X5 3.0D engine cut out

[Kjl001]

Hi all

Could anyone shed any light on the following problem:

I was driving along yesterday after covering about 200 miles the engine just cut out. When I pulled over anf tried to restart the engine nothing it will not even crank, the battery is fine and I have power to the cabin radio etc.

I have checked all the fuses and there are no issues, the dashboard warning lights also seem to be behaving strange as they do not illuminate when the key is turned I only get the odemeter and and gear indication lights.

[TerminatorX5]

you mentioned that the battery is ok, but sometimes it has enough juice to power some things and not enough power to crank... I would say this is first point of troubleshooting - if topping off battery doesn't help, then we move on to next step...

[omodos]

not gonna be much help, my 3.0d hasnt had the issue yet , but wifes 318i did, and it was the ignition coils...

[Doug TT]

Had exactly the same issue a year or ago with my x5 3.0D also. Had to have it towed to BMW, turned out to be a fully ignition switch. Hope this helps.

Cheers,

Doug

[powers1]

It only takes a few volts to illuminate the dashboard and interior lights.but you need 10 volts+ to even turn over the engine,let alone start it!
Your battery doesnt have enough juice, cause it wont turn over the engine!
Because you were driving when it cut out ,it could be your alternator not charging the battery.
Check that wires on the alternator are ok....otherwise its a faulty alternator.

[Kjl001]

Hi all

Problem resolved, got the car towed to a local BMW main dealer. They diagnosed the fault as a faulty ignition switch as per Dougs car which they changed, have just driven the car home for 300 miles and the car is fine now. Cost all in including the extortionate DME fault diagnosis was £308. Expensive but cheaper than a DME failure and at least they found and cured the fault first time