Original BMW Accessory.Installation Instructions.

Trailer tow hitch – electrical fittings – BMW 5 Series (E 39)

Accessories – Installation InstructionsTrailer Tow Hitch – Electrical Fittings BMW 5 Series E39

Installation timeThe installation time is approx. 3.0 hours. This may vary depending on the condition of the car and the equipment in it.

Important information These installation instructions are primarily designed for use within the BMW dealership organization and by authorized BMW service companies.

In any event, the target group for these installation instructions is specialist personnel trained on BMW cars with the appropriate specialist knowledge.

All work must be completed using the latest BMW repair manuals, circuit diagrams, servicing manuals and work instructions in a rational order using the prescribed tools (special tools) and observing current health and safety regulations.

If you experience installation or function problems, limit troubleshooting to approx. 0.5 hour for mechanical or 1.0 hour for electrical work. In order to reduce costs and avoid any additional expense, send a query immediately to the Technical Parts Support via the Aftersales Assistance Portal (ASAP).Specify the following information:- Chassis number- Part number of the retrofit kit- A precise description of the problem- Work steps already carried out

Do not archive the hard copy of these installation instructions since daily updates are made by ASAP!

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PictogramsDenotes instructions that draw your attention to special features.

Denotes the end of the instruction or other text.

Installation informationEnsure that the cables and/or lines are not kinked or damaged as you install them in the car. The costs thereby incurred will not be reimbursed by BMW AG.

All pictures show LHD cars; proceed accordingly on RHD cars.

Some of the installation is shown only on the left-hand side of the car, proceed in the same way on the right-hand side of the car.

Legal requirements A type approval in accordance with EC Directive 94/20/EC Annex VII exists for the towing hitch, with EC homologation mark e13*0109.If you comply with these regulations and notes in these installation instructions, no special acceptance test pursuant to § 19 of the German Road Traffic Licensing Directive and no special entry in the vehicle registration document is necessary.

NotesAll work is shown on a LHD model. Some of the work must be carried out the other way round on RHD models.

Wherever the tow hitch is mounted against bodywork, the bodywork sealer and underbody protection must first be removed with a scraper. The surfaces must then be cleaned with petrol.

Paint any bare bodywork with anti-corrosion paint.

The tow hitch payload can be found in the vehicle documentation .

Care and maintenance instructions can be found in the supplementary owner’s manual for the tow hitch.

Debur all drilled holes and seal with anti-corrosion paint.

Remove all drill shavings.

Screw tightening instructions

– First position all screws and nuts by hand and do them up finger-tight.

– Align the tow hitch and tow hitch ball holder.

– Tighten the screws and nuts in the following order

1. Towing hitch / rear panel collar nuts

2. M10 hexagonal screws for longitudinal brace / luggage compartment

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Tools and equipment required

Screwdriver 1/2 inch reversible ratchet

Cross-head screwdriver 1/2 inch extension

Ring spanner 13 mm 1/2 inch universal joint

Hammer 1/2 inch torque wrench

Centre punch 1/2 inch socket wrenches 10 mm, 13 mm, 16mm

Open jaw wrench, 10 mm, 16 mm Electric drill

Socket wrench 10 mm Twist drill bits 3.5 mm, 8 mm, 14 mm

Step drill bit 40mm Paint brush

Anti-corrosion paint Round file

P{etrol (cleaning grade) Water soluble pen

Tape measure Padsaw

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Contents

Section Page

1. Necessary preparatory work . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

2. Overview of additional wiring harness . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

3. Connecting the additional wiring harness . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

4. Installing tow hitch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

5. Affixing the nose weight and information label. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11

6. Function test . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12

7.Circuit diagram . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13

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1. Preparatory work

1. Print out error memory.

2. Disconnect the battery

3. Remove luggage compartment floor mat.

4. Remove spare wheel.

5. Remove luggage compartment trim on left and right

6. Remove rear trim from luggage compartment.

7. Remove rear bumper.

8. Removing the bumper shock absorbers

2. Overview of additional wiring harness

Item Design / Designation Cable colours

Connection location in the car Abbreviation / Slot

A Black 20-pin plug connector ––– Trailer module A6 X609

B 13-pin trailer socket ––– Support for tow hitch trailer socket X630

C Black 8-pin plug connector ––– Right rear, E47 X318

D Black 8-pin plug connector ––– Plug connector X318 from the right rear, E47 X18977

E Black 8-pin plug connector ––– Left rear, E46 X319

F Black 8-pin plug connector ––– Plug connector X318 from the left rear light, E46 X18976

G Cable lug 6mm / earth brown Earth post X19518 at left rear light X19518

H Cable lug 6mm / terminal 30 Red Fuse F103 via battery X19517

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3. Connecting additional wiring harness

Enlarge the hole at the centrepunch point (1) in the closing panel below the right rear light using a conical drill bit and treat the hole with the standard BMW anti-corrosion coating.

