Home Forums Articles How To's FAQ Register
Go Back   Xoutpost.com > BMW SAV Forums > X5 (E53) Forum
Arnott
User Name
Password
Member List Premier Membership Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read

Xoutpost server transfer and maintenance is occurring....
Xoutpost is currently undergoing a planned server migration.... stay tuned for new developments.... sincerely, the management


Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
  #11  
Old 01-09-2019, 02:12 PM
Overboost's Avatar
Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Huntersville, NC
Posts: 3,266
Overboost is on a distinguished road
Quote:
Originally Posted by Qsilver7 View Post
There is another way to "test" the ignition switch. If you start the car, turn on some electrical consumers (like the radio and headlights)...then reach over and lower the passenger sun visor...then open the mirror cover.

If odd electrical gremlins occur when you slide the mirror cover open...there's a 99% chance that the issue is the electronic ignition switch.

Never heard of this before. Great info as always Qsilver7. Stored in memory banks...
Reply With Quote

Sponsored Links

  #12  
Old 01-09-2019, 02:54 PM
Crowz's Avatar
Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: Alabama
Posts: 2,483
Crowz will become famous soon enough
Never dreamed the sun visor would do that when it was messing up but considering how crazy the cars act when the switch starts to fail it doesn't surprise me
__________________
Just BMW's - All cars and trucks was two pages long
1994 318is
1997 528i
2000 323i
2001 X5 3.0 auto
2005 X5 3.0 auto
2011 535xi auto
2013 X5 xdrive35 Turbo
More are at my website

Aftermarket E53 Radio Install
Reply With Quote
  #13  
Old 01-10-2019, 11:46 AM
Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Spain
Posts: 22
w3it is on a distinguished road
Quote:
Originally Posted by Qsilver7 View Post
Check out some of these videos below and see if they are similar to what you're experiencing...do the visor test to see if you can get the gremlins to replicate themselves.




https://youtu.be/T7gMUrAvcIE

https://youtu.be/YYqI6sCKVD8

https://youtu.be/nTwNTurMKpY

https://youtu.be/LtJGoOakY7k
Brilliant! Says it all really

Sadly it had no effect on my issue. I unplugged the battery again in the hope (false) that it might go away...

Thanks for the tip though. Appreciated!
__________________
2003 E53 X5 4.4 iA Sport M62 Europe (7/03 build date) Black Saphire Metallic
1977 Type 2 VW Westfalia Helsinki 2 Litre Beige and White
Reply With Quote
  #14  
Old 01-10-2019, 11:58 AM
Crowz's Avatar
Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: Alabama
Posts: 2,483
Crowz will become famous soon enough
Ok the battery part didn't work what about the sun visor test?
__________________
Just BMW's - All cars and trucks was two pages long
1994 318is
1997 528i
2000 323i
2001 X5 3.0 auto
2005 X5 3.0 auto
2011 535xi auto
2013 X5 xdrive35 Turbo
More are at my website

Aftermarket E53 Radio Install
Reply With Quote
  #15  
Old 01-10-2019, 12:23 PM
bcredliner's Avatar
Premier Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Little Elm,Texas. (40 minutes North of Dallas)
Posts: 8,105
bcredliner is on a distinguished road
Quote:
Originally Posted by Qsilver7 View Post
There is another way to "test" the ignition switch. If you start the car, turn on some electrical consumers (like the radio and headlights)...then reach over and lower the passenger sun visor...then open the mirror cover.

If odd electrical gremlins occur when you slide the mirror cover open...there's a 99% chance that the issue is the electronic ignition switch.

There's multiple videos on youtube that show the odd electrical gremlins that can occur if you have a failing ignition switch and you do the sun visor test.



Check out some of these videos below and see if they are similar to what you're experiencing...do the visor test to see if you can get the gremlins to replicate themselves.




https://youtu.be/T7gMUrAvcIE

https://youtu.be/YYqI6sCKVD8

https://youtu.be/nTwNTurMKpY

https://youtu.be/LtJGoOakY7k
I agree to start with eliminating the ignition switch as the culprit. There are plastic 'ramps' that close contacts that wear out. If it is the switch it may get to the point that it won't start, the dash will go black and won't even get that miserable click sound.
__________________
X5 4.6 2002 Black Sap, Black interior. 2013 X5M Melbourne Red, Bamboo interior
Dallas
Reply With Quote
  #16  
Old 01-10-2019, 03:38 PM
Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Spain
Posts: 22
w3it is on a distinguished road
Quote:
Originally Posted by bcredliner View Post
I agree to start with eliminating the ignition switch as the culprit. There are plastic 'ramps' that close contacts that wear out. If it is the switch it may get to the point that it won't start, the dash will go black and won't even get that miserable click sound.
The sun visor did not have any effect.

