Videos are provided as a guide only. Refer to manufacturer
installation instructions and specs for complete information.
Rating: 
37 reviews
Code: 56146KIT
Retail:$72.00
Price:$47.18
Shipping Weight: 2 pounds
Shipping Special
Features:
Specs:
Warning: Overloading circuit can cause fires. Do not exceed lower of towing manufacturer rating
Read vehicle's owners manual and instruction sheet for additional information.
Kit Includes:
Surface Mount Technology (SMT) is a method for constructing electrical circuits where components are mounted onto the surface of printed circuit boards.
56146KIT Circuit Protected Tail light Converter with 4-Flat End, Circuit Tester and Quick splices
Video of Curt Upgraded Circuit Protected Tail Light w Converter Hardwire Kit - 4 Pole End (Includes Tester)
Videos are provided as a guide only. Refer to manufacturer
installation instructions and specs for complete information.
Today on this 2004 BMW X3, were going to be installing the Curt 4-pole Wiring Kit, part number 56146KIT. First, were going to remove the spare tire, jack assembly, and battery cover door. Next, well remove the fasteners and secure the rear threshold. Now, we can go ahead and remove the two interior side compartments behind both tail lights. As you can see, this now exposes us to the manufacturers rear tail light wiring. Now, we can go ahead and use a piece of wire in the test light to identify the manufacturers tail light wires.
To make this connection, well use the quick connectors that come with our install kit. The tail lights or running lights will be the purple wire which will connect with the brown wire of our converter box. Well need to identify the turning signal, which in this case is going to be our blue wire and we'll connect it with the yellow wire from our converter box. And the black wire with the green tracer will be for the red wire from our converter box. Now, I'm going to go ahead and take some black electrical tape and wrap up the connection.
Next, I'm going to go ahead and take the white wire with the pre-formed ring terminal and use this manufacturers mounting stud for our ground. Now, we can go ahead and take the green wire from our converter box and route it over to the passengers side as this will be the turn signal for the passengers side. Now, well go ahead and take the black wire provided with our install kit, strip it back and make a connection for the power to our converter box. We'll route this over to the battery. For this application, the battery is actually mounted in the rear of the vehicle so the routing wont be too far.
Were going to cut off any extra of the power wire as we need to add a fuse holder. Fuse holder is part of our install kit. Well cut the fuse holder in half, add a bud connector to one end to connect to our power wire, and add a ring terminal to the other end so that we can attach it to the positive battery terminal which will complete our power circuit. Next, well go ahead and take our 4-pole connector and follow the same routing as the green wire. Only well take it to the center of the vehicle where it will be stored when its not in use.
Now, well go over to the passengers side and just as we did on the drivers side well use our piece of wire to back throw the connector and identify the proper color to attach our green wire for our turn signal. Again, well be using a quick connector to make the connection and then some black electrical tape to wrap it up. Now, with all our connections made and all our wires routed, we can go ahead and reassemble the interior of the vehicle. Now, with everything reassembled, lets go ahead and show you how to use your new 4-pole wire. First, were going to take our new 4-pole wire out of the rear cargo area, bring it outside the vehicle over the threshold and down to the hitch or accessory. We can go ahead and close the door on the hitch as the weather stripping is thick enough that it wont harm the wire. However, do stay away from the latch as it can damage the wire. Then once you have completed using your new 4-pole wire, well simply roll it back up and store it in the rear cargo area. And thatll complete the install of our new Curt 4-Pole Connector, part number 56146KIT, for our 2004 BMW X3.
Customers compare 56146KIT to these similar products
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Average Customer Rating: 4.7 out of 5 stars (37 Customer Reviews)
by: Frank M05/20/2013
Is this review helpful?
The kit was pretty straight forward to install. It was a little tricky getting access to the area in my GX470, where the wires were routed, but once in there it went well. The circuit tester/probe didn't work, so I had to use my multimeter to trace the wires. Once traced connecting the module to the vehicle lines was easy. 81077
by: Rick C05/18/2013
Is this review helpful?
Easy install, decent directions, works well so far. 80899
by: Martijn S.05/10/2013
Is this review helpful?
Overall it looks like this harness will work. A couple of points that are good to know. Splicing into the existing drivers side wires is extremely tedious work standing in a very awkward position just outside the tail gate. The scotch splicers just barely fit clustered together since there is no slack in the car wiring itself. There is very little guidance given on how to run the power line to the battery. A make/model specific schematic showing suggested attachment points would really help. The power tester that comes with the kit doesn't work by attaching to the little posts as shown in the video. Perhaps I'm doing something wrong, but compared to the video this project seems much more difficult and time consuming. Allow for plenty of time and don't rush this project. If you can get the car on jacks it will make running the power wire much easier. Definite room for improvement, but the product does work if installed correctly. 79777
by: Russ05/10/2013
Is this review helpful?