Route branches A and C - G on the additional wiring harness (1) through the passage hole (2) into the luggage compartment and insert the rubber grommet.

Drill two holes (3) with a diameter of 5 mm on the web of the closing panel, as shown, and secure the additional wiring harness (1) with cable ties (4).

Position the control module box (1), as shown, in the luggage compartment on the right from underneath on the side member (2) and press it underneath in the direction indicated by the arrow until the detent in the control module box (1) engages in the holder (3) on the battery support.

Open the cover of the control module box (1).

Route branch H to the fuse holder (1) above the battery.

H Secure branch “Terminal 30”, red cable using hexagonal screw (2) to slot 5 (F103 / 50A fuse.

Secure the additional wiring harness (4) with cable ties (3).

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3. Connecting additional wiring harness

Route branch A to the control module box (2) under the right side member.

A Connect branch “X609” to trailer module A6.

Insert trailer module A6 and additional wiring harness (3), as shown, and close the control module box (2).

NoteThe diagram shows the connection to the left rear light ; proceed accordingly when connecting to the right rear light.

Route the branches C and D to the right rear light E47 and remove plug X 318 from the right rear light E47.

C Connect branch X 318 to plug X 318 which has just been pulled from right rear light E47.

D Connect branch X18977 to right rear light E47.

Route branches E to G to the left rear light E46 (3) and unplug connector X 319 (1) from the left rear light E46 (3).

E Connect branch X 319 to the disconnected connector X319 (1) from the left rear light E46 (3).

D Connect branch X18976 to left rear light E46.

F Connect “earth” branch , brown cable, to earth post X19518 (2)

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4. Installing the tow hitch

Push the holders (1) into the left and right side members and secure them loosely with the reinforcement brackets (2) and the hexagonal screws (3) with washers.

Fit the holder (1) for the ball head (3), as shown, in the luggage compartment, align it and secure it loosely to the side member using a hexagonal screw (2) and washer. Insert the ball head (3) into the holder (1), align holder (1) and secure it with a hexagonal screw (4).

Secure the holder (2) for the socket with hexagonal screws (3) to the base support (1) of the towing hitch.

Tightening torque: 8.5 Nm

Remove the outer skin (1) from the bumper support (2).

Cut out the outer skin (1) and support (2) at the pre-stamped points (3 and 4).

Re-assemble the bumper.

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4. Installing the tow hitch

Fit the base support (1) for the towing hitch into the bumper (2) and secure it loosely with the hexagonal screws (3).

Fit the bumper (2) with the tow hitch base support (1) to the car and secure it loosely with the collar nuts and washers.

Align the towing hitch.

Tighten the screws and nuts in the following order

1. Towing hitch / rear panel collar nuts

2. M10 hexagonal screws

Side braces / luggage compartment

Tightening torque: 57 Nm

3. Align the bumper (2) and secure it with hexagonal screws (3).

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5. Affixing nose weight and information label

Affix the nose weight label max. 75 kg to position 1.

Affix the label (1) with operating instructions underneath the luggage compartment floor (2).

Assemble the car using the instructions for dismantling it in reverse.

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6. Function test

Connect the battery.

Mechanical test :– Remove blind plug.

– Insert the ball head into its housing.Check for ease of movement during locking, the secure mounting of the ball head and features for correct locking:– The “green” marking on the hand wheel is -

opposite the “green” section on the ball head.– The hand wheel is against the ball head.– The key can be removed after locking.

– Remove ball head;After you have turned the hand wheel, the ball head must release itself automatically.Check that the hand wheel engages when the system is in its locked position.

– Insert the blind plug again ;The blind plug must be a tight fit.

Electrical test

After hitching up a trailer, check that the trailer lights and the indicator control lights work correctly.

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7. Circuit diagram for trailer tow hitch E39

X191

57

Con

nect

ion

to fu

se F

103

X195

18

Ear

th p

ost n

ear

r

ight

rear

ligh

t

X319

Bla

ck 8

-pin

plu

g co

nnec

tor a

t

left

rear

ligh

tX6

09

T

raile

r mod

ule

conn

ectio

n pl

ug

X630

13-

pin

traile

r soc

ket

X189

76

Con

nect

or o

f

left

rear

ligh

tX1

8977

C

onne

ctor

of

ri

ght r

ear l

ight

A6

Tra

iler m

odul

e

E46

Lef

t rea

r lig

ht

E47

Rig

ht re

ar li

ght

F103

5

0A fu

se

X318

B

lack

8-p

in p

lug

conn

ecto

r at

ri

ght r

ear l

ight