ok fella thanks again, will do so, clamp one end to alternator somewhere or like you say remove the plastic off the top of the engine...and the other end to -ve lug...hope am correct in doing so. Also seems consensus is on getting a new battery first and seeing....man what a nightmare.

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E53 X5 3.0d SUV prod.date 11/2004 eng.variant M57N Europe Right hand drive N