X5 3.0 would start then die immediately...after 4th/5th time it started..now have SES
 

My X5 3.0 sat for a little over a week, during that time I replaced the final stage resistor, and when I got in it this morning, it would crank and fire but then immediately die; it did this a few times before finally starting, this time it stayed running. After it started the idle was a little rough but within seconds it smoothed out and ran fine, but now I have the SES light. The battery is okay I assume because it actually turned over and started, but it just wouldn't stay running initially. Could this be the result of not starting it in over a week? Any thoughts? Thanks

I had the codes read at Advance Auto Parts and only one showed up: P0102 MAF or VAF, Circuit Low Input. I'm not sure what this means but I do know that MAF means Mass AirFlow sensor and that scares me because I've heard that they're high in price. Anyway, so I called a BMW dealer and the service advisor said that after sitting for a week or so, something could have been sticking and causing the 3.0 to start and then shutdown, as to not damage anything. Anyway, Advance Auto Parts reset the computer and the SES light went away and hasn't come back on within the last few cranks. The BMW service advisor said that it probably was just a fluke after sitting for a while and that if it happens again, the SES will come back on and then I'll know that it's something that needs to be rectified, but otherwise, he said not to worry unless this happens again. A similar incident happened to me with my former vehicle, a 2003 Expedition; it only happened ONCE and never occured again in the subsequent 2 1/2 years of ownership, so hopefully this is the case with my X5.

Good chance it was a fluke. Keeping my fingers crossed for you that it doesn't come back.

Thanks...I appreciate it. I just got this X5 and I've already replaced a window regulator and final stage resistor myself, spent less than $200 for both parts, and I was hoping that would be all for now, until this happened lol. The window regulator and final stage resistor were both problems that I knew to look out for even before I bought the '01 X5, thanks to this site, therefore, failure of both wasn't a surprise. Thanks again for the comment.

I just had this happen, but slightly different conditions.

I bought my father's 2002 (Build 11/2001) 3.0 X5 about 3 weeks ago - he got a new E70. The car has about 180K miles on it and has been regularly serviced.

My wife drove it to work this morning, and at the end of the day called me to report it would not start. When I got there I turned the key on and the battery seemed strong. It would start, rev up as it normally does, and within 3 seconds or so shut off. I started it several times with the same result, but then found I could keep the engine running if I put a little pressure on the accelerator. I stabilized it at around 1,000 RPM, put it in gear & drove it around the parking lot. As long as I kept power on the engine would keep running, but taking my foot off would lead to the engine shutting off.

By the time I got there the SES light was illuminated continuously, and I was prepared to flatbed it to the (now-closed) dealer. However, I was loathe to park it overnight on the street where the dealer is, and it seemed to run fine, so I decided to drive it home. It did shut down once when I accidentally took my foot off the accelerator coming to a stop light a couple blocks from where I started, but then I got on the freeway and drove the 12 miles back to the house with a minimum of excitement, being careful to keep power on and use the brakes when I felt I needed additional load. Freeway speeds were up to 75 MPH, and the fuel consuption (rough guess from looking at the needle) and performance were right where they always had been.

I got home and parked the car, and shut it off. On a whim I restarted it - and it idled just as it always has. The SES light, of course, was still illuminated, which I expected. So I walked the dog, did a few other things, and when my wife got home about a half hour later I fired the X5 up again and drove around the neighborhood, and all seemed normal. I then noticed that the SES light was no longer illuminated - which I did NOT expect. I drove a few miles, filled it up with gas, and drove home - working perfectly.

Searching this site, this is the only thread I found which describes a similar problem, and other boards haven't given me much, either. This car is driven every day, and the previous owner (my father) never had this happen to him.

Now that the SES light is off, will there still be a record of what the code(s) were that caused it to light up? Has anyone else had an event like this? I plan to let it cool off overnight to see if it's related to engine temperature (which it seems to be), but if it does start up in the morning I'd still like to know what was wrong.

Thanks in advance from a new X5 owner, but long-time BMW owner.

After cooling down to below 40F overnight it fired right up and ran perfectly. Go figure.