2007 X5 3.0 -- Strange Problem

Toledo Blue · #1 01-02-2011, 06:38 PM

I have a strange problem which that I am planning to get checked out by a BMW diagnostic center, but wanted to know if anyone knows or had anything similar?

About a week ago I noticed that the outside temperature is showing the wrong temp (usually around 0F to -15F). Also around the same time when the temp went to below zero almost all of my electrics malfunctioned... But not every single time. (See attached images of malfunctions)

If I park the car in my garage and come back to it a few hours later, the temp is fine, but when I drive sometimes it comes back and all the malfunctions happen.

I live in Brooklyn, NY and my car is out of warrenty, so if anyone know of a good and trusted BMW repair / diagnostic place please suggest...

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

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ZheHbKa · #2 01-02-2011, 08:18 PM

damn!
never seen that, seems like an ECU problem, it might be something simple since it is not consistent. take it to Bay Diagnostic (google for more info) - cheaper than a dealer and experienced techs. Hopefully an ECU reset will do the trick. Good luck!

Penguin · #3 01-02-2011, 08:25 PM

I recall seeing a TSB/SIB on this problem which was due to a pinched or worn wiring harness somewhere in or under the dash, I think on the right side. Not 100% sure of this, but recall the fix involved taping the wires and making a small change in the harness routing...

Toledo Blue · #4 01-02-2011, 08:49 PM

ZheHbKa -- Thanks, this is actually where I was planning to go. I found them on google and from the information on the site, they look like a good professional place. Do you know if I should ask for anyone specific?

Penguin -- Thanks for the reply... You don't think that this could be due to a faulty "Outside Ambient Air Temperature Sensor"? The reason why I'm asking is that it only happens right after the temperature drops to below zero...

ard · #5 01-02-2011, 10:14 PM

How new is the battery?????

BGM · #6 01-02-2011, 10:33 PM

Something sent a bad signal to your R-BUS (main electronic gateway)--- so it will throw fault codes like Eli Manning threw pics this season.

Penguin · #7 01-02-2011, 11:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Toledo Blue

Penguin -- Thanks for the reply... You don't think that this could be due to a faulty "Outside Ambient Air Temperature Sensor"? The reason why I'm asking is that it only happens right after the temperature drops to below zero...

While almost anything is possible, I think it is highly unlikely that a bad temperature sensor would cause so many error messages to display.

This SIB might be of interest:

Make / Models : Model/Build Years: BMW / X5 1999-2010
Service Bulletin Number : SIB-61-15-09 NHTSA Item Number : 10032640 Summary Description : BMW VEHICLES: VARIOUS ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS ARE POSSIBLE ON THE VEHICLE: WARNING LAMPS ILLUMINATED IN THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER; CHECK CONTROL MESSAGES; SYSTEMS INOPERATIVE; FUSE BLOWN; WIPERS IN DEFAULT MODE (PERMANENTLY ON); AND FAULT CODES FFFF AND F-CAN FAULTS IN ARS AND DSC. SHORT CIRCUIT OF THE WIRING HARNESS TO SHARP SHEET METAL IMMEDIATELY BEHIND THE GLOVE COMPARTMENT. MODEL E70 (X5) NO MODEL YEARS LISTED. *PE UPDATED 11/17/10. *PE

Toledo Blue · #8 01-03-2011, 11:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Penguin

This SIB might be of interest:

Make / Models : Model/Build Years: BMW / X5 1999-2010
Service Bulletin Number : SIB-61-15-09 NHTSA Item Number : 10032640 Summary Description : BMW VEHICLES: VARIOUS ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS ARE POSSIBLE ON THE VEHICLE: WARNING LAMPS ILLUMINATED IN THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER; CHECK CONTROL MESSAGES; SYSTEMS INOPERATIVE; FUSE BLOWN; WIPERS IN DEFAULT MODE (PERMANENTLY ON); AND FAULT CODES FFFF AND F-CAN FAULTS IN ARS AND DSC. SHORT CIRCUIT OF THE WIRING HARNESS TO SHARP SHEET METAL IMMEDIATELY BEHIND THE GLOVE COMPARTMENT. MODEL E70 (X5) NO MODEL YEARS LISTED. *PE UPDATED 11/17/10. *PE

I think that this might be exactly the problem. The windshield wipers did turn on and were working even thought the "Automated" feature was off and I didn't touch anything.

Thanks for this... I made an appointment to bring the car in for a diagnostic this week. I will show them this information.

Toledo Blue · #9 01-03-2011, 02:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ard

How new is the battery?????

I have no Idea? I got this car used. But I don't think that it was ever changed.

ard · #10 01-03-2011, 02:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Toledo Blue

I have no Idea? I got this car used. But I don't think that it was ever changed.

Just replace it. Don't screw around with spending one hour of "diagnostic time' for them to say "Probably could use a new battery".

HOWEVER, that SIB is very interesting. You DO know that even with an SIB, if your car is out of warranty YOU pay for all the work, right?

A

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