Everything was included that was needed. Instructions were great for someone like myself who has limited knowledge of this kind of installation.79698
by: Tim F04/26/2013
Is this review helpful?
Everything relied reliably and installed perfect! The diagrams they included were really helpful and I was able to complete the install by myself which is saying a lot for a guy who is no good at all at electricity. I definitely recommend and plan on doing business with this company again.77938
by: Joe W.04/26/2013
Is this review helpful?
I ordered the 56146KIT for installation on my 2012 VW Jetta TDI. The package came with everything I needed and installation was very simple. etrailer was prompt with shipping and provided additional resources should I have trouble (I didn't). I am extremely satisfied.77900
by: Lawrence Stearns04/23/2013
Is this review helpful?
Working just great, thank-you! 77399
by: Robert04/21/2013
Is this review helpful?
I purchased the Curt wiring harness and it came with all the necessary parts and accessories. The instructions were generic making finding the specific wires a little difficult, but not a problem once I took the rear light out so I could find the brake light wire. Depending on the ability of the installer this could result in trouble. Details identifying the specific wires would have been nice. 77064
by: Conrad04/15/2013
Is this review helpful?
Easy installation, and so far has lasted longer than the "Valley" brand that I had previously used.76223
by: Jesse04/15/2013
Is this review helpful?
I installed this product in a 2013 Prius Plug-In. The install itself was fairly cumbersome, as there was a fair amount of disassembly required to access the necessary wiring. In the end, the product fit nicely and functioned perfectly. My only "complaint" was that the LED tester was so dim that it was very difficult to dicern on/off in the sunlight. 75995
by: Alan03/30/2013
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My wiring in my 1998 mazda( ranger) b4000 could not handle all the new lights from my new tent camper so I went on line to find a converter that was powered straight from the battery and found kit 56146 which works perfectly now. All my lights work and installation was a snap, I encased the battery wire in flexible tubing for extra safety. Every thing else I needed was in the kit, thanks to a quick deliver I got to go camping on time for Grandsons spring break safely. This kit is fused at the battery and is very safe in case of shorts or overloads. Al 73418
by: soccerdad03/02/2013
Is this review helpful?
Easy installation on the 2004 X3 3.0i. Very high quality kit. I simply followed the excellent video for the X3 also on this site at http://www.etrailer.com/Custom-Fit-Vehicle-Wiring/BMW/X3/2004/56146KIT.html?vehicleid=20049943. It installed just as explained and the adapter works perfectly. Tip: Make sure you have a good wire crimp tool like the one used in the video. Don't use pliers or the ones on the cheap flat stripper tool. You can get a set for about $10 at Lowe's or Home Depot. It will make all the difference. I am very happy with etrailer, great products, reasonable prices and great service. You can't go wrong. 68482
by: Roger02/13/2013
Is this review helpful?
The trailer wiring kit for my Nissan Murano, with the circuit protected tail light unit worked flawlessly. The instructions were easy to follow and the installation went well. The only difficult part was the testing of the wires to determine tail light, brake light and right /left turn signals, which was very time consuming, cumbersome and required an additional person. I am very happy with the Curt trailer tail light wiring kit.66182
by: ROBERT02/11/2013
Is this review helpful?
great product, it has everything you need to wire a trailer set up. Double sided tape not the greatest but it could be that i didnt clean the surface good enough.65661
by: Joel11/27/2012
Is this review helpful?
Mounted this on a BMW X1 (2013). This kit is not vehicle specific. I had plenty of Power cable as the battery is rear mount, but hardly an inch to spare for any of the other wires. The instructions were pretty vauge and there is no vehicle specific information to help you find the correct wires, etc... It would be nice if etrailer provided custom instructions to specific vehicles as Crutchfiled does for stereo installations. However, I'm no newbie when it comes to wiring, so I managed to get a very functional and clean install of this kit.60040
by: Darel D.11/22/2012
Is this review helpful?
Other than free tester not working product was exactly as described. I did not buy product for tester and have my own so once wires were located install was easy. Did not set off any alerts in car. Would recomend.59922
by: Russell c11/13/2012
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Great quality gives you everything u ne ed59374
by: 2006 X3 Trailer Hitch Install - harness10/15/2012
Is this review helpful?
