03 4.6is electrical nightmare!! ABS/DSC, Self Leveling Susp - Help!

[E34Play]

A little rant before the current issue... This truck just continues to give me issues... I've put 16k miles on it in my 2.5 years of ownership... during that time, the following:

Battery went dead
Coolant Hose burst
Alternator died
Coil pack
Sunroof started leaking
DS exterior door handle broke
Window regulator went out
Transmission failed (3rd gear drum)
Alternator died again (#2!)
Coolant overflow sprung a leak
Timing chain tensioner
Coil pack again
Likely more I'm forgetting...

And now the present. I haven't been driving the X too much as the transmission has still yet to be replaced (It's fine to drive if you back off the throttle as it shifts into 3rd), but just before Thanksgiving she started acting up again.

First, and I don't know if this is related but for quite a while now there has been an issue with the headlights... they'll turn on just fine, and will stay on with no issues - until I start driving. Once in motion, anywhere between 2-5 times the headlights will turn off and then back on again, usually the passenger side first, sometimes followed by the driver's side. ONLY once I start driving.

A week and a half ago I went to take the car for a drive, and I got a "Self leveling susp inact" warning on the dash. Also noticed the heated seats weren't turning on.. or occasionally they would, but would turn off right away. Drove it a little bit, stopped for food, got in again and the nav screen displayed the "Code" screen which it has never done. It even set off the alarm when I started it... I got past that and brought the car home and parked it until this morning. I checked the battery - it was new from last year, but I installed a spare oem BMW battery I had (green eye) just to test. Car started up, but still had the code screen, heated seat issue, suspension warning, and now the ABS, DSC, and brake warning lights... I shut her down out of frustration.

I'm quite literally near the point of setting the damned thing on fire. I ordered a voltage regulator for the alternator to play with once it arrives - but what do you guys think could be causing this? I'm sincerely hoping this is all tied to one faulty component...

[Plattus1000]

Part it out. You can get good money for the engine, $4-7k and everything else is just gravy cash. Take all that and go buy another one for less than you'll spend to fix it all. It sounds like you have a football team of gremlins in your rig. (might be one simple electrical thing too though)

Just my opinion but it's not made in jest.

[E34Play]

You know, I was actually thinking the same thing just a bit ago... It has a stoptech BBK all around too. That's certainly an option if this continues

[x5Alpine]

Do not part it out. Too many of these 4.6is' are being parted out for a simple fix. It's a rare car and is becoming more and more difficult to find in decent shape.

[E34Play]

I'd really rather not too, but I swear this thing is cursed. I forgot to mention someone side swiped me in May while I was towing a trailer as well... Minor damage really, but there is a gouge in the rear bumper and a couple small impressions in the quarter panel (PDR fixable). It has been nothing but bad luck with this x5

[SlickGT1]

Sounds like you don't drive it enough. Thus, you voltages are causing issues. Put that bad boy on a trickle charger, try again in morning and give it some propper workout. These cars should be given a workout.

[E34Play]

I had an oem bmw/exide battery fully charged from a trickle that I threw in the x5 this morning before starting it back up, and the noted issues were there after that fact.

I do need to measure voltages, but if that's okay I wonder if there could be an issue with the lock cylinder?

[Joshdub]

I was going to suggest battery as well but I see that may not be the cause. Still check the voltage though. Do you have INPA/DIS or an equivalent program?

FWIW, I just started my X up after about a week and half slumber with numerous wake/sleep cycles from opening doors and such. I forgot to throw a trickle charger on it and when I went to start it I had a slew of warning lights. After charging they went away.

[Trasportador]

OP, see if you can get the car scanned by INPA. Need to see what the stored fault codes actually are by module. I'd say don't part her out unless you know that the issue(s) is/are too many to reasonably overcome. I'd put neither dime nor hour more in it until it's scanned.

[E34Play]

Haven't been able to get the X5 over to anyone with INPA, but a little update:

Started the car yesterday morning and the ABS/DSC/Brake lights were no longer illuminated, so I drove her around for the day and observed the following:

-Headlights will still randomly shut off and back on while driving, mainly passenger but sometimes both.
-Heated seats act funny now and then - turn off automatically, or won't turn on at all.
-Once when I started the car, the window controls didn't work at all, after about a minute of driving they worked fine again.
-A couple times I'll turn the key and nothing will happen for about 5 seconds, and then the car will decide to turn over/start.
-The above happened this morning, along with a few different tones of chimes, accompanied by the lovely "Code" screen on the NAV (Again!)

I did monitor voltage with a new bluetooth scanner. At one point I swear I measured 11.8v but I can't recall if the car was running or not. Otherwise, while idling it will be at 12.5-13v, and under throttle it seems to be a consistent 14.1V. Seems okay?