X5 Died & Was Towed

[Bavarian]

Well today the X5 wasn't cooperating with me.

I've been driving around since 9AM all over the city, and I garaged the X5 at lunch.

I went and took her out at 2PM again cuz I needed to do something. I stopped the car in the driveway, and shut the engine off. I went back to the house to get my sunglasses.

I come back out, and attempt to fire her up, and nothing!

The ABS and Brake lights went on, and other than that I heard this "clicking noise". The engine just wouldn't turn over. I tried again and same thing.

I tried the third time, and now everything electronic in the car was going on and off in sync with this clicking when I held the key for ignition. Everything - the radio display went on and off twice a second, every light in the car dimmed in sync too.

So I turn on the hazard lights and place cones around the X5, cuz I can't fire her up, and she's in the driveway of the townhouse building.

The tow-truck finally arrives after 70 minutes. By then I appear to have lost battery power, cuz the blinkers and everything else no longer worked. The trucker hooked up his battery to the X5, which gave power again. We tried the ignition again, and got the same clicking sound.

X5 is in the dealer right now. Most probable cause is a dead battery according to my rep. I'll know tomorrow morning. I'd like to note that the clock display on the radio reset itself to --:--

So I think the computer of the car may have gone caput as well. I'll let you know tomorrow!

[Dblock2151]

Sorry to hear bro, and yeah, I think it's just the battery.

[pepatrick]

Sounds like a battery to me.

[Juanted]

Sorry to hear about your problem, Bavarian. It does sound, however, like nothing that a new battery can't fix.

Juan

[SANguru]

why didn't they give you a jump?? flashing on and off = battery dead.. not enough juice.

Originally Posted by Kaefer

Sorry to hear about your problem, Bavarian. It does sound, however, like nothing that a new battery can't fix.

Juan

[Bavarian]

Originally Posted by SANguru

why didn't they give you a jump?? flashing on and off = battery dead.. not enough juice.

I don't know why they didn't give me a jump. BMW Canada's roadside assistance program uses tow-trucks from a company called Abrams. They are BMW's official contact here in the province of Ontario, but I think they just don't want liability (trying to fix a BMW).

Once I drove a 1997 Audi A4 1.8T Q. And once something went wrong. The pickup truck that came was from CAA (same as AAA in USA) and that guy jump-started the car. However, in the process he managed to somehow burn the car's computer. The car's tranny skipped and slipped the gears. I brought it to the dealer, and they said the computer was physically fried!

I'm reluctant with jump-starts since then.

[hike737]

It definitely is a battery - happened to me once. Jump start did not work - need to put a new battery in. good luck

[Lawaia]

Does sound like your battery went south. Hope it all turns out ok.

[X5Flyboy]

original battery? how long has it been in there? Anybody else out there know how long the BMW battery lasts? Winter is coming and I'd like to know if 5 years (12/00 birth date) is too long.

[dksavage]

Could also be just a bad connection on the battery terminals. Loosen terminals, twist back and forth, tighten terminals, try starting again. Probably just a stuffed battery though ;-)