AFAIK they are testing a solution (expensive 2.5K+ CAD solution) and won't do it from factory for $750 when DHP is optioned.

[SmartSaves]

Reporting back. 2021 X5 and X6 won't be able retrofit the tow hitch 🙁. Only factory order. This might be a dealbreaker for many. If I want DHP then I can't have aftermarket hitch with OEM harness and controller. Looks like pre-wiring has been removed. Can't confirm as I have not seen the actual wiring plug at the back of the vehicle on 2021 models.

[denaliman]

Originally Posted by SmartSaves

Before you cancel please have your sells person double check with BMW HQ and please share your findings. Have them confirm using some form of writing and should be a sale condition. Our research may be incorrect, until someone can show us some pictures/video of the wiring. I also want the pre-wiring to be there and haven't placed my X5 order yet. Check my PDF attachment a few post back for the internal BMW communications on the retrofitting option, AFAIK they are testing a solution (expensive 2.5K+ CAD solution) and won't do it from factory for $750 when DHP is optioned.

I called my Dealer to have him check with BMW Canada. He called back and told me that for my vin#- 2021 X6MC that the trailer prewire is indeed there on the official build sheet. So this is good news for me.

[SmartSaves]

Originally Posted by denaliman

I called my Dealer to have him check with BMW Canada. He called back and told me that for my vin#- 2021 X6MC that the trailer prewire is indeed there on the official build sheet. So this is good news for me.

That is good news indeed, but on the other hand conflicting with BMW's internal communication letter that I shared earlier. I would get them to confirm this on an email. In case it is not there you'll have something to refer back to.

I hope they keep the prewire. Is your X6 being built now? Did you get the VIN assigned?

[denaliman]

Originally Posted by SmartSaves

That is good news indeed, but on the other hand conflicting with BMW's internal communication letter that I shared earlier. I would get them to confirm this on an email. In case it is not there you'll have something to refer back to.

I hope they keep the prewire. Is your X6 being built now? Did you get the VIN assigned?

yes. mine is a 2021 X6M Competition if that makes a difference. I have the vin and a screenshot from the dealer showing 8SL option code. Can't say this option will continue for Canadian builds.

[jad03060]

BMW has not included towing prewiring in any of their sedans sold in the NA markets for awhile now...I ended up installing an aftermarket harness in my GT to get the towing. Unfortunately, if you want full stability control, PDC control, and camera options, all of the (two) options I have found only provide the interface for European plugs. Westphalia and RightCOnnections both make an aftermarket harness that can be installed in most any BMW. The Westphalia uses the BMW box, and requires programming. The RightConnections box works without programming. Both can provide full BMW functionality for towing and would work with any hitch you might install. When I did mine, I chose the DIN 13-pin plug version from RightConnections. I picked it up in England while visiting my sister for about 180 pounds and, because my brother-in-law works for the US government, was able to get it without the VAT. I do not know if they'll ship to the US or not.

The combination of aftermarket hitch and harness I did on that vehicle was WAY more expensive than the factory option I have on my 2021 X5 45e, and has full BMW warranty on it. The towing options sold outside of NA, I think, are more expensive since the may end up using the Westphalia hitch as OEM, and that one can be motorized to hide the gooseneck (they don't use a receiver).