Dead battery, won't unlock manually! HELP!!!

[Jack_James]

I'm not able to do that right now. I'm using a bulb socket instead. Not sure if you read my first post or not lol.

[Jleecare]

Here is your answer from the search: http://www.xoutpost.com/bmw-sav-foru...ocked-out.html

[Jack_James]

Thanks! I've read that thread though, it didn't mention manual lock failure or using a bulb socket for supplying power so that's why I started this thread. I just saw multiple references, just no success stories.

I'm just inside warming up right now, removed the side marker and now I'm going to run a jumper cable from the tail pipe over to where I'm working and see what happens lol.

[Jleecare]

Good luck! If you cannot get open. Try the starter. It work for me and easy to tackle since I got small hand to reach up from below. The kits to repair the lock cost about $15 from ebay. Wish you luck!

[Jack_James]

Thanks! I won this one lol

-Jumper cable from the tail pipe to charger for ground (charger cables are only so long)

-Blue wire on the side marker is 12v, probed with thin screw driver with the alligator clip attached to it

Instantly the alarm went off and so did my joy. I had my dad come out and use the fob for the hatch and it opened after about 20 seconds with the charger going!

So now she's on charge for 20 minutes, going to see how it is after that. I'm hoping my battery can survive another season.

Thanks again for the help you guys. Would have never thought to have done this lol, so weird.

[Jleecare]

Glad it works out for you. Walmart have the same battery for $103 bucks. Just bought mine. Everyone is selling for $145+ (autozone, pepboy, Sears). There is no drain hose for this newer battery.

[Qsilver7]

[omodos]

Originally Posted by Jack_James

Thanks! I won this one lol

-Jumper cable from the tail pipe to charger for ground (charger cables are only so long)

-Blue wire on the side marker is 12v, probed with thin screw driver with the alligator clip attached to it

Instantly the alarm went off and so did my joy. I had my dad come out and use the fob for the hatch and it opened after about 20 seconds with the charger going!

So now she's on charge for 20 minutes, going to see how it is after that. I'm hoping my battery can survive another season.

Thanks again for the help you guys. Would have never thought to have done this lol, so weird.

well done fella, would have been great if you managed to include pics also, as for a novice like me I am still trying to to get my head round visualizing what you disconnected and then connected up to a charger to get the X5 open.......so you removed the side market(indicator) lens to get access to the light bulb/socket and hooked charger there? but cool well done, please elaborate as this is a major concern of mine too getting locked out due to dead battery-and bad manual unlock.....and would a 5a charger be too high to use in ths case? thanks

[Jack_James]

I would have taken pics but it was a solo mission in the freezing cold haha.

I'll give you some more detail tho!

First off, if you're not sure how to remove the side marker and bulb, I would do a quick search. The marker just slide forward and pop out in a nut shell lol.

I used your standard jumper cables (10ga 12ft) so I could ground my charger off the tail pipe like everyone has mentioned in the non E53 specific how-to's for this (no pics on their sites either).

I then brought out my charger, put it in front of the side marker I was working on (passengers side in this case), set it for 2 amps on manual (has manual or automatic settings) and left it off until I had my charger cables hooked up.

I connected the charger ground cable to the 10ga 12ft standard jumper cable I had clamped to the tail pipe.

I then used a long, thin flat head screw driver and placed it here (in red) in the bulb socket.



Then I turned the charger on, and connected the chargers positive cable to the screw driver. You'll hear the chargers pitch change if you have a good connection, it was dark so I saw sparks as well.

My alarm instantly went off, it was weak as hell, but still went off haha. I was thrilled.

Turned the charger off, had my dad come out to lift up on the tail gate while pressing the fob button after I turned the charger back on...had to wait about 20 seconds for it to power up enough for the hatch to unlatch, but it did!

Then turn your charger off, install your bulb and side marker, and move the charger to the back of the car where the battery is. I charged it 2 amp manual for 20 minutes, then 10 amp manual for 15 and she fired right up! Typical lights on the dash til you drive, but all is well!

Hope that helped. It's the least I could do since this forum helped me out here lol.

[Jack_James]

OH the picture I have shows wire function as well, the blue and yellow (maybe white?) stripe is 12v, while the brown wire is ground.