High Battery Drain / at my wit's end...

[RLR]

Had the same problem with mine, High battery discharge, but no dead battery when I bought the vehicle. It started after about a month after I got the X. Took it in to the dealer and the problem apparently came from a faulty cigarette lighter drawing power while the vehicle was switched off. They also reprogrammed teh vehicle, so I guess I'll never know what caused the problem in the first place. Never had an issue since.

The reason we suspected the cigarette lighter was because the first time it appeared I had my iPod charger connected to the lighter, and disconnected it. The message reappeared everytime I used the lighter to charge my iPod and forgot the iPod connected in the car when it was parked. Everytime I removed the charger the message went away and didn't come back until I used the lighter again.

I'm just gald the message hasn't come back....

[GPSnV1]

Got this message after 2 weeks ago after my last international trip when the car sat for maybe 7 days. But spouse drove 40+ to pick me up at airport then I drove to office (14 miles) next day.

The message came up while starting the 2008 4.8. I called BMW Assist and the roadside help said head to the dealer. I got there just as they opened at 7 am. My rep said that it was probably because the X sat for a few days but it sat in early Jan and late Nov for international trips and this was 1st alarm.

Hope locking the doors is not the answer as I need to open the doors from time to time while the X is in the garage.

[evolver]

The other day I noticed that my E70 lives its own life when left in the garage. For example, it would occasionally pre-pressurize fuel lines by running a fuel pump for a moment. Who knows what it is doing while sitting still... It would definitely contribute to battery drain.

Having read this thread, I have to mention that I leave the car sitting in the garage unlocked.

[wdc330i]

I've had this problem once in my 2009 X5 3.0. Crossign fingers it won't recur. We also had it chronically in our 5 wagon until the dealer finally changed out the battery and fixed a bad CCC unit.

[M6X]

is it really a problem? perhaps we're supposed to lock the doors when not using the vehicle and the battery drain issue will go away?

[erick_c]

To further throw salt on the wound... ... my SAV sat for two weeks in my parking garage while on was on vacation. Started right up.

Vehicle was locked (of course). Sounds like the car doesn't "shut down" unless locked.

[Hans_ACS]

Locking or unlocking does not make a difference. I drive my car every day exactly 22km's. I always drive from A to B, same time of the day, same settings ON or OFF (heated seats on, radio off for instance). I always lock the car when leaving it. 11 hours later I drive back home. Every now and then the car gives me the high battery drain message. There is absolutely no cause and effect noticable. As long as it starts, it's fine for me. I took it to the dealer in the beginning of my ownership but they are clueless. Since it happens not that often, I decided to classify these events as non critical anymore.

I tried numerous things in the biginning, such as locking/unlocking. It does not make a difference at all. I even tried playing the stereo for HOURS when cleaning it (booting the system every 15 mins to keep it playing). The next day no issues at all.

It's just completely random.

[Thunder22]

I know that this might sound stupid, but when you start the car, hold the start button a little longer than you normally are. When I first got my 08, I was just "flicking" the starter button, and i was getting random error messages. A friend recommended holding the start button a little longer and all of the error messages stopped.

Just a thought....

[GPSnV1]

Got that bloody warning again this morning. Just typical metro driving of late.

I really don't want to lock up every night as I frequently step into the garage to get/place something inside the X so those of you who do this all the time do not get the warning now?

I really don't know what to say about the alarms since both times I could start up and drive like normal. I think my dealer said the instruments are sensitive and just ignore what I'm seeing unless it affects performance.

[rufusdedog]

I have an '07 and have had the discharge warning about 6 times. I've started putting the car on a BMW battery charger about once a month. Typically, if a battery is normally charged, it'll go to a green light in about 10-20 mins. Each time I put it on the X5 it takes about 4-6 hours, charging the whole time. I drive about 30 miles each day, more than enough for a charge. I read somewhere that some newer BMW's were having this problem because of bad or undersized alternators. Anyone know about this?