06-23-2020, 09:18 AM | #1 |
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Coding "Trailer Mode"
I've got an after market hitch installed for carrying my bike rack and don't have the option for "Trailer Mode" in iDrive.
My guess is that it gets coded by default only when you purchase the vehicle with the OEM hitch. Would anyone happen to know what the coding parameters are please? I have Bimmercode which may or may not have the Expert Mode access to these, if not, I'd like to share these codes with the folks at StealthHitches so that they can help with some remote coding. Thanks |
11-03-2020, 11:53 AM | #2 |
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I've got the same interest in coding the trailer Rear Camera Zoom function as I've got an after market towbar fitted. My previous X5s both had the OEM towbar and I really miss the Trailer Zoom feature when backing up to my caravan so I would be very interested and grateful if you ever find out the answer.
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11-03-2020, 12:05 PM | #3 |
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No need to code. Once the module and harness are installed and plunged into a trailer, trailer mode is activated.
Great thread and youtube video on this: OEM Trailer Hitch Retrofit? https://g05.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh....php?t=1720879
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11-03-2020, 05:57 PM | #4 | |
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Personally, I wouldn't mess with this car's electronics, its way too sophisticated, and with all the cars advanced safety systems proper integration is critical. |
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11-03-2020, 11:21 PM | #5 |
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It depends on what you used for your harness. There are some dumb harnesses that just listen on the CANBUS, and can activate the lights on a trailer, but, to make things work automatically, the module needs to talk back to the central computer. If you have that module, then you can get all of the trailer functionality automatically when you plug something in.
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11-04-2020, 11:27 AM | #6 |
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To be clear the towbar I have fitted is not a post-factory OEM hitch but a third-party one (Westfalia) supplied and fitted by their approved agent. This has a detachable towball and the arrangement is invisible when the towball is detached and the 13 pin towing electrics socket is swung back up into its stowed position. The wiring is working all the lights and interconnections to the caravan but some features that are activated with the OEM hitch are not activated. As I understand it these include 1. Disablling the rear parking sensors when reverse is engaged (Not a biggy as I can switch these off manually), 2. The rear Fog lights are inhibited (so as not to cause a dazzling reflection in the rear view mirror) again not a biggy as I rarely tow a caravan in fog and these can be switched off manually. 3. The main feature missing from a non-OEM fit is that when backing up to the trailer the rear view camera 'Trailer Zoom' feature is greyed out i.e. not activated. I believe this does not involve any hardware modification merely to switch the camera angle so that it provides a close-up view of the towball to assist in alignment of the car to the trailer (and in so doing takes the wife out of the process)! To summarise: I would like to know if Rear Camera zoom can be coded to be active even without any changes to the wiring.
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11-04-2020, 02:11 PM | #7 |
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When I looked over the Westphalia instructions years ago, they included a short list of what parameters must be programmed to make it function as OEM. It's my understanding that the OEM hitch BMW uses in Europe is made by Westphalia, but the harness needs to be patched in if the vehicle doesn't have the required plugs already there. On the US versions, they supposedly have or did have that ready to plug in.
So, if the people that installed it haven't thrown the instructions away...look through them. If I remember, it's only about 4-5 items that need to be tweaked for it to recognize the hitch and wiring. Once you have that, you should see it in the menu, and it will automatically switch to towing mode when something is plugged in, like say a light bar for your bike rack. I ended up with a RightConnections harness, and their box is already programmed, so it's just hook it up, but Westphalia follows more the OEM route and requires programming to make it work (or at least did when I last looked into it). |
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11-05-2020, 04:23 AM | #8 |
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Thanks very much for the info which seems to tally with what I was told back in January 2020 when I had the towbar fitted. The fitter spoke to RightConnections technical who said that they were still playing 'catch-up' with the G05 cars and although their current interface did not trigger all the OEM trailer functions they expected to be able to develop one in the future which did. I have been digging into Coding Videos and websites and I am of the opinion that the rear camera functionality I am seeking is not an option that can be simply coded in. I think a trip back to the fitter to see if there is an updated module available yet is the best option. I will update this thread if anything materialises that may help others. Thanks again.
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11-05-2020, 11:54 PM | #9 |
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I just did a little more research, and while RightCOnnections does make a harness, it does not trigger the PDC stuff off, but seems to do most of the other stuff. You'd want to contact them to verify. As of today, they do not list a full-function harness.
I also checked Westphalia, and while they do sell the towbar, for this model, they do not have a harness. I didn't want to have to deal with that like I did on my previous vehicle, so ordered my X5 with the factory towing package. |
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11-07-2020, 09:42 AM | #10 |
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Thanks for the update. We seem to have been duplicating effort as I got my after-market towbar fitter who fitted my Westphalia bar and he in turn confirmed with Right Connections (it's their kit that is fitted to my towing electrics/bar) that they do not have a harness that duplicates all the OEM functionality and do not anticipate having one any time soon. I have therefore resigned myself to living with the limited functions. I also know what you mean regarding trying to wrestle with BMW towing related issues. I have had several issues with previous cars even with the OEM factory fit towbar (not being supplied with the ability to run my caravan fridge when towing and also with the bar sticking in the deployed state). Life's too short so I'll just enjoy the other amazing features that my X5 has.
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01-11-2021, 07:09 PM | #11 |
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I had my X5 coded today, the kick to open works as does all the OEM features.
Overall I am happy with the results.
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01-11-2021, 10:28 PM | #12 |
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01-12-2021, 03:18 AM | #13 |
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01-12-2021, 03:40 AM | #14 | |
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He followed the instructions found on the X3 forum.
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01-12-2021, 03:42 AM | #15 |
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Yes. All the same features as the G05 X5s that come with the hitch from the factory.
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01-12-2021, 08:26 PM | #16 | |
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01-12-2021, 10:06 PM | #17 | ||
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01-18-2021, 07:06 PM | #18 | |
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01-18-2021, 09:11 PM | #19 | ||
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01-19-2021, 03:35 AM | #20 |
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I already have trailer mode menu active in my iDrive menu as the tow bar was fitted ex factory all I need is the wiring harness, trailer module and ball fitting I will code the camera zoom once I have upgraded my version of E Sys to support the G series generation
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06-03-2021, 08:45 AM | #21 | |
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06-03-2021, 05:07 PM | #22 | ||
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