Electrical / Battery issues

ozam · #1 03-31-2011, 02:05 PM

I have a 2007 X5 4.8 CPO that I bought back in 2008. Starting about six months ago the vehicle started experiencing strange electrical problems. As the X5's voltage starts dropping all types of error messages (transmission, 4x4, etc) start popping up and the car eventually locks itself down leaving my wife stranded on the side of the road. The telltale sign of an event about to happen is the when comfort access stops working and the clock resets itself. Strangely, the car has never had an issue starting and the problem seems to get worse while driving. The car has now been in the shop at least five times for the same issue.

The dealership has come up with the following issues (in order that they were given):

1. vehicle checked and nothing wrong
2. bad battery connection
3. replaced drivers side door handle (excessive electrical draw)
4. the car is not driven far enough on each trip (this despite the fact that it gets 15k per year and my wife's driving habits haven't changed since 2008.

The dealership now says that I need to buy a trickle charger and recharge the battery periodically (and who knew the X5 was a plug-in hybrid!!??). While I understand this "solution" it just does not make sense in my situation because the first time this problem arose was the day after a 400 mile drive!

Ironically, on Monday on the way to the dealership to get an oil change all the warning lights etc came on just before she got there. They charged the car for 1.5 hours and sure enough the next day an "excessive battery discharge" warning light came on. The car is as that the dealership now.

So the question is how do I handle the dealership? I've read other posts written by people with similar problems but I have yet to see a resolution. While I've been as nice as possible with the dealership thus far, it is absurd that I keep having to drive a car that has more than a remote possibility of breaking down. Thoughts?

ozam · #2 04-02-2011, 08:16 PM

no thoughts or advice ???

ChuckG · #3 04-02-2011, 10:11 PM

Get a new battery.

ozam · #4 04-03-2011, 12:52 AM

I've thought the same as the battery is the logical answer, but the dealer says the battery is fine and wants $400+/- for a new one (apparently in newer BMWs you can't simply go out and buy a new battery....what a croc!). I would pay in a sec to get rid of the issue, but the dealer's techs do not think it would make a difference.

ard · #5 04-03-2011, 02:31 AM

Yes, you can. Multiple batteries to choose from, more capacity than stock and perfectly acceptable.

Worst case you pay them one hour for the 5 minutes it takes to 'register' the battery (if you change to a larger battery)

If this is under warranty, tell them to do the 'excessive draw' SIB test.

But I vote battery if it is an original battery- they lose their capacity and the testing that is done will NOT fully test the battery.

blue dragon · #6 04-03-2011, 09:16 AM

^^ If yo change the type of battery, you need to change the charging profile, so there is reprogramming involved.

ozam · #7 04-03-2011, 11:02 PM

thanks for the responses...they are doing their second SIB test currently. one a few months back detected the faulty door handle. either way i probably should install a new battery (i'll search the forum for favorites) and pay them for the reprogramming. I'm sure they will be overjoyed (or not) to do it.

3Series · #8 04-04-2011, 02:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ozam

thanks for the responses...they are doing their second SIB test currently. one a few months back detected the faulty door handle. either way i probably should install a new battery (i'll search the forum for favorites) and pay them for the reprogramming. I'm sure they will be overjoyed (or not) to do it.

Most dealers in my area will not register a battery they did not install. A lot of independents now have the capability to register for you so that's another option.

If you replace like for like and you don't have any issues, I wouldn't bother registering the battery.

I have experience with a non-AGM battery in an E60 and it has been over 18 months with no issues. I bought an Autozone battery for less than $100 and swapped it out.

ChuckG · #9 04-03-2011, 11:36 PM

You can get the battery from getbmwparts.com for $215.20 and about $17 for ground shipping and put it in yourself if they don't pay for it.

Chuck

ard · #10 04-04-2011, 01:47 AM

If you install the same rating there is no programming needed. If you up-size it the programming should be 5 minutes.