Battery Drain on X5 4.4 2001

[turquise1]

That is what I am suspecting exactly because the colder it gets the quicker the battery gets drained. I suspected the GM3 module, reading from other places about how the capacitors die eventually and affect the car going in to sleep. I replaced the capacitors recently but the cold still seems to affect the battery drainage.

The battery is an Interstate brand (3rd one, previous ones eventually died because of constant drainage last two years) (you can always recommend a better one), and I also agree with taking it for charging (and testing) to see if its ok.

There is no block heater on the car.

Thanks for all the help once again..

Ozzie

[turquise1]

It's Megatron Plus MTP-49/H8
720 CCA 900 CA 176 RC, which I believe should be fine..

[bcredliner]

What I meant by specs is in particular Cold cranking amps (CCA).

http://www.autozone.com/batteries-st...eVehicle=false

The colder it gets the more important high CCA becomes.

[turquise1]

Yes, the brand / model I mentioned has 760 Cold Cranking Amps. Its not as high as the brand (Duralast) you posted but similar to BMW OEM numbers.

Are you using the Duralast? Happy with it?

I am certainly considering a higher CCA battery though.

Thanks,

Ozzie

[Crowz]

Originally Posted by turquise1

Almost everything that can drain the system is off. So, no navigation, no phone etc.

The drain is as bad to kill the battery overnight during winter so it is really NOT normal. I did the drain test several times and although the car goes to sleep eventually, it takes a lot longer than 16 mins and it seems to get longer when it is colder. When it goes to sleep the number is at .04 amps so its normal, but it takes a lot longer to get there (system seems to keep resetting itself around 15 mins and restart the sleep process by going to .95 amps first for a minute, then .5 amps for another 15 mins).

I will start pulling fuses next to see if it helps although I did try some without success during last winter.

Thanks for all the help..

Ozzie

I didn't mean it was normal it should go dead just normal that the drain problem you have not killing it in the summer but does in the winter being kind of normal.

The Bluetooth module is a very common culprit in bmw's when it comes to battery drain. As for the nav and such being "off" unless its disabled by being unplugged or the fuse pulled turning it off doesn't effect it draining the battery when the key is off.

Another possible problem is it may be waking up during the night and draining the battery. Those are a nightmare to track down.

[bcredliner]

Originally Posted by turquise1

Yes, the brand / model I mentioned has 760 Cold Cranking Amps. Its not as high as the brand (Duralast) you posted but similar to BMW OEM numbers.

Are you using the Duralast? Happy with it?

I am certainly considering a higher CCA battery though.

Thanks,

Ozzie

Nothing special about a Duralast but I have been using them for many years. I think there are only two battery manufacturers left in US. I don't consider a battery that doesn't at least have a 3 year warranty, preferable 4.

[Crowz]

Some of the duralast batteries are made by deka which is one of the two US battery manufactures left.

I think the duralast gold right now is made by deka.

Deka from my research is the best of the US battery manufactures.

Only one I'm aware of that's better is xs power but those are EXEPENSIVE. I have two in my super duty diesel truck and those set me back almost $700.

[HotWheelsRedline]

I'm going to chime-in here, because I've been dealing w/similar issue since June with my 2005 X5 3.0i. I'll post a reply to my old thread as well, in case any of the replies are helpful to you, turquise1 (Ozzie).

After diagnostics, the hunch was either instrument cluster or original radio/MID as drain culprit, but they were not certain. Subsequently, I've been getting .02 amp readings when X5 is asleep, so I've gone back to the beginning of my problem -- after the AAA battery was installed to replace my dead OEM bat., all this started. I recently swapped it with an Interstate Megatron 85 Plus and now fingers crossed.

On yours, I'd check why it's taking 32 minutes for car to go to sleep. And Crowz may be right -- it's waking up during the night and what a PITA, I'm hoping that's not my issue!

Good luck!

[upallnight]

Originally Posted by Crowz

I didn't mean it was normal it should go dead just normal that the drain problem you have not killing it in the summer but does in the winter being kind of normal.

The Bluetooth module is a very common culprit in bmw's when it comes to battery drain. As for the nav and such being "off" unless its disabled by being unplugged or the fuse pulled turning it off doesn't effect it draining the battery when the key is off.

Another possible problem is it may be waking up during the night and draining the battery. Those are a nightmare to track down.

Old cars are like old people, they need to get up in the middle of the night to go pee. Check underneath the car for wet spot.
LMAO

[AV8R4AA]

Ugh,
It was 95 here today.
Battery working great