Watch a youtube video to learn proper harness routing. There is a grommet already in place for the factory kit.57250
by: Darren R.09/20/2012
Is this review helpful?
I am very satisfied with the prompt and professional service with etrailer.com...55235
by: Scott I08/27/2012
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I got the tail light converter on time and as advertised, next day shipping, Thanks! Product is working great!53251
by: bonnie08/16/2012
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fine 51876
by: Pat08/09/2012
Is this review helpful?
Great product! Does not throw a light out code for my BMW 135i! VERY EASY INSTALL. Comes with everything you would need. No soldering required! Would recommend this to anyone...51097
by: Jim M.08/06/2012
Is this review helpful?
This is a good electrical design. Mounting may vary however. The 2011 VW Jetta has panels which must be removed so the adapter can be mounted. These are held on by plastic snap screws which may break if removed. Fishing the battery wire to the front can be challenging if you don't have the car on a lift. I persevered and it works great. 50721
by: Rod E07/24/2012
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Wiring was easy to install once the panelling was removed, instructions were easy to follow and things worked well without any problems. Thank you etrailer49219
by: BMW x307/19/2012
Is this review helpful?
Thank you for the follow up and the great customer service from pre-order to post delivery. Got my tow harness a day a head of schedule and already have it installed thanks to e-trailers step by step install video for my X3 BMW. Was a huge help considering places like U-haul didn't stock the correct parts or have the ability to install on BMW.48478
by: Richard S07/03/2012
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Product arrived sooner than expected and was safely packed. Delivered to all expectations for quality and service. Would recommend to colleagues!46656
by: John K06/06/2012
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The hitch was well packed and arrived on schedule. When I called seeking information the rep provided the information quickly. Will recommend to all my friends who have vehicles to buy here. Thank you for the outstanding service.43083
by: Michael W.05/30/2012
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Very fast shipping and great customer s ervice!42089
by: M. Yilmaz05/23/2012
Is this review helpful?
I used this wiring package in a 1999 Mercedes e430. Though I was nervous about successful installation, everything that was needed had been included in the package. I am happy that the installation was successful. Thank you eTrailer.com; I now know where to go for all my trailer needs. 41438
by: Anthony05/22/2012
Is this review helpful?
This part gets the job done at a fair price, and with ease. The included voltage tester makes finding the proper wires a breeze, and the instructional video made the rest of the install a no-brainer. It was my first electrical project of any sort, nonetheless on a car, and I was done in less than a couple hours; including taking apart my trunk and putting it back together. Only thing I would change is using a longer wire to go from the module to the battery - the included wire doesn't have a lot to spare, and took a couple tries to make it all the way to the battery without having to add any wire. Not a real problem, but a little more length would have been a luxury. In the end, it works, and it's pretty easy to make it look professional enough that people could think the car came equipped with this from the factory. Good deal if you ask me. 41316
by: scott01/14/2012
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wiring kit was excellent, no error messages or codes thrown on my car. 2006 bmw x3 msport29711
by: Jacj Y.12/10/2011
Is this review helpful?
Excellent service easy instructions and quality material. Customer for life27961
by: Jack q.12/09/2011
Is this review helpful?
I eexpected a well built trailer hitch, but the one you sent me as beyond what I expected. I wil recomend this item everyone and you have a customer for life.27918
by: dg11/25/2011
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The Jetta Sportwagen (2010-2011 confirmed, may be other years) has modulating taillights. Other Curt adapters may work. Figuring out the signals with modulating lighting can be painful. This is what works for 2010-2011 Jetta Sportwagen: Driver's side: Gray / Black (pin 1): Tail Light Black / Red (pin 2): Brake Brown (pin 3): Ground Black / White (pin 4): Left Turn Black / Blue (pin 5): Reverse Passenger's side: Gray / Black (pin 1): Tail Light Black / Purple (pin 2): Brake Brown (pin 3): Ground Black / Green (pin 4): Right Turn Black / Blue (pin 5): Reverse 27373
by: Chris D.04/29/2013
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The kit includes everything you will need to install the modulator on a ML-350. It is a perfect fit and they do not short change you on any wiring length, ties or wire connectors. If it wasn't for the video from eTrailer I doubt I would have been able to install this product so quickly and correctly. 78289
by: ben s01/30/2012
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supper easy to instal worked first time around!!30578
by: Mike L.09/15/2011
Is this review helpful?
Ordered on a Friday and had it delivered and installed by Tuesday night. Now my V-Dub is an "SUV"!!!23984
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Installation Details
