Common symptom of a dying Battery/Alternator for an E53 X5

[JimG]

Around 90K my battery failed - car just would not start!

Around 95K My alternator went - car ran unevenly and would start but die!

BMW alternator at local Indie was around $600 including labor.

[Tymatk]

Originally Posted by mylifeasapc

I must have had the stranger symptoms with my dead battery:
All of which occurred with the engine running or not

Mine is the same now.

[Phr3d]

Originally Posted by TwinsPoppa

/snip ...definitely replace it.

Then have go have your alternator checked out. You don't want to wait too long resolving your problem(s) when it comes to low voltage - X no likey likey. If that happens, your pocket won't like it either.

(I AGREE smiley here)


Mine went from two-turn start in deep sub-freezing temps to dead in 12 hours, with no easy explanation. I have the considerable advantage of being able to afford it, so I didn't hesitate to replace and not a problem since.

Wonky electronics is beginning to sound like a sure sign that the Xer has eaten your battery, time to get a new one, like tires.

[Tymatk]

I changed the battery today.

Test the old one on the Multimeter and it reads fine, 12,5 . Forgot to test it on the car while its running.

Test the new one on the Mulitmeter and it read 12.65, not much different here. Test it while the car is running and it read around 13,9.

Since new battery went in, lost all FM stations yet TV is ok. Reset radio station but lost the time and date.

All the lights works fine now but who know .... except for my steering wheel lights (lights on the buttons), anyone know how can i get them back?

All this stuff happened when i coded my LCM with Navcoder. I'm not sure whether its the shit happens at the same time or not but yeah, all my lights gone wacko after i coded the LCM.
Load the OLD command back and lights work better but still, every now and then they go crazy again so i'm not sure if its the program itself or not but i can't blame anything since its an old car anyway.

Here is the fault codes that i've got

Summary of stored Fault Codes:
Module Qty Fault Codes
BMBT 2 0x031F 0x0114
RAD 1 0x0082
--------------------------------------------------
Detailed fault code info
Module Nbr Code Freq Description
BMBT 1 0x031F 31 Radio status telegram timeout
BMBT 2 0x0114 20 Watchdog reset
RAD 1 0x0082 130 Unknown

[Tymatk]

How do i check the ground trap?

RealOEM.com * BMW E53 X5 4.4i Cylinder head cover

I sometime loose all indicators, this include hazzard light. Can i check the ground trap without the need of removing the engine cover?