E70 Major Electrical Fault - Has anyone experienced this ?

[FunfDreisig]

Originally Posted by nynd

We should simply take a common voltmeter and measure:....

FWIW I have already begun spot checking the voltage of our brand new X5 35d at rest, just to get a baseline on how low the voltage goes after sitting over night, etc.

After reading quite a bit about this issue, I'm guessing that it is not usually an 'event' that triggers these failures, but rather a slow decline in the overall health of the electrical system due to:

a - poor charging (weak alternator theory)
b - inadequate capacity (weak battery theory)
c - poor system design (weak engineering theory)
d - the occasional component failure (weak components theory)
e - too high a demand (weak user theory -- favored by dealers)
f - some combination of the above

Note: in all but d (a failed component) the overall health of the electrical system can probably be monitored/judged by its voltage at rest. And more importantly, most of these failures can probably be predicted with nothing more sophisticated than a volt meter.

Funf Dreisig

[70Sixter]

Originally Posted by Penguin

The owner's manual says you can manually release the rear hatch from the inside without battery power using a screwdriver (Page 33 of the 2008 manual).

My other problem was I couldn't get to the manual 'cuz the glovebox locked itself also. Even my tiny Boxster trunks have emergency releases!

BMW Assist knew none of the info several of you posters have thoughtfully provided.

And naive me, I thought the service people they called might have to know some of it to qualify. But the second tow truck driver was veeerry familiar with towing X5s. "Yeah, I tow 'em all the time."

By the way, I promised pin to pin info on relay failure. Sorry, there wasn't much more except Pin #1 to Pin #2 in the fan cut-out relay had no power.

[70Sixter]

Originally Posted by FunfDreisig

And more importantly, most of these failures can probably be predicted with nothing more sophisticated than a volt meter.

Funf Dreisig

Speaking of which, why the hell isn't there one on the instrument panel. That and a temperature gauge.

[FunfDreisig]

Originally Posted by 70Sixter

Speaking of which, why the hell isn't there one on the instrument panel. That and a temperature gauge.

Because BMW X5 owners are not supposed to worry their pretty little heads over mundane details about critical vehicle functions that might leave them stranded.

Not to worry Funf Dreisig AG has yet another "must have" X5 accessory in development, that will make you the envy of every teenage street rodder in your neighborhood.

Funf Dreisig

[rufusdedog]

Originally Posted by 70Sixter

Speaking of which, why the hell isn't there one on the instrument panel. That and a temperature gauge.

or a dipstick on the 3.0...