Quote:
Originally Posted by JCL
You did get a pre-purchase inspection done, right? Is your extended warranty covering the electrical issues?
These vehicles are sensitive to battery voltage. Bad battery can kill the alternator. Bad alternator can kill the battery. Jumping it can be a risk, depends how it was done.
Standard battery is fine. Same battery from from a non-dealer is cheaper.
A good trickle charger is safe. Shouldn't be necessary, but some have found them necessary when they leave their vehicle for extended periods. I left my X5 up to a month at a time, and the Z4 for multiple months, and never required a trickle charger on either. YMMV.
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Flame ON - No, there was not pre-purchase inspection ... I am in the process of learning a very valuable lesson.
The extended warranty does cover just about everything, with exception to normal wear and tear items (such as the battery), but the alternator is definitely covered. I suspect the previous owner's either didn't want to fix the issue, or didn't know what to do - with exception of trading it in for something else. I am wondering if they had tried to charge the battery or had it jumped. Regardless, here I am, with the X5 in the shop
I would love to run to Costco or Sam's and provide a battery to BMW, but suspect they would probably just laugh at me, and then send me away to return it.
I knew when I bought it, that this would be an rather pricey car to maintain, I just didn't think that it would require any mechanical/electrical attention within 2-weeks of purchase. I am working with the stealership that I bought it from, and they are trying to help get it all fixed up so I can have it back in my possession with minimal out of pocket.
Keep your fingers crossed!