Trailer lights won't work when hook up to BMW X3 factory hitch

[Acuario]

Help!!

I have a 2007 BMW X3 with factory Hitch all turn signals work on suv but if I hook up to the boat trailer only running lights work...no turns or breaks lights work..BMW dealer already reprogram car for hitch to work.. If i use a car battery and test every light on the trailer they all work fine. just wonder if anyone has a problem like this.

 

[Kamdyn]

Re: Trailer lights won't work when hook up to BMW X3 factory hitch

Help!!

I have a 2007 BMW X3 with factory Hitch all turn signals work on suv but if I hook up to the boat trailer only running lights work...no turns or breaks lights work..BMW dealer already reprogram car for hitch to work.. If i use a car battery and test every light on the trailer they all work fine. just wonder if anyone has a problem like this.

I personally would go back to them if your saying that all lights on trailer is working fine hooking up to a battery. Check your adapter to see if its corroded in any way?

 

[Acuario]

Re: Trailer lights won't work when hook up to BMW X3 factory hitch

BMW dealer is working on that. I think they full of it..so far 205 dollars on reprogram the car by dealer, they want me to bring my boat with trailer i said CAN'T DO... they should have a way to test it from the hitch some how.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Trailer lights won't work when hook up to BMW X3 factory hitch

Why not get a meter and test it at the connector yourself?

 

[Acuario]

Re: Trailer lights won't work when hook up to BMW X3 factory hitch

I did only get red light flashing on tester not a green light, but if hook to the trailer parking lights work weird crap..the dealer told me that by using Volmeter or tester that wont help...like a said they are full of it lol

 

[109jb]

Re: Trailer lights won't work when hook up to BMW X3 factory hitch

I have used towing lights to test the vehicle hookup before. The ones I have are in the link below and they work great. I got them on sale for $10 and they are on that same sale price riight now. You can get them other places too besides Harbor Freight. Just plug them up and test. They have all the same functions as a trailer and they put an electrical load on like the trailer lights would.

http://www.harborfreight.com/12-volt-magnetic-towing-light-kit-96933.html

 

[MassillonBuckeye]

Re: Trailer lights won't work when hook up to BMW X3 factory hitch

My similar problem was a faulty ground on one of my tail light bulbs. I tore half my Jeep apart trying to figure that one out..... Start simple. Are all of your cars lights working properly with correct bulbs?

 

[Hoser59]

Re: Trailer lights won't work when hook up to BMW X3 factory hitch

I had that same problem on the 2008 MDX I just picked up. After some head scratching I discouvered that there is a seperate fuse panel in the back of the vehicle and none of the towing fuses were there as it had never been used for towing before. Put some fuses in and everything works perfect. I'm not sure how the BMW is set up, but maybe something to look into?

 

[Brewman61]

Re: Trailer lights won't work when hook up to BMW X3 factory hitch

Pretty sad that the BMW dealer has taken $200 from you so far and can't figure out their own trailer harness!

My Ford Ranger's factory install trailer harness had no power, so when it was in for service I had them check it. Same as Hoser59- missing fuse.
Dealer tried to charge me $15 to put in the missing fuse. Told them that the factory should have put in that fuse at assembly time, so why should I have to pay? They reversed the charge. Nice, since I'm sure the fuse cost them all of $0.25 and about 30 seconds of labor.

 

[Acuario]

Re: Trailer lights won't work when hook up to BMW X3 factory hitch

My similar problem was a faulty ground on one of my tail light bulbs. I tore half my Jeep apart trying to figure that one out..... Start simple. Are all of your cars lights working properly with correct bulbs?

yes all lights work fine on Car. BMW dealer will take my car back next thursday 16 Sep to troubleshoot it. Now they have a trailer of their own to test it. Will see how it goes.. I bough all equipment from them. Total amount of money so far is $834.00 they will fix it or i will get my money back. I got bmw Manager Supervisor involve after they send me a survey on how my service was that day ...guess was not a pretty survey for them from me..lol

this is the email they send me back after the survey...

