Massive Electrical System Failure: Is my car Hunted?
 

The followings started in chronological order during last several days.
(05 4.4 52Kmi)

1. All the ashtray electrical output died. No 12v outputs.
2. False-positive Airbag and Front Seat-Belt Warning Signs accompanied by alarms that won't disappear.
3. Seat-warmers dead.
4. Final Draws: Headlights blinks erratically during driving, inside lights turns on and off as well that persisted no matter.

I had #1, #2 problem two years ago. They explanations were, for #1 blown fuses, for #2 discharged battery. After recharging the problem disappeared.

I assumed that soon battery replacement is required so I searched the forum for few hours for replacement battery.

Since I had my car re-certified a month ago I took them in yesterday. They called me in the afternoon they are narrowing down to locate plausible cause for the problem. Obviously no battery issue.

Any expert opninions?

I hate electrical issues. I'm no expert but have suffered through some in other vehicles. First thing to do is to check all grounds.

Ignition switch.... it can cause all the electrical gremlins you describe..Have the dealer replace it. Its cheap and quick.

Voltage regulators are dead.

Isn't the voltage regulator part of the alternator?

Thanks for the suggestions. I will keep you posted what dealer tells me.
I took a multi-meter measurements on battery it showed 12.54v and 13.95v with ignition off and on. I guess my battery is good.

yup.. mine lights inside/outside was flickering like the X-MAX lights turn out was the voltage regulator.

my window on the passenger side rolls down by itself. the germans are not good electricians. the americans are much better

Do a search on the ignition switch on this forum. I'm telling you it is eerily similar to what your experiencing and how it is still a mystery after trying a few things.

I had that problem. The switch on the door had a bad connection.

Search on Ignition Switch did not yield expected outcome, 901 threads with no relevance. Do you think you could point me to the thread?

My service adviser is not returning the call since Fri. Well he got me the loaner car. 328 stock car, but I want to find out what happened.

Would either Ignition Switch or Voltage Regulator failure should send error code? The guys says no code...

Troubleshooting past codes probably starts with checking connections and grounds. Unfortunately some are going to be very difficult to locate.

update "BUS" issues?
 

I just got off the phone with a service advisor. They haven't figured out how to fix it yet. He was taking about potential BUS issues. I have no idea what he was talking about. He said he opened up cases with BMW USA fro troubleshooting.
Well they have changed Alternator which didn't fix the problem.
Any idea what that might be?

Thanks got for the BMW dealer for getting me a loaner rental car, 328i, that took care of my daily drive for the last 6 days, but I could use the cold weather package for the weather like this, and I could totally go to the local mountain for snowboarding if I had 4 wheel drive now. Weather has been really odd recently.

Can't see how you can make that statement when the X5 is built in America.

:rofl:

LMAO

I got my x5 back after 8 days. They couldn't figure out what that was even after changing alternator. They unplugged everything and put it back and that fixed the problem.

2 days later I started the car and did the same thing, the airbag and seat belt lights on, blinking headlights and indoor lights as I started the car. But it stopped after while. Do you think I should take the car back to the stealer and try to claim lemon law?

I have complained about shutting for the last 6 month before the original warranty expired. They said it is simply alignment was off and need new tires. When I got them CPOed they put the new tires and supposedly taken care of the problem. Now they say I had warped front rotors that is not covered because it is a wear and tear. I was gonna do the job but they lower the price from $900 to $650 so I had them do it. (They say the job has 2 year and unlimited mile warranty.) Was the price pretty bad?
I am more upset that they didn't really do the job when I had the problem.
They claim that there's no written record of my complain...

I hope I won't have this this blinking problem again. But I am pretty nervous now. I am seeking advice. Thanks.