Battery disconnect question
 

As I start to replace the Oil Hsg Seal; I would normally disconnect the NEG (-) side of the battery. If I do this on our '07 E83, do I need to have the battery reprogramed to the ECU, as I think is the case when you install a new battery? Any negative impacts to the car when this is done? other than clearing the stored adaptive controls for ECU & transmission?

welcome
 

Bimmernut3 - welcome aboard. I have had few X5's but just recently picked up the X3. You will notice way more traffic in the e53 board and a lot of it is relevant to the X3. As such, some of the questions you post there as well. I'll pass along what the tech at a local dealer stated regarding battery programming when I posed the question to him after a potential new battery install on my '10. He said that it wasn't necessary. Not sure if it applies to the '07 and if a battery swap out would be same as a disconnect, but I would assume so. If that is the case then I wouldn't worry about programming after disconnecting a terminal.

Elvis, thanks for the reply. With no replies, I went ahead and disconnected the battery; neg (-) terminal. After replacing the Oil Filter Hsg & cooler seals and spark plugs, got it all back together & when I first started it, it ran very rough & 4x4 light was on. I turned it off, thinking that I had not connected a coil back correctly, to keep it from throwing a code. Turned it back on 5 minutes later & it ran fine; started right up. As soon as I drove out the drive on a test run, the "4x4" light went out. I assumed that it too had to "learn" where sensors where set.
After further searching, since I have a Valve Cover oil leak & one at the Valvetronic actuator seal and will need to replace both seals, as well as the spark plug seal, I found that the Valvetronic Actuator needs to go through a "self learning" when you disconnect it. The procedure I read mentioned to turn the key to the ON position for 30 sec. then OFF, then back to ON for another 30 sec. before starting the car. All else seems to work fine. I think this also cleared any adaptive transmission shift memory, as I feel that the shifts are different. I don't know, maybe my imagination.

from most of the things I read on the e53 forum you seem to be on point on all counts ( if they in fact apply to the X3). The Bentley Manual will be a pretty good investment to refer to if you don't already own one. As far a replies, in the X3 board you may see a lot of tumbleweeds pass through before you get a reply. Lots and lots of crossover info on the e53 board.

Glad to hear everything is working fine!

No battery reprogramming on the X3 unless it's 2011 or newer.

you will have to reset your express up and down windows by holding UP for 5 seconds after it closes and then hold down until it has been opened for 5 seconds. That should reset the anti trap. do for each window.

Sunroof reset is press and hold until the sunroof stops opening and closing then an additional 10 seconds after that. but I strongly recommend against operating the sunroof on an X3.

On our 2007 X3, after replacing the battery I had a light on the dash, can't remember if it was the 4x4 light or a different one. I reset the steering angle sensor by turning the wheel lock to lock, and it went out. No other resetting was required.

Jeff