Lit up like an Xmas tree - transfailsafe

[chilliwilli]

Seems as if i'm the newest recipient of the transfailsafe award. I believe moderator: Michelle was the last member to receive this award. On way home form out of state snowboarding trip, the battery light started flickering for a few minutes then stopped just about as fast as it appeared. Moments later the entire dashboard lit up with every possible warning light, including the ever-popular "transfailsafe". Just about every electronic function in the X became possessed. Fortunately for me, i was part of a caravan of friends returning to the city. I pulled over to power down and restart. No start, so a friend jumped my battery and she started...we didn't get very far till the X became sluggish. At this point i pulled her into a safe spot off the hwy and contacted BMW Assist for, well, an assist. Tow company will drop her off in the morning at Park BMW in Maywood NJ.

This seems to be a common problem and could be potentially dangerous while driving

[UCrewX5]

Could be as simple as a bad battery. Fingers crossed that it is not too serious.''

[03MstyleX5]

im pretty sure i have your answer. this is exactly what happened to me last sunday coming home from the new york motorcycle show. i was gonna make a post but with everything going on i had no time. i have a 03 4.6 that just hit 102k. about 15 miles before the transsafe i got the battery light. once all lights light up the foot pedal was dead and once i turned it off, trying to restart it sent all electronics into freak mode. luckily i was only 5 miles from home. So i had it taken to the dealer for a diagnostics. what they came up with was no egs faults stored but various low voltage faults. trans program may have been set by low voltage. first thought was alternator. they offered a bosch rebuilt one with a 2 year for 1200!! sounded a little crazy to me so i had one overnighted to the dealer for them to install. i found someone in florida with a bosch rebuilt one with a 1 year for 400 plus a 160 core charge. dealership charged 383 to install and 121 for the diagnostics. it runs perfect now. i was bummin big time though when i saw the transsafe come up. so overall it was around a grand to fix. oh well. good luck with your situation. really sounds like an alternator to me though.

[Weasel]

I agree, definitely alternator related not transmission. Voltage issues cause electrical havoc with BMW's due to the level of highly integrated electronics. Just expect a high price on that beast of a water cooled 180 amp alternator. Maybe get with 03MstyleX5 on where he got his replacement from.

I just realized all 3 of us have 03 4.6is, and I believe all black on black as well (with the exception of Ucrew who has the 3.0i)

[chilliwilli]

Weasel!!! just they guy i was hoping would respond. It sure is assuring to have a BMW tech on-board... ... So these issues seem common on high mileage X5's, at least from what i've researched so far, i'm at 60k and haven't read any experiences yet on this happening to X's with such mileage (is 60k considered high mileage?)

Thanks for the feedback UCrewX5. 03MstyleX5, good thing you were close to home when this happened. It really bites to see the X in such a helpless state, being towed away. I usually hit the slopes in your area at Bear Creek and sometimes stay at the Four Points across the street from Allentown Airport. Perhaps we'll get a chance to meet at a future meet.

I was really hoping to hold out for year or two before pulling the trigger for the next performance X5. If it turns out to be more serious than expected, i may consider upgrading to a low-mileage 4.8is in the meantime. Either way, will provide an update for those interested.

[Michelle]

I'm sad to see you're the newest member of this club. But I'm sure you're glad to know that the warning is not strictly for a failed tranny. I was terrified until I read the threads!

chilliwilli and keep us updated!

[X5Dawg]

YOU have been dethroned!!!! Mine lit up this morning on the way to the shop!! But mine is definitely a tranny and/ or torque converter issue because it was driving like crap!!! I only had the trans failsafe light.

Tranny was rebuilt last year, so all repairs should be under warranty.

[mrbmwx5]

Originally Posted by X5Dawg

YOU have been dethroned!!!! Mine lit up this morning on the way to the shop!! But mine is definitely a tranny and/ or torque converter issue because it was driving like crap!!! I only had the trans failsafe light.

Tranny was rebuilt last year, so all repairs should be under warranty.

That is why you called " Damn Thing"

[X5Dawg]

Originally Posted by mrbmwx5

That is why you called " Damn Thing"

[Mister2]

Hopefully it's just the alternator. The battery will flicker if it has loose connection or loses juice while you are driving. It happened to my friend's 740. Keep us updated.