Getting to bottom of Battery drain...

[recklessspyder]

As I've been told....there is a normal buzzing behind the dash...but I think you you're year would be prone to an FSR issue. It's a cheap fix to test....and about an hour job.
I actually have an extra FSR as mine was already the newer version....but I wouldn't want to sell you a used one. I got it on ebay for around $50

[butundo]

My vehicle is doing the same thing, dead battery. FSR is definitely bad. The damn blower is running none stop, even with the key out. Once the FSR is replaced, I'm sure that the issue will be fixed.

[Dygital]

Fellow XOutposters, I have an 05 X5, and have had the same problem of intermittent battery drain, and have taken it to an indy shop. Guy at the shop tells me it's my LCD screen. I can agree that that's the culprit since my LCD screen has gone visibly faded for a few weeks about a month ago, then went back to normal. Come to think of it, that's when parasitic drains began. I will order a replacement screen from Eurotech in China and hope that this will resolve it - will report back.

By the way, can someone point me to a write up on how to replace the LCD screen?

[jst2878]

Do you have any led bulbs on the x? Those will draw

[Naz24]

Originally Posted by jst2878

Do you have any led bulbs on the x? Those will draw

I"m having the same problem...

LED angel eye bulbs shouldnt effect this.. as that they are only on when my car is on..


I'm going to go check if sleep mode is working. otherwise i'm stumped!

Any real solutions here? i dont want to start pulling fuses

[Dygital]

Originally Posted by Naz24

I"m having the same problem...

LED angel eye bulbs shouldnt effect this.. as that they are only on when my car is on..


I'm going to go check if sleep mode is working. otherwise i'm stumped!

Any real solutions here? i dont want to start pulling fuses

Nazario, I really didn't know where to look, and to invest in replacing Final Stage Resistor ($100+) when otherwise I don't have any symptoms that are associated with a bad FSR was not a sound option for me. So really, I am afraid, the only viable option is hooking it up to a computer which check for source of drain - local BMW dealership quoted $120, or pulling fuses. Also, you've got PM.

[RMak]

I'm on the same boat as you guys. My X5 wouldn't crank one day, so I bought a new battery and everything went well. A few days later, it wouldn't crank again (jump started it, she fired up). All the lights, radio nav was still working fine. Brought it to my indy shop, they couldn't find anything and all they did was just tighten up the battery terminals. For 1 week everything went fine. Then all of a sudden on my driveway, x5 wouldn't crank (even when trying to jump it). This time I had the x5 towed to my indy shop still not being able to crank. I mentioned the fsr, navigation, integrated power supply module, everything that I can think of that will drain the battery. He spent a whole day diagnosing it going through every module and hooked it up to a gt1 and they said there was a problem with my generator communicator (alternator). I had an alternator fail before and all my electronics would go haywire. This time though, my x5 showed no symptoms other than not cranking up. At times the Alternator would communicate and at times it wouldn't. The voltage on the x5 would fluctuate up and down.

So he showed me the alternator that was previously on the x5 and it was $hit. No serial numbers and you couldn't even tell how many amps cause it was "blacked" out. So he got a brand new Valeo alternator (showed me box, serial numbers... etc) from bmw. Also he got me a new battery from bmw (he only believes in oem) because my pep boys one got messed up from the wear and tear of the bad alternator. I will though have to register both the alternator and battery for I guess warranty concerns. I will get my x5 back monday.

[diyanich]

Guys,If I don't open my moonroof for a substantial amount of time my battery get's weaker and weaker over 2 weeks of short distance drives,BUT as soon as I start using the roof,either way open,or full or just a back part lifted for ventilation,my battery gets an amazingly fast and strong charge.It's been like that for over 2 years now.
I have some rattles from the dome light area and planning to have a look at the inside as soon as weather permits to do so.We are still getting some snow storms here in Maritimes in Canada.
That is my experience,and I was trying to isolate it for a while.
I've done few draw tests and had good margins results,but the slow draw was always there and more since I drive short distances.
I pulled telephone module fuse off..no difference.
I am gonna try to remove the moon roof fuse today,I was thinking to do it for a while.but never got a will to check out which fuse it was

[jimbeattie]

Thank heavens for this forum and this post.
My old battery drained and I replaced it and it too drained. I noticed the blower running softly when I took out the key. Went back 20 minutes later, the car was asleep but the fan was still running. I took out the fan fuse (#60) and of course it stopped.
So is this the FSR or is there further diagnostic work to be done. My X5 is a 2000 and this battery problem has been driving me nuts. Is the FSR something I can replace myself or should I mortgage the house and take it to a dealer, maybe an independent?

Thanks for any help.

[diyanich]

Originally Posted by jimbeattie

Thank heavens for this forum and this post.
My old battery drained and I replaced it and it too drained. I noticed the blower running softly when I took out the key. Went back 20 minutes later, the car was asleep but the fan was still running. I took out the fan fuse (#60) and of course it stopped.
So is this the FSR or is there further diagnostic work to be done. My X5 is a 2000 and this battery problem has been driving me nuts. Is the FSR something I can replace myself or should I mortgage the house and take it to a dealer, maybe an independent?

Thanks for any help.

Change it yourself,but buy a good replacement part,eBay is flooded with $40 bucks replacements,I've got one of those and it's not holding the steady speed up down up down...pretty annoying I should say.
DIY is available here or online ,search for it,also the FRS is located on the passenger side under the heater core covered by the plastic strip ,if it's the Left hand drive model.
Good luck