There have been occasions where turning the key did nothing. Usual signs of life from the dash but no engine start. I would move the gear stick to neutral to roll forward a bit and then it would start. I put that down to the starter motor though. Could that be a sign of the ignition switch?

Maybe its worth replacing anyway.
__________________
2003 E53 X5 4.4 iA Sport M62 Europe (7/03 build date) Black Saphire Metallic
1977 Type 2 VW Westfalia Helsinki 2 Litre Beige and White
Reply With Quote
  #17  
Old 01-10-2019, 04:38 PM
Qsilver7's Avatar
Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Indiana, USA
Posts: 3,516
Qsilver7 is on a distinguished road
I would hate for you to spend money on a new iggy switch and it didn't solve the issue. But again, its the odd electrical (seemingly unrelated) isssues that you're having that seem to be a common iggy switch failure.


The e53 (unlike it's e38 & e39 generational cousins) uses the K-bus for the PM-SM (this controls the driver's seat and steering wheel column)...whereas the 5 & 7 series communicates these commands over the P-bus. I wonder if that may be the reason the e53's sun visor test doesn't cause these issues to replicate themselves.



There are lots more videos on youtube though...that show brake lights not turning off and false check control warnings etc.


Some have even cleaned their ignition switches to fix the issue, too...which saves the cost of purchasing a new one.



{e53 PM-SM & K-bus communication}







{e38 & e39 PM-SM & P-bus communication}


__________________
Become a BMW CCA member! Click HERE to join and feel free to use my BMW CCA member #191509 as a referral.
  • 2015 f06 650ix GC (Moonstone exterior/Cohiba brown Merino Leather interior)
  • 2014 f15 X5 50i (Space Gray exterior/Mocha Nappa Leather interior)
Reply With Quote
  #18  
Old 01-10-2019, 05:33 PM
Crowz's Avatar
Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: Alabama
Posts: 2,483
Crowz will become famous soon enough
Mine did all kinds of crazy stuff when the ignition switch was going out. Its one of those if you haven't changed it in years of owning or you don't know how long its been its worth changing it.

It was $80 I think and brings great piece of mind. It can leave you stranded if it goes out all the way.
__________________
Just BMW's - All cars and trucks was two pages long
1994 318is
1997 528i
2000 323i
2001 X5 3.0 auto
2005 X5 3.0 auto
2011 535xi auto
2013 X5 xdrive35 Turbo
More are at my website

Aftermarket E53 Radio Install
Reply With Quote
  #19  
Old 01-10-2019, 05:35 PM
Overboost's Avatar
Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Huntersville, NC
Posts: 3,266
Overboost is on a distinguished road
Reply With Quote
  #20  
Old 01-10-2019, 05:42 PM
bcredliner's Avatar
Premier Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Little Elm,Texas. (40 minutes North of Dallas)
Posts: 8,105
bcredliner is on a distinguished road
Quote:
Originally Posted by w3it View Post
The sun visor did not have any effect.

There have been occasions where turning the key did nothing. Usual signs of life from the dash but no engine start. I would move the gear stick to neutral to roll forward a bit and then it would start. I put that down to the starter motor though. Could that be a sign of the ignition switch?

Maybe its worth replacing anyway.
I have had to replace a bad ignition switch where the sun visor test did nothing. As mentioned when it does work it is 99% of the time a bad switch. But if it doesn't the switch can still be bad. I wouldn't want you to buy an ignition switch and that not be the problem either but symptoms match up to a bad switch.

As far as worth replacing-- if your X5 has in excess of 100,000 miles on the original switch you can call it PM.
__________________
X5 4.6 2002 Black Sap, Black interior. 2013 X5M Melbourne Red, Bamboo interior
Dallas
Reply With Quote
Reply

Bookmarks

Tags
brake lights, brake warning, dash indicator lights

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On





All times are GMT -4. The time now is 02:27 PM.
vBulletin, Copyright 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd. SEO by vBSEO 3.6.0
© 2017 Xoutpost.com. All rights reserved. Xoutpost.com is a private enthusiast site not associated with BMW AG.
The BMW name, marks, M stripe logo, and Roundel logo as well as X3, X5 and X6 designations used in the pages of this Web Site are the property of BMW AG.
This web site is not sponsored or affiliated in any way with BMW AG or any of its subsidiaries.