Tow hitch power supply

V

vortek

Member
Hi there,

I am having a tow hitch inserted in my 06 Z4 roadster 2.0i.
The problem i have is the power supply. The electrician wants 170eur to connect the hitch power supply to the car because he says that the ECU can have problems and become disconfigured so he needs to have an ECU for the hitch alone.

Does anyone have a cheaper solution for my problem?
Best regards
 
Z4Tow_zps1f535eb1.png
 
Why not!? A Z4, top down, towing a dirt bike is a very sexy car!!! :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

Anyway, i already have the tow, and i have the plug in place, it is just sitting there but not connected to the car. So i really need a usefull answer please... otherwise I will not be able to drive at night...

Thank you!

Half Colin: Buying another car wouldn't help... I would just buy another Z4 ;)
 
i have had tow hitches added to all my cars (not the zed) and have never paid that kind of money or ever heard of that. I would get a couple of quotes
 
vortek said:
Why not!? A Z4, top down, towing a dirt bike is a very sexy car!!! :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

Anyway, i already have the tow, and i have the plug in place, it is just sitting there but not connected to the car. So i really need a usefull answer please... otherwise I will not be able to drive at night...

Thank you!

Half Colin: Buying another car wouldn't help... I would just buy another Z4 ;)
Click to expand...
No probs - I just couldn't resist it.
I've wired up tow plugs on previous cars of mine (none of which were BMWs though) and one of the big issues will be the ECU recognising the additional bulbs without showing as bulb failures. Good luck.
 
I'm pretty sure the guy needs assistance with his question, not an opinion on whether he should or not.

I can't help I'm afraid, but hope someone on here can. I'd would be tempted to at least phone a BMW dealer and see if they have any words of wisdom on the subject.
 
Interesting to see how the tow ball is being connected to the chassis to ensure a safe hold. Surely the wiring is simply a multi cable from the hitch connector into the raer light wiring harness.
 
AlanJ said:
Interesting to see how the tow ball is being connected to the chassis to ensure a safe hold. Surely the wiring is simply a multi cable from the hitch connector into the raer light wiring harness.
Click to expand...
Yes, the wiring is simple and for pre-ECU cars would work fine. But where the lights are controlled by an ECU adding extra bulbs will likely cause issues. Bit like changing normal bulbs for LEDs without adding extra resistors, it throws the ECU. It might work but the extra bulbs cause extra load which the relays might not handle, fuses might blow or the ECU might hiccup and say there's bulb failure. No real way of telling without trying or speaking to someone who has done it. Without the ECU it would be easy.
 
i had no issues taking a direct feed from my brake line in the rear cluster to power some LEDs. it also illuminated under half power with the day time lights then would fully illuminate when i pressed the brakes. ive got an 03 ZED so i cant say if newer models will behave the same
 
I didn't think that the E85 /E86 could have a tow bar fitted as there is no place to fix it to the chassis as far as I was aware of. Also the owner's manual would detail a maximum trailer weight somewhere on the data sheet if a tow bar could be fitted, and no data is listed.
 
vortek said:
Hi there,

I am having a tow hitch inserted in my 06 Z4 roadster 2.0i.
The problem i have is the power supply. The electrician wants 170eur to connect the hitch power supply to the car because he says that the ECU can have problems and become disconfigured so he needs to have an ECU for the hitch alone.

Does anyone have a cheaper solution for my problem?
Best regards
Click to expand...

Hi, I did a search on ebay for wiring kits(incl.ecu) for post 2006 BMW's(none for Z4) all above GDP120, so I think the price he is giving you is good considering he's got to get paid for his time too ..good luck with the install.

p.s. see this link too:- http://www.rameder.eu/en/Electrical-kits/Specific/electrical-set-107071-04924-2.html
 
Quite often bypass relays are used to isolate from the vehicle lighting system. Not sure it would work with a Z4 but you could ask.
What is the tow bar bolted to?


bypass_zps7c9ebea0.jpg
 
Thank you all for you help.
I am going to talk to the electrician tomorow and lets see what I decide.

fixit man said:
Hi, I did a search on ebay for wiring kits(incl.ecu) for post 2006 BMW's(none for Z4) all above GDP120, so I think the price he is giving you is good considering he's got to get paid for his time too ..good luck with the install.

p.s. see this link too:- http://www.rameder.eu/en/Electrical-kit ... 924-2.html
Click to expand...

Thanks.

bladeowner said:
What is the tow bar bolted to?
Click to expand...
I will post pictures of the bolting tomorow aswell.
 
vortek said:
Thank you all for you help.
I am going to talk to the electrician tomorow and lets see what I decide.

fixit man said:
Hi, I did a search on ebay for wiring kits(incl.ecu) for post 2006 BMW's(none for Z4) all above GDP120, so I think the price he is giving you is good considering he's got to get paid for his time too ..good luck with the install.

p.s. see this link too:- http://www.rameder.eu/en/Electrical-kit ... 924-2.html
Click to expand...

Thanks.

well what happened ??

bladeowner said:
What is the tow bar bolted to?
Click to expand...
I will post pictures of the bolting tomorow aswell.
Click to expand...
 
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