Dead Battery

[garfield81]

So I try to start my X and all I see it a airbag sign lit on the dash and nothing else. No crank no light no nothing. Checked the voltage on the battery it was somewhere below 5V. Then I jump start it with my other car and take the X for a ride. Everything seems to working fine. Come back turn the X off and check the battery voltage it was above 12V. So looks like my alternator is doing it's job.

The question is I have CPO remaining and also have maintenance plan from BMW so does BMW cover the battery or should I go to Costco and pick up a new battery?

Or do I take the cheap route and fill the old battery with mineral water (Really don't know how mineral water helps in batteries?)

[Yii]

I don't believe CPO covers batteries but a new one will only cost you about 100. Really dont recommend opening batteries to fill with mineral oil. The acid in there is just not worth the risk, and its only 100 bux which should last you for another 5 years or so.

[haigha]

It's a good idea to check whether it's the battery or something draining the battery. For me, it was the dreaded FSR for the second time (search the site if you don't know what this is). My "lightly-used" battery was probably still good after 7 3/4 years.

[JCL]

Firstly, batteries are never filled with mineral water, let alone mineral oil. They are filled with distilled water, which takes the minerals out, unless you have very soft water locally, in which case you can use tap water. Neither is required, though, if the battery electrolyte level is where it should be.

Call your dealer and ask if your plan covers the battery. No reason not to let them do it if it does. They would check your charging system at the same time.

Also, you may have something draining the battery. Dealers do a current draw test to make sure the vehicle is going to sleep. If something is preventing it from doing so, whether it is the FSR or something else, you will continue to get flat batteries, even if you replace it.

[garfield81]

Thanks for all your replies. Called the dealer and they said CPO doesn't cover battery and according to him in our hot weather I am doing good if the battery last 3 years which is my case.

Anyways so I picked up a battery from battery plus (its one made by exide although not the cheapest out of auto zone/checker/pep boys) and to my excitement when I pulled the old Orignial BMW battery out it was made by exide too.

The replacement went ok except for a two things
1.) there was a long screw with a plate holding the battery down which was a pain to loosen out. After replacing the battery as I was tightening that screw it broke half ways with half still left in. So for now I put together everything else since I figured the triangle plate above the battery will hold the battery down. So three questions. How do I remove the broken screw left in and where do I get a replacement from and what is it called.

2.) after replacing the battery the radio and other electronics worked so that was a relief considering all the posts here that mention some hinge weird happens to the electronics. Then I crank the engine to start it up but it wouldn't start up. Tried at least 3 times with 5 sec cranks. Then I started playing with the radio and kept asking for the time. I enter the time/date and try to crank it one last time before giving up and voila it starts up. Just thought mentioning this as it might help someone.

Thanks

[Kev's X5]

Im on my 3rd battery.

If it was replaced under 4/50 you might get it pro-rated ( some credit) towards the replacement. If its the orginal, no luck under cpo.

[PersonaNonGrata]

Originally Posted by garfield81

Thanks for all your replies. Called the dealer and they said CPO doesn't cover battery and according to him in our hot weather I am doing good if the battery last 3 years which is my case.

Anyways so I picked up a battery from battery plus (its one made by exide although not the cheapest out of auto zone/checker/pep boys) and to my excitement when I pulled the old Orignial BMW battery out it was made by exide too.

The replacement went ok except for a two things
1.) there was a long screw with a plate holding the battery down which was a pain to loosen out. After replacing the battery as I was tightening that screw it broke half ways with half still left in. So for now I put together everything else since I figured the triangle plate above the battery will hold the battery down. So three questions. How do I remove the broken screw left in and where do I get a replacement from and what is it called.

2.) after replacing the battery the radio and other electronics worked so that was a relief considering all the posts here that mention some hinge weird happens to the electronics. Then I crank the engine to start it up but it wouldn't start up. Tried at least 3 times with 5 sec cranks. Then I started playing with the radio and kept asking for the time. I enter the time/date and try to crank it one last time before giving up and voila it starts up. Just thought mentioning this as it might help someone.

Thanks

I'm in a desert too and like your weather in LV, the heat kills batteries faster. 3-4 years is about right. You probably got the exact battery as OEM including the white case and folding handles. There are only a few battery manufacturers out there that in turn make them for OEM. I've had good luck with Autozone batteries, which are made by Johnson Controls.

[faranks]

I've had very good luck with Interstate batteries, especially since I go directly to a distributor outlet where you can get cheap "blemishes" seconds. I had the FSR problem in my X and went through 3 batteries, each time they swapped out my abused battery, no question, no charge.

Do yourself a favor though and check some simple things: make sure your fan blower is not running even after you turn off the key (FSR prob). Also check to make sure all your courtesy lights turn off when the doors are closed. The ones in the liftgate in my X melted and caused a direct short, due to a faulty switch in the latch mechanism keeping them on all the time. Good luck

[phong13]

I tried to remove my battery today and the hold down screw broke off. Anyone have an idea on how I would be able to remove the battery now?

Originally Posted by garfield81

Thanks for all your replies. Called the dealer and they said CPO doesn't cover battery and according to him in our hot weather I am doing good if the battery last 3 years which is my case.

Anyways so I picked up a battery from battery plus (its one made by exide although not the cheapest out of auto zone/checker/pep boys) and to my excitement when I pulled the old Orignial BMW battery out it was made by exide too.

The replacement went ok except for a two things
1.) there was a long screw with a plate holding the battery down which was a pain to loosen out. After replacing the battery as I was tightening that screw it broke half ways with half still left in. So for now I put together everything else since I figured the triangle plate above the battery will hold the battery down. So three questions. How do I remove the broken screw left in and where do I get a replacement from and what is it called.

2.) after replacing the battery the radio and other electronics worked so that was a relief considering all the posts here that mention some hinge weird happens to the electronics. Then I crank the engine to start it up but it wouldn't start up. Tried at least 3 times with 5 sec cranks. Then I started playing with the radio and kept asking for the time. I enter the time/date and try to crank it one last time before giving up and voila it starts up. Just thought mentioning this as it might help someone.

Thanks

[David.X5]

For those with broken hold down screws - start by spraying the threaded part with good penetrating oil - Kroil is better, or PB blaster. Do that several times over a couple of days. Then you have to improvise given the space you have. You might be able to tighten a drill chuck onto the broken piece. Or use a screw extractor or nut extractor. They making needle nose shaped vice grips - that might fit.

I would disconnect the battery cable before doing any of this to reduce the danger. Do what you can to protect the battery from power tools (like slip a piece of sheet metal alongside the battery to protect it.