[ReggieDoodle]

I have a 2012 30D uk spec with a factory pop out electric tow bar. I won’t go into the problems that presents but would like some advice on a warning I often get on the I drive.

All lights work fine before I leave home. Always check. Then sometime into the journey I get a warning on the dash about trailer electrics overload. Looking in the mirrors I can tell the front running lights are now off so presumably rear ones are too as they are piggybacked but I know indicators still work as people move over on the motorway when I want to pull out.

Any suggestions ? Sounds like a loose wire or something but can’t find one.

Only posts I’ve seen online around this are related to folks retro fitting towbar electrics. Mine are factory.

Tks in advance

[gcapiel]

Hi, Did you ever get an answer to this? I'm having this issue shortly after I start towing my Airstream with Lithium batteries.

[TheRealNo7]

Hi guys, I'm having the same problem.

Connect my trailer lights (Brian James) and all lights work fine for a 3-5mins then I get the overload message on the iDrive and I can see in the mirrors that the right side driving lights are off but left side are still burning. So partially lit.

Any ideas of how to resolve this please?

[gcapiel]

For me it turned out it was the 7-Way connector pins needed to be bent outwards slightly to make better contact and we also added a healthy amount of dielectric grease.

[Roy Berks]

Hi, I have the same problem.
Connect my caravan, all was good for 70 miles then message on dash and no right hand road lights. Couldn't fix it but when I connected caravan a week later every thing worked for 10 miles then same problem. Each time the lights stopped working they didn't come back on. What I did notice was that if I connected up, the lights would flash on then go off & stay off. The message on the dash is that the trailer electrics are overloaded, I did turn the fridge off but that made no difference. Although I have towed miles with the caravan with no problem, this has only happened after I changed my car.
I have had it back to BMW but everything was okay on car, I saw them check with their meter & everything was fine. I have checked everything on caravan but all the electrics are good. I don't know how informed BMW dealers are with their towbars as I don't suppose they come across them everyday.
Did you resolve the problem? If you did please could you let me know how.

Regards Roy

[gcapiel]

See my answer above. I have to redo the fix every few months as the dielectric grease needs to be replenished or the pins readjusted.

[Roy Berks]

Thank you for your reply gcapiel.
I see yours is a 7 pin connector, mine is a 13 pin plug which I have always found a much tighter fit. Your reply has made me think, I had a new 13 pin plug fitted when I last had my caravan serviced and it has been since then that I have had this problem. I have opened up the plug and checked the wiring and all is good but next time I get the van out I am going to give all the pins a coating of dielectric grease and if that doesn't work I will fit a different make plug in case the plug itself is dodgy.