Dead battery, a matter of time....

[London Lad]

The e70 has a system where, once the battery is fully charged, the alternator only charges while coasting or braking. (I guess US e70s are the same)

My guess is the 'fully charged' point is set to early ?

[FunfDreisig]

Originally Posted by London Lad

The e70 has a system where, once the battery is fully charged, the alternator only charges while coasting or braking. (I guess US e70s are the same)....

I originally thought the US E70 charging system worked like that too. But others have posted that US E70's do NOT have this "efficient dynamics" feature.

Funf Dreisig

[London Lad]

Arr yes, I think you mentioned that before. strange that they would not do that for U.S. cars as its only programming as I understand it.

I picked up a small voltage logger today but it hasn't got any W7 64bit drivers so i can't program it at the moment. Once I get them I am going to hang it on our e70 battery just to have a look at how the system works

[Craig]

Originally Posted by FSETH

What in the world did you have to wait 3 months for? They could built you a whole new car in that time.

I replaced the battery on my e53 last week, but it was at least 3 years old (pre-owned). I have not had any battery issues with mine. The e70's may be different.

I agree, I drove around for 3 months with a check engine light for an air temp sensor for the turbo chargers. Total BS! I waited another 5 weeks for a heated fuel filter. Both times I had to call BMWNA and raise hell.
If I hadn't called them, who knows when my parts would have shown up.
Unacceptable...

Craig

[Penguin]

Originally Posted by FSETH

What in the world did you have to wait 3 months for?

Not an excuse, but here's one possible explanation.

With the US Diesel being new, BMW probably did not expect any temperature sensors to be required, since temperature sensors are typically rather reliable and last a long time. From the postings I've seen, it's pretty clear the the temperature sensors were failing at a much greater rate than expected. This probably put them into a shortage position and left BMW with the choice of using the limited inventory to build and sell more vehicles, or to fix existing customers' vehicles promptly. I suspect they gave building and selling more vehicles priority.

In the meantime, either the vendor could not supply more sensors quickly for one reason or another, or BWM wanted a design or manufacturing change to fix whatever was causing them to fail so quickly. BMW would probably put a temperature sensor prone to failure in a new vehicle, if the alternative was to not manufacturer and sell the vehicle (knowing they probably would have to fix a lot of them under warranty later). But they might wait on replacing failed sensors in the already sold vehicles until the new, more reliable design sensor was available.

Yeah, I know doing something like that stinks, but having been in the industry a long time ago, I know how companies would not want to lose a vehicle sale because of not having a reliable temperature sensor.

[Fraser]

Originally Posted by Craig

I think I have the problem taken care of, my new Lexus GX 460 arrived at the dealer today.
Craig

Some people around here call their X5s 'trucks" but the GX460 really is a truck - separate-chassis construction, live axle at the back, low-range gearing. Great off road but pretty sloppy on road compared to the X. In Australia they put different engines in it (a 4.0-litre petrol six and a 3.0-litre four-cyl TD) and call it a Toyota LandCruiser Prado (150 Series). Not trying to put your new ride down as I'm sure you'll find it smooth and comfortable ... and hopefully 100% reliable. Good luck with it.

[Craig]

Thanks,

Craig

[ard]

Originally Posted by Fraser

Some people around here call their X5s 'trucks" but the GX460 really is a truck - separate-chassis construction, live axle at the back, low-range gearing. Great off road but pretty sloppy on road compared to the X. In Australia they put different engines in it (a 4.0-litre petrol six and a 3.0-litre four-cyl TD) and call it a Toyota LandCruiser Prado (150 Series). Not trying to put your new ride down as I'm sure you'll find it smooth and comfortable ... and hopefully 100% reliable. Good luck with it.

How prescient those comments on handling:

Consumer Reports Says Lexus GX 460 Is Unsafe - Wheels Blog - NYTimes.com

[rh71]

Originally Posted by ard

How prescient those comments on handling:

Consumer Reports Says Lexus GX 460 Is Unsafe - Wheels Blog - NYTimes.com

There's an on-ramp around here that is like that (107 onto LIE west)... you think it's a smooth 270-degree turn but all of a sudden it's sharper in the last third. I've said it a few times... in my other SUV and my dad's minivan, I have to brake because I feel like I'm about to flip over... with the X it is completely under control (even at slightly greater speed) - every time I take that turn I'm amazed at how it controls the roll. I feel no braking either...

[Fraser]

Originally Posted by ard

How prescient those comments on handling:

When I drove the Toyota equivalent to the GX 460 the handling was so bad that I thought that one or more of the tyres were partially flat. I even stopped to have a look at them and then checked the pressure at the next service station. But everything was okay.

And my point of comparison is a E53 diesel with non-sport suspension, 17-inch wheels and all-terrain tyres, so it's hardy at the pointy end of X5 handling spectrum. (Just more practical as a good percentage of my driving is on rough, unsealed roads, farm tracks etc.