V1 and battery
 

Quick question for you guys. Last week I went out to start the X to get to the airport. I turned the key, and the car started clicking and lights flashing, including V1. The car would not turn over. I stop and tried again a few minutes later, but there was less power, and eventually the car went dead. I called BMW roadside for a jump. After the jump I tried to see if a dealer or independent could replace my battery, but no luck. I was already late for a flight, so I just went to the airport. I figured that I would need a jump again, as I went away for two weeks. When I came back from my trip, I went to the X, it opened with the remote no problem. I then tried to start it, hoping that it would work, and it started up, no problem. I went to the dealer yesterday to have them check the battery. They said that it was using more power than normal. 60 volts. They said that it is probably the V1 hardwire. I am a bit skeptical because I have had the V1 hardwired for almost a year now, and this is the first time I had this problem. I was wondering if anyone had any problems like this? Any suggestions? Thanks.

I really do not KNOW why the X5 is an electrical hog, but I ALWAYS turn off EVERYTHING before turning off the ignition. My 2001 X5, I put in a new battery right after purchasing it 06/05, as it was a 12/00 build and thus the battery was almost 5yrs old with winter coming. Weak batteries always seem to die in cold weather. Batteries rarely last more than 5yrs, so I replace mine before winter if it is more than 4yrs old. Never had a replacement battery die on me in 40+yrs of driving. OEM batteries, on the other hand, I have had die on me early, with one not lasting a year. So taking your car in for a winterizing checkup (Sears, dealer, etc) can discover whether you have a weak battery, is not a bad idea.

It may be your final stage resistor. I had similar problems, occasionally my battery would die. After alot of searching I narowed it down to the final stage resistor, it was faulty and would not put the truck in sleep mode, thus draining the battery. On the homepage there is a write up that I used and it was a piece of cake to change. No problems since. :thumbup: