Battery drain: I have given up all hope! Jump pack recommendations?

[CrashworkZ]

Originally Posted by trader4

Have you considered a shutoff switch to disconnect the battery when
the car isn't going to be used for awhile? Something like this:

Battery Shutoff Switch w/Instructions

I would think you could potentially fashion something to put under
the hood, to disconnect the main feed there. I'm not 100% sure
how they do the wiring, but I think the main cable goes from battery
under the spare tire to the terminal under the hood, driver's side.
You could possibly intercept it there and put in some appropriate
switch, but obviously with anything you do it has to be able to handle
the current, be safely secured, etc. Just seems to me that might be
a better solution than relying on jump starting. Plus it won't be killing
the battery by allowing it to discharge. The switch at the battery
would be 100% for sure. As I said, not sure that intercepting upfront
is 100%, but I would think almost all the car loads do go through there.

Thanks for the suggestion, but to me it doesn't sound like an ideal workaround. The car would be reset daily which would cause other hassles, and since the battery drains are so random and sometimes come far apart I feel like a jump pack to use only on those occasions would be better. Especially if I can back it up with a solar trickle charger.

Best regards,
Peter

[JWMich]

Originally Posted by CrashworkZ

Gents, I understand your concerns and I am not trying to belittle the issue, but there are several reasons for why I'm looking for a workaround instead of a solution at the moment.

Just to list some of them: It's a really old car without any real value, I am living in a country where I don't speak the language, I don't read the alphabet, I don't really have any friends to rely on, I don't have a garage, I don't have access to a power outlet, I don't have any tools, and I am very occupied at work and cannot spend unlimited amount of time on troubleshooting this. And also if you thought that car repair shops, services and salesmen are generally dishonest in the US - try eastern Europe!

I'm sorry if I'm stepping on someones toes and I understand that this is a forum for X5 lovers. I've been one myself for a long time. Unfortunately my current situation doesn't really allow me to do what's best in the long run - I need a quick and easy solution!

Best regards,
Peter

No worries - I could have elaborated more, and maybe been helpful. In my case, I spent not much time and no dollars. Same idea as with the other thoughts that have suggested just disconnecting the typical offending parts.

Figured out what fuses went to what for the common parasitic drains - took maybe an hour on the internet. Removed one fuse - two minutes. Didn't work, still got drain - knew because battery was dead in next morning. Put that one back, removed next fuse - two minutes. Success. Now I have no more parasitic drain, ever. Never replaced the TCU, don't care that my phone doesn't hook up to the car. No dollars spent.

I like this charger:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

But it's not solar, so I guess probably not going to do it for you. Sorry for your troubles.