35d Won't start in cold.

xDrive35d · #1 01-11-2010, 02:44 AM

Went out to start my 35d this morning and it wouldn't start. It's been 2 days since I started it and the temps have been in the low 20's at night and high 20's during the day for a while. I thought BMW builds cars for colder climates?

In any case, here's what happened. Hit the start button and the little glow wire indicator came on for a second and then nothing. Dash was all on like normal. Then I tried again and I noticed the check engine light was on and stayed on. I waited for a minute or two to see if it would start. Nothing. Tried again and noticed an indicator flash for a second that showed a car on a lift. I went back into the house and came back out a little while later. This time I turned the headlight switch to "Off" instead of "Auto" so that the lights wouldn't be on. This time it started. When I checked the status it showed the car on the lift and said something to the effect of "Battery excessive drain". I lost my presets on the radio and the time. This happened even though the car eventually started without having to jump start it. I will call the dealership tomorrow and see what they say.

I just remembered something that happened the other day. When I was driving the car at night right after starting it, the climate control fan was going up and down when I gave it "diesel" and let off. Like it didn't have enough charging power to run everything. Remember the "old days"? I was running the fog-lights, heated seats on high and the steering wheel heater. I was thinking that this thing has tons of torque and shouldn't have any problem running the alternator. Maybe they put in an alternator that is too low on power?? Or has too large a pulley so that it runs too slow?

This should not even be an issue in this day and age and especially on an expensive high-quality vehicle.

I'm very disappointed in this vehicles lack of an adequate electrical charging system. I can't stand paying this much for a vehicle and having to wonder whether it will start when you need to go somewhere.

ard · #2 01-11-2010, 03:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xDrive35d

I'm very disappointed in this vehicles lack of an adequate electrical charging system. I can't stand paying this much for a vehicle and having to wonder whether it will start when you need to go somewhere.

Isn't that a bit melodramatic?

CLearly something is wrong with your car- it isn't "lacking an adequate charging system".

Get it fixed.

xDrive35d · #3 01-11-2010, 03:41 AM

Actually, after doing a fair bit or research today, this seems to be a problem with the 35d's. I have no idea how common this problem is, but there are many reports of 35d's not starting or even breaking down while driving due to electrical problems. All of the ones I read about today were related to low battery voltage. There are even some on this site. I hope it is something that can be fixed and doesn't recur. I need a reliable vehicle.

However, I was told by my dealer before (when I had a problem starting it in the fall) that I should hook it up to a small charger during colder weather. I shouldn't have to do that. I stand by my opinion, I think there is a lack of an adequate charging/battery system at this point.

Thunder22 · #4 01-11-2010, 03:58 AM

Links to "many reports"?

xDrive35d · #5 01-11-2010, 04:12 AM

Here are a few from this site;

http://www.xoutpost.com/bmw-sav-foru...tart-wont.html

http://www.xoutpost.com/bmw-sav-foru...ttery-35d.html

http://www.xoutpost.com/bmw-sav-foru...same-time.html

xDrive35d · #6 01-11-2010, 04:28 AM

Another one I read earlier;

x5 deisel, battery drain; TOW, left me sit in the - bimmerfest - BMW Forums

The interesting thing about this one on re-read is the part about the glow-plug or intake grid heater (I don't know how the BMW cold start works exactly) cycling every time you open the door. I often get files in and out of my car when it is parked. I have heard that loud buzzing sound under the hood when I open the door, I just thought it was the fuel pump pressurizing or something like that. If it's the heating of the glow plugs every time I open the door and the car sits over the weekend and the weather is as cold as it is, that could really run the battery down. Maybe it needs a larger battery or two batteries. Also, I make frequent small trips. For example, I have something a little less than 5K miles on it since early last spring.

FunfDreisig · #7 01-11-2010, 08:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xDrive35d

Another one I read earlier;

x5 deisel, battery drain; TOW, left me sit in the - bimmerfest - BMW Forums

I just added this to the thread quoted above...

Quote:

Originally Posted by Funf Dreisig

.... There has been some speculation that this might be due to the the 35d pre-warming the glow plugs every time the driver's door is opened.

Funf Dreisig

Since posting this, it has gotten cold enough to see the glow plug light come on in cold weather. I now think this 'speculation' about the glow plugs coming on every time the driver's door is opened is probably not correct.

However, at least on a 35d, there IS a significant drop in voltage every time the driver's door is opened. I don't profess to know what causes this voltage drop; but you can prove that it happens, with a little time and an inexpensive volt meter. Just hook the voltmeter up to the "jumper points" under the hood then close the driver's door. Wait for the voltage to return to 'normal'. Then open the driver's door again.

Funf Dreisig

XXX555 · #8 01-11-2010, 01:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FunfDreisig

I just added this to the thread quoted above...

Since posting this, it has gotten cold enough to see the glow plug light come on in cold weather. I now think this 'speculation' about the glow plugs coming on every time the driver's door is opened is probably not correct.

However, at least on a 35d, there IS a significant drop in voltage every time the driver's door is opened. I don't profess to know what causes this voltage drop; but you can prove that it happens, with a little time and an inexpensive volt meter. Just hook the voltmeter up to the "jumper points" under the hood then close the driver's door. Wait for the voltage to return to 'normal'. Then open the driver's door again.

Funf Dreisig

Are most of these complaints limited to the diesel for what all of us have read?

FunfDreisig · #9 01-11-2010, 02:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by XXX555

Are most of these complaints limited to the diesel for what all of us have read?

No. If you dig back in this (and the bimmerfest) forum you will find quite a few threads/posts about low/dead battery issues even before the 35d was being sold. Recently the posts are 35d centric. But of course, both forums have become 35d centric lately

From what I've read online, I believe the low/dead battery issue is E70 wide. particularly for those E70s that are driven infrequently and/or for mostly short trip. But low/dead battery issue MAY be exacerbated on the 35d because of higher loads ...
1 - diesels usually require more ummph to crank,
2 - the 35d DEF/SCR system includes heaters, pumps, etc. not on the gas engines. Of course if the heaters/pumps only functioned while the engine was running, it would be no big deal.

For example, what exactly causes the fairly significant voltage drop every time you open the driver door of a 35d? And what is all that commotion under the hood AFTER you turn off a 35d engine? Are these significant loads?

Funf Dreisig

bigx5er · #10 01-11-2010, 08:24 AM

If you haven't talked to your dealer you should. This is what is wrong with the Internet, people only post issues and then jump top the conclusion that problems are happening everywhere.

I am in Minnesota and we are just ending a very nasty stretch of cold weather (many nights below zero, up to -17). No issues what so ever with the X5 35d. It has started and run like a champ.