Thank you we will see her at 830 Thursday morning with a loaner car provided. For loaner car check out we will need to see Driver License, Major credit card and proof of insurance. There is no charge for the loaner, the credit card is recorded as a fuel security deposit, loaner will go out full, please bring back full and no charges will be applied to the provided account. My Manager, shop foreman, and I will be working closely, mindful of the money you have already spent and the comments you shared on your survey



Michael R. Brown

Service Advisor

Sam Swope BMW

 

[sethjon]

Re: Trailer lights won't work when hook up to BMW X3 factory hitch

BMW dealer is working on that. I think they full of it..so far 205 dollars on reprogram the car by dealer, they want me to bring my boat with trailer i said CAN'T DO... they should have a way to test it from the hitch some how.

You need to bring the trailer to them or they cannot fix it.

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: Trailer lights won't work when hook up to BMW X3 factory hitch

If this has the separate circuit for the turn signals and you are hooking it to the standard 4 pin trailer connection that is the problem.
Are the turn signal bulbs yellow or separate from the brake lights on the BMW?
They make a plug in converter for this.

Look at this and show it to the dealer.

http://www.etrailer.com/Custom-Fit-Vehicle-Wiring/BMW/X3/2009/119190KIT.html?vehicleid=20096385

 

[stic88]

Re: Trailer lights won't work when hook up to BMW X3 factory hitch

for the money you have spent you could have bought a little ford ranger and had a seperate tow vehicle and not put the wear on the bmw.

 

[Stachi]

Re: Trailer lights won't work when hook up to BMW X3 factory hitch

for the money you have spent you could have bought a little ford ranger and had a seperate tow vehicle and not put the wear on the bmw.

don't remember seeing any mention of what he intends to tow .....anything larger than a jon might be a challenge for a wee Ranger....

 

[109jb]

Re: Trailer lights won't work when hook up to BMW X3 factory hitch

for the money you have spent you could have bought a little ford ranger and had a seperate tow vehicle and not put the wear on the bmw.

And then have to pay insurance and registration on the Ranger, pay for repairs, have a place to keep the ranger............

Doesn't solve the OP's problem at all.

 

[Stachi]

Re: Trailer lights won't work when hook up to BMW X3 factory hitch

If this has the separate circuit for the turn signals and you are hooking it to the standard 4 pin trailer connection that is the problem.
Are the turn signal bulbs yellow or separate from the brake lights on the BMW?
They make a plug in converter for this.

Look at this and show it to the dealer.

http://www.etrailer.com/Custom-Fit-Vehicle-Wiring/BMW/X3/2009/119190KIT.html?vehicleid=20096385

Toyota is the same way...they use a different system...a converter is needed or a seperate set of lights,one for brakes and one for running lights.

 

[Stachi]

Re: Trailer lights won't work when hook up to BMW X3 factory hitch

And then have to pay insurance and registration on the Ranger, pay for repairs, have a place to keep the ranger............

Doesn't solve the OP's problem at all.

Maybe a trip to U-Haul would help...they wire all kinds of vehicles for towing...every day......I believe they would have some insight to the problem....

 

[Acuario]

Re: Trailer lights won't work when hook up to BMW X3 factory hitch

UPDATE!!!!

BMW dealer kept my X3 overnight they cant figured out why is not working they contacted BMW techs from new jersey in order to fix it. so far no charges for me ..lol will see what up in the morning

 

[Acuario]

Re: Trailer lights won't work when hook up to BMW X3 factory hitch

If this has the separate circuit for the turn signals and you are hooking it to the standard 4 pin trailer connection that is the problem.
Are the turn signal bulbs yellow or separate from the brake lights on the BMW?
They make a plug in converter for this.

Look at this and show it to the dealer.

http://www.etrailer.com/Custom-Fit-Vehicle-Wiring/BMW/X3/2009/119190KIT.html?vehicleid=20096385

The hitch from BMW comes with plug n play harness and converter box just mount hitch bar n harness n box and should work..

 

[Acuario]

Re: Trailer lights won't work when hook up to BMW X3 factory hitch

FINALLY!!! THE POWER LIGHT CONTROL MODULE was bad took them two days to figured that out. the computer test passed every time so they replace parts by parts lol..dealer repaired at no extra charge