URGENT: battery warning light on :(
 

Hey Everyone-

So I just left the school library tonight and as I was half-way home (Old Town to PB) I noticed the red battery warning light was on.

I checked the manual and was alarmed by what I read.

So the issue is whether you think I can (a) drive my car to the dealership tomorrow morning or (b) whether I must have it towed tonight?

I guess the alternator has gone bad... although the manual mentioned something about a V-Belt, which, if it's gone bad, could cause overheating and/or power steering to go out?!

Advice please........ thank you :)

note: in the interest of time, i've just decided to have bmw tow the car tonight ......... i NEED the car for this weekend and next week.

wow, i TOTALLY anticipated this happening: last year, a week or two before finals, BOTH SEMESTERS, something went wrong with the car. I think one or two windows FELL INSIDE the doors lol ....... go figure?! oh yeah, also had a coolant line burst lol ....... *sigh*

i could HEAR my parents rolling their eyes at me in mockery at bmw "reliability" lol .........

omg .......... my road side assist expired LAST WEEK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

$100 to tow ..... *sigh*

i sure hope it's nothing huge, prolly just a worn alternator or something .............

Update please, what was the outcome??

lol sorry forgot to mention that *YES* the battery was JUST CHANGED in August.

i'm still awaiting a response from bmw ...... i'll let you know asap.........

Your going to have to change the alternator.
Same thing happened to me a while back.
Costed me 1000 cnd, and it was done at a friends shop.
Bmw wanted 1800ish to replace the alternator.

?!?!??!! CDN$1800?!?!?! isn't that something like US$1600?!?!?!

this sucks :(

ok SERIOUSLY ... what other expenses am i likely to have on my X?

i'm at 107K miles now. at what point do you decide whether it's just better to get rid of the car?!

cuz lately we've been having one bach of expenses after another ... no major issue, but a lot of expensive little issues.

where did you take it BMW of SD?

Can't you slip in an alternator. Pretty easy really.:thumbup:

Quote:

Originally Posted by crosvs ?!?!??!! CDN$1800?!?!?! isn't that something like US$1600?!?!?! this sucks :( ok SERIOUSLY ... what other expenses am i likely to have on my X? i'm at 107K miles now. at what point do you decide whether it's just better to get rid of the car?! cuz lately we've been having one bach of expenses after another ... no major issue, but a lot of expensive little issues.

bmw of sd, yeah........ and i guess i also need a new water pump AND a new belt

ok so here's the verdict:

alternator; water pump; 2 belts; oil change/service

$2,500+tax :(

laaaaaaame.

car will be ready by tomorrow night

meanwhile, they gave me an X3 for a loaner car which is so naked of options BMW should have been embarassed to produce it: not only is it devoid of a sunroof and other such elementary amenities, it doesn't even have POWER SEATS!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WTF?! And the ignition: it's not like the X5's, it doesn't crank on its own: you have to hold the key over until it fires up lol.

And finally, this is the 2nd time driving this thing as a loaner ... i have to say taht while the handling is PHENOMENAL -- absolutely BRILLIANT -- my god the interior is awful.

Can't wait to get my X5 back :)

yay, got her back ........ good as new :) ......... but see my other question in my new post.......