X5 Christmas lights - A troubleshooting thread.

[BaliDawg]

It’s fine to clear codes.

The BMW Standard Tools set up on e46fanatics is specifically for E46, so other models may not have 100% support.

[Bdc101]

Originally Posted by nebula

Is it safe to clear INPA codes and start from scratch to see what returns or is that bad practice?

Also I am using the INPA setup that you recommended on E46fanatics. I am seeing a few script errors. Is there anything I need to add to my INPA setup E53 friendly?

I have never used INPA, but the "heater control circuit" errors always showed up on my E53 when using BMW Scanner/PA soft, no matter what I did -- and never appeared on my foxwell. It's possible that they are just false alarms entirely.

[nebula]

Originally Posted by Bdc101

I have never used INPA, but the "heater control circuit" errors always showed up on my E53 when using BMW Scanner/PA soft, no matter what I did -- and never appeared on my foxwell. It's possible that they are just false alarms entirely.

Thanks. I cleared codes over the weekend via OBD and INPA and a subset of the OBD codes returned almost immediately. Just looking back on my thread from October of last year it feels like I am back at square one, but now with the addition of the trans. failsafe mode.

I'm going to do some more research, but if anyone has any suggestions please let me know.

[X5chemist]

Which codes came back? Before running or after running?

[andrewwynn]

I've gotten trans failsafe from water getting into the trans connector. (happened three times over six years) also once when I forgot to tighten the nut to the power tap off the alternator! The loose connection was so hot it was glowing when I discovered it. Fortunately I was able to get to a nearby home Depot and found an appropriate nut I think was 8mm coarse thread.

[BimmerBreaker]

It would be nice if you could share the codes read with INPA. INPA also shows other parameters that occurred at the time the code was set (such as battery voltage, rpm, etc)

[nebula]

Originally Posted by X5chemist

Which codes came back? Before running or after running?

P0057, P0037, P0051, P0031, P0600
I've attached the screenshot I got from OBDFusion.
Also the car is still in trans. failsafe mode.

I believe they came back immediately. I've only moved the car from my driveway to parking it on the street.

[nebula]

Originally Posted by andrewwynn

I've gotten trans failsafe from water getting into the trans connector. (happened three times over six years) also once when I forgot to tighten the nut to the power tap off the alternator! The loose connection was so hot it was glowing when I discovered it. Fortunately I was able to get to a nearby home Depot and found an appropriate nut I think was 8mm coarse thread.

Do you have more details on the trans connector? Where is the plug located?

I will also check the alternator and see if anything is loose.

[andrewwynn]

Aft starboard side (back right).

If you lift the right front corner you can roll under car from about the b pillar and it's a big round connector.

There's a design problem that water will come though the cable into the connector. That's why I had to deal with a few times

[X5chemist]

Does the instrument cluster know what gear it's in? Does it indicate when manually shifted?

As for the O2, the heater circuit heats the inside. The sensor could work fine but the heater part fails. The heat time is timed as far as I know. If it takes too long to heat up, a code is set. You can check heater wire voltage. If it's good, I would replace the sensor.