Electrical Problems?

[Mcbruges]

In the first year of ownership I put on in excess of 50 000 km. Hence, in an attempt to save on mileage, I parked my X3 in the garage and let it sit for about 2 weeks.

When I went to start it yesterday, the car did nothing. Completely dead! No lights, the central lock doesn't work, the keys don't works....absolutely silent.

I am 99.99% sure I did not leave anything electrical on, which could have drained the battery. Even if I did; these cars have a safety built into them which turns every system (minus the very very very low voltage ones) off after 20 minutes if a system was left on.

In any case I'm thinking it's the battery since even the "very very very low voltage" items such as the LED on the steptronic are no longer illuminated.

So I'll hook up the charger tonight and see if I can get it running.
Has anybody encountered something similar before? Where could such a voltage drain come from?

[silversurferX3]

i think i heard this problem somewhere on this forum...usually if the truck remains unactive for awhile...battery gets drained...recharging it wont help...u might need a new battery..not sure though

[moymch]

I have never had this problem and I have left my vehicle in the garrage for 4 weeks without being started. I may be wrong, but I thought that if by chance you left a light on or a door open that there was something in place to keep the battery from running down.

[vrrooom]

On the '06 cars made towards the end of 2005, there was a rash of dead battery problems. Sitting for 2 weeks had nothing to do with mine, it was here today gone tomorrow. Roadside assistance started it, and the dealer tested the battery and replaced it. Symptoms were as you described, nada electical, had to use the key to get in.

[Quicksilver]

Maybe your ride was just of you abusing it.

[RastaGurl]

I had a similar episode this week: The car was left at the airport for 4 days while I was at a conference in Seattle, and I returned on Tuesday night to a dead battery. After waiting in sub-zero temperatures for about an hour, airport maintenance was able to jump start the car. However, it's taken a couple cranks for the engine to turn over yesterday, and it barely started this morning. I took it to the stealer today, who recharged the battery, and refused to replace it unless I paid for the replacement as, and this is almost a direct quote: "It's just fine, and as long as it's charged, is not replaceable under warranty." The SA suggested installation of some sort of battery charger which is permanently installed, and can be plugged in to charge the battery in the garage, for example. He also mentioned that I'd driven less than 2,000 miles in 3 months, and that probably had a bit to do with the inability to maintain a battery charge. I'm not quite sure I buy all this. Thoughts? Comments? Ideas? Should I just get a new battery even though they refuse to replace it?