New to forum, serious headache with my new (to me) X5

[bcredliner]

Yes, if the wire was shorting out because of where it was.

[TerminatorX5]

the system voltage should not reach 16V - this will kill the car... 15V from alt - is bad but survivable... 14.5V is ok, 14.1V is better... your alt is doing fine so far (not counting the whine)...

the self level warning, the trifeca lights - they can come on for a spike and the spike will be logged in the error memory (and shadow memory) of affected modules, along with the coolant temp, the RPMs and the car's speed at the time of the error...

when you stomp on the gas, you create hydraulic-pneumatic-mechanical stress on the system along with electrical stress... the regulator within alternator is supposed to hold the fort and keep steady 13.5-14V flowing with increased amperage demand (to allow this, the alternator is producing AC voltage 2-3 times the RMS of the DC voltage desired, so when the amp load increases, the alternator can keep up and hold the DC voltage steady). However, when you stopm on the gas, your coils, your spark plugs go into overdrive and the cycle of the charge/discharge shortens and this alone may create a short within the coils, that otherwise is not present under normal driving conditions... such shorts can wreck a havoc on the car's electrical system, cause loss of power (you are merging on a ramp, small window opens, you floor it, and the car... undercuts the power, and moves slower than a proverbial Yugo)...

In your particular situation, i would highly recommend investing into the diagnostic software, such GT1, INPA - check many other threads about it... with that software you will be able to read the shadow memory, and monitor the engine live, as you drive around... this will allow you to pinpoint the issue and rectify it...

[bcredliner]

This is the software source many here purchased from: BMW USB OBD Diagnostic Cable Inpa Ediabas Dis SSS GT1 Easy Self Installer | eBay

Be sure to read computer requirements to run the suite if you decide to purchase.

There are also apps that you can run wirelessly on the go. They require the purchase of a wireless connector to the X.

[Brandon002]

Thanks for the info, I ordered the diagnostics stuff off ebay a few days ago. Waiting for it to arrive and then I'll have a deeper look into things.

In the meantime the reman alternator has not made a sound, for almost 300 miles now I have had no warning lights and steady voltage between 13.6-13.9 with the occasional reading of 14.1.

[1MEAN4.8IS]

sounds like you may have a slight current draw as well, overnight shouldn't drop below 12 if everything off reads at 12.6 v