Xoutpost.com - Help! Car won't start after trying to replace power window button.

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- - Help! Car won't start after trying to replace power window button. (https://xoutpost.com/bmw-sav-forums/x5-e53-forum/111833-help-car-wont-start-after-trying-replace-power-window-button.html)

Quote:

Originally Posted by CapeX5 (Post 1182302)

Don't trust the battery light being on or not. I had one that had a bad alternator, but the light did not come on. And the bulb was good. Never figured out why.
OP, if you don't know how to use a multimeter, than take it to a competent garage. First you need to have a fully charged battery. Whether that is your existing or a new one. Once you have that, and the car is running, one can diagnose whether the alternator is charging the battery. DON"T just go replacing parts without correct diagnoses.
And, on the window switch, just a get the whole unit, not individual. There are all kinds of electronics in that thing that you don't want to mess with if you try to dissassemble it. They are cheap and used on E39's as well. Get the battery/charging issue resolved than do the switch. You don't need to take the door panel off either.

Thanks for your advice. I like to take a bit of time to make up my mind about financial decisions and felt rather rushed today.

I'll call the garage or go in tomorrow morning and enquire about having the battery fully charged and having the alternator tested before I agree to anything.

Until Sunday, I had driven the car around with no issues at all so I am hesitant to splash out at the first sign of an issue.

As for the window switch, I'll just buy a replacement as you suggest.

I saw this one https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BMW-X5-E5...IAAOSwmWxeUoV0

Is that a decent price?

Just read the AA report (should have done earlier!)

"Diagnostic testing may be limited in a breakdown type situation. Please ensure symptoms/suggested faults are confirmed by your chosen repairer before any suggested work is started."

Just a little update: I asked the garage to diagnose if the issues were caused by a faulty alternator or if the battery needed replacing. Apparently both were fine. The alternator was charging the battery and they encountered nothing that indicated a problem. I obviously drained the battery with my stupid attempts to change the window button on the power unit!
Seems like my alternator and battery were fitted recently, just before I bought the car. The alternator is apparently of a make that is sometimes temperamental so I'll keep an eye on that. Got my car back though so one very happy BMW owner and not having to shell out £400.

Thanks to everyone for their help.

Bottom line: do not blindly trust the AA's diagnosis.

Also, in one of your images I can see the small LED that lights up the driver's inner door handle, dangle down. It should be connected to the rear of the inner door handle, but they are frequently broken off when people remove the door lining to repair a window or door handle. Being unaware of this LED, they smash it from the inner door handle when pulling the door lining away from the door.

Or in this case they simply forgot to plug it back in.

Quote:

Originally Posted by wpoll (Post 1182407)

Thanks. I figured it looked out of place.
Should be easy enough to sort, right?

Quote:

Originally Posted by LJR (Post 1182414)

Thanks. I figured it looked out of place.
Should be easy enough to sort, right?

Replacing it requires removing the door lining - put it on the list for the next time you need to open the door up for something else. :thumbup:

Here's a thread about fitting them - it will give you an idea of what you're looking at. Often, the very thin curvy clear plastic part on the door handle is broken off...

https://xoutpost.com/bmw-sav-forums/...-retrofit.html

https://xoutpost.com/attachments/x5-...714.852213.jpg