Electrical problems

[SirHiss]

Hello E53 lovers!

Long time lurker, first time poster here.

I bought my 2006 3.0D Sport with 84k on it back in March 2020 and have been loving it, until 2 weeks ago when it started having some electrical problems! I wonder if anyone can help me figure out what is going on?

So, a timeline of the symptoms:

First I noticed my gauge cluster lights flickering. Turning the brightness down made it far more obvious. At the same time i also noticed the brake lights stayed on after I have left the car and locked it! Very strange! To get them to turn off took a few on/off turns of the ignition.

A few days later I noticed my indicators kinda skipping a beat, if that makes sense. Or a delay when activating them. That night the battery died overnight. I charged it back up with my ctek and all was good again (for 2 days) (I should note that I barely drive the thing these days).

A couple of days later and the indicators stopped lighting up on the dash all together, along with, as I discovered later, the high beam icon. Around this time, I also noticed that whenever I turned the ignition on, the headlights would come on regardless of where the switch was. Turning the headlight switch would return it to normal functionality. Battery then died again overnight. Charged up again, lasted a couple more days.

After a lot of forum research I took a punt at replacing the ignition switch and gave it a brand new battery. It did not fix the problem.

So we come to today. Last night I woke up at 4am to my car alarm dying and waking up the neighborhood! I tried to put my ctek on it but it would not charge it. It tripped out.

I am pretty sure there is a problem with the LCM due to all the light problems but I have no idea what is draining the battery!

Help me, obi wan

[Overboost]

Sure sounds like the LCM. Get under there and pull it out and see if you see any burned areas on the housing. I've seen some pretty burnt ones on here before. It is located in the right side footwell.

[Happy]

Originally Posted by Overboost

Sure sounds like the LCM. Get under there and pull it out and see if you see any burned areas on the housing. I've seen some pretty burnt ones on here before. It is located in the right side footwell.

Dang.. I hope mine never does that!

[Overboost]

Originally Posted by Happy

Dang.. I hope mine never does that!

I think this member has this happen a little over 2 years ago. Here was his post.
https://xoutpost.com/bmw-sav-forums/...lly-means.html

[SirHiss]

Thanks for the info, Overboost!


Do you know if the LCM is still in the right side footwell in a right hand drive vehicle?


I've read that there are many different models of LCM, do I need to match what I have exactly?


I'm quite concerned about the tamper dot and mileage. What genius at BMW decided to link that information to a light control unit?!

[Overboost]

Originally Posted by SirHiss

Thanks for the info, Overboost!


Do you know if the LCM is still in the right side footwell in a right hand drive vehicle?


I've read that there are many different models of LCM, do I need to match what I have exactly?


I'm quite concerned about the tamper dot and mileage. What genius at BMW decided to link that information to a light control unit?!

I couldn't verify the same location for the right hand drive E53 but it is there on a right hand drive E70 so I would guess it is there on the E53.

The tamper dot is easy. You will need PA Soft 1.4 and follow the directions attached in a pdf file.

However, let's make sure your LCM is bad first.

[wpoll]

What's the alternator output looking like when the car is running?

And the LCM (module A3) is on the left side, below the A-pillar, on our RHD cars. :-)

[SirHiss]

Ahh, Mr. wpoll to the rescue! A fellow RHD diesel owner! I have found your forum posts most useful over the past year! Thank you for your service, good sir!


I'll rip out the LCM and have a look then!

[SirHiss]

Oh, and the alternator seems to be working fine. 14v when running.

[wpoll]

Got a sunroof...?

If so, then yeah, check that LCM pronto! There was a local E53 catch fire a couple of years back. Not sure what caused it, but it started under the dash somewhere Might have been the recently install aftermarket HU but seeing how the LCM can meltdown, all bets are off...