Strange window operation

[FunfDreisig]

Originally Posted by NHX5

Windows (all of them) and moonroof in my X-5 opened by themselves this morning..as if the key fob button had been held in, but the keys were on the counter and no one was touching them. ...
Any ideas?...

Do you have cats?

FWIW our cats have done some interesting things with various 'remotes' over the years. And they always look so innocent, even when caught in the act

Funf Dreisig

[Weasel]

Originally Posted by michaelhinrichsen

I have an E53 that occassionally does this. Weasel, please elaborate on how to nail this one down. Mine also opens the rear hatch, then the light runs the battery down. Sometime the windows are all open completely and sometimes they are just cracked open a bit.

Does it only happen under certain conditions, or just randomly... And unfortunately with some intermittent problems it is all but impossible to nail down the cause, as it can't easily be replicated and there wouldn't usually be any faults stored in anything relating to it. It takes looking at the circuit/system and figuring out the possibilities on what can cause it, then making an educated guess based on the knowledge of that system. I can say that for this not common problem it usually does end up being the drivers door latch, but there is no way to know without changing it unfortunately.

[michaelhinrichsen]

This is random and unreproducible, unfortunately. I'll try starting with the driver's door, since it is the most used. Is it possible to upgrade hardware to newer or improved?

[23*]

I was looking at getting a new X5, but this problem with the windows opening on their own has me very worried. I did some research and found that it has also happened with the current 5-series.

When Edmunds had an X5 for a long term test they experienced the same "problem." You can read their post about it here.

I guess if you only experience this once then you could say it's because the keys were in your pocket and the button was accidentally held. But if you experience it more than once it could be a problem with water ingress.

I did a search on Google and found a BMW technician respond to this problem. He said a customer brought a 5-series with this same problem and after several days the BMW technician concluded that the problem was from water ingress in both of the front door lock actuators. The water would cause the lock actuators to have a mind of their own causing the windows to self-open.

[Weasel]

Aren't these E70s under warranty? If so just bring it in and enjoy the loaner car while they work on it...