Car won't start or crank... battery?

[rh71]

what year is the car? If it's older than '09 it's very likely the battery. Mine went 2 years ago as an '08.

[Knight]

Originally Posted by rh71

what year is the car? If it's older than '09 it's very likely the battery. Mine went 2 years ago as an '08.

It's an 07. I bought the car three years ago. The battery isn't OE, so I'm guessing they've already changed it once?

[Knight]

Update:

The mechanic called today. He said the cables to the alternator were damaged. Didn't expect that. They fixed them, the car starts fine now. They checked the alternator and said it's fine. They're charging the battery atm and keeping the car 'til tomorrow to see how it behaves.
But what caused the cables to just break like that? I'm just hoping this problem isn't due to something else. Not really down to get stuck in the middle of the road again...

[wsmeyer]

That is surprising, I've never heard of it happening to anyone else. It would be great if you could get the parts back and take pictures of them so we could see what happened and inspect ours.

[ard]

Unbelievable.

Seriously. I dont believe him.

[mart_dev]

OP, did you check to see if your terminals were tightly fastened...I know its almost too remedial a question to ask but what if?
Wouldn't be cool of a technician to find that to be the fault and then to tell you the cables were faulty.

I know its extremely unlikely and there is probably not even a 1% chance anyone would do that, it's just that faulty cables seem just as an unlikely a prospect.

[wsmeyer]

If the mechanic was going to lie he would have went with the alternator, no one is going to second guess that. Heck might as well say it killed the battery too. No one's going to question that either considering it's of unknown age.
I find it odd when people online second guess the only person who has actually put their eyeballs on the problem.

[Knight]

I'm absolutely certain the terminals were tight.
The mechanic wouldn't lie, he's a friend.

The cables to the alternator were loose. Im just glad it isn't something else (knock on wood).
Anyhow, another lesson learned. Always check your cables first people.
However there is something I'm worried about..

When I put the key in (no ignition), I get two lamps that illuminate. Handbrake which I always get. But this time I get the airbag lamp too. However it disappears after 2-3 seconds.
No malfunction messages on the iDrive or anything... Just a little lamp that turns on for 3 seconds.

What are your guys' thoughts about that? Didn't use to happen before.

Edit:
I notice all X5s are like this.... Mine was never like that until now... Uhm.. No idea what to make of this.

[wsmeyer]

Originally Posted by Knight

I'm absolutely certain the terminals were tight.
The mechanic wouldn't lie, he's a friend.

The cables to the alternator were loose. Im just glad it isn't something else (knock on wood).
Anyhow, another lesson learned. Always check your cables first people.
However there is something I'm worried about..

When I put the key in (no ignition), I get two lamps that illuminate. Handbrake which I always get. But this time I get the airbag lamp too. However it disappears after 2-3 seconds.
No malfunction messages on the iDrive or anything... Just a little lamp that turns on for 3 seconds.

What are your guys' thoughts about that? Didn't use to happen before.

Edit:
I notice all X5s are like this.... Mine was never like that until now... Uhm.. No idea what to make of this.

I think you just never noticed it. The air bag, brake, and check engine light are all supposed to light up when you put the key in and then turn off a few seconds after you start the engine. The reason for this is it will then be immediately obvious if someone simply disables the lights to hide a very serious problem.

[Knight]

Originally Posted by wsmeyer

I think you just never noticed it. The air bag, brake, and check engine light are all supposed to light up when you put the key in and then turn off a few seconds after you start the engine. The reason for this is it will then be immediately obvious if someone simply disables the lights to hide a very serious problem.

My check engine light doesn't light up when I put the key in. Only when I start the ignition... But I have to add, I live in Sweden. My x5 is of European model. Maybe they're different than American models..