2005 X5 BATTERY DRAINING
 

I need help in identifying the cause of the draining of my battery. I just purchased a new battery about two weeks ago from WALMART EVERSTART #49 and the battery kept draining on me. One morning it was completely dead and I have to jump start it with my other vehicle in the garage. I noticed though that the shifter light was still on even after I completely turned off everything in the car. I had being jump starting the X for about 3 times now for the period of 3 weeks. Please advise.

Many thanks,
Rfcrz

X doesn't go to sleep?
I have a drain,my fuel gauge goes all the way up after 5 min X is shut down,locked or unlocked.
Already replaced a battery and it goes to the dealership for diagnostics.
Service adviser said to check on the shifter lever light if it's on all the time or it gets off after some time,mine is off after 15 min or so.Get closer to the X and check it out after 30 min after locking it,obviously without touching the remote.
Also he said that once they had one X that they had to remove all the dash and interior trim to find the draw which was a corroded cable connector.
I pulled some codes out of the Instrument Cluster and it's a Fuel level sensor related one,so I guess it's the cause in my case.
Good luck

How were you able to pulled some codes from the instrument cluster of X5? Did you replace the fuel lever sensor? Did it fix the draining of the battery?

I appreciate your quick response, many thanks again.
Rfcrz

Hi there,
Look for the codes I used a simple tool as Carsoft 6.5 interface and old laptop with Serial Port and Carsoft 6.5 Software running on Windows XP.
It's not a GT1 stuff obviously,but it's more helpful in investigating the faults than the Generic OBD II tools.
I haven't replaced anything yet,but I am getting into it,because winter is coming,next Tuesday it's going to the dealer for some suspension maintenance and drain diagnosis,will write back as soon as I find out the cause,but as I understand,the causes can be so varied that my experience may not be useful for you.
There's one more thing,is you heater blower working right? under right I mean speed is not jumping up and down.
I know that yours is 2005 and it seems that they updated the hedgehog module,but I had to replace it in my 318i before,due to speed jumps and battery concerns.

Hi,
I just picked up my X from the dealership and the minor drain it has just because of the faulty instrument cluster.
Quoted for a new cluster and for now I am gonna leave it the way it is.

Do you have any aftermarket LED bulbs???

great question! always big drains from the resistors. could be the alternator too

Crazy, but I'm having this issue as well. Just replaced battery about 2 weeks ago and just went out to vehicle and it won't start. No aftermarket anything. '05 4.8is. I suppose I'll have to take her in to figure it out.

Scott

I had a battery drain too and no one could diagnose it, but i searched online and noticed that my fan was always blowing even when i shut the car off. I tested this theory one day and shut the car off and sat in it and listened closely and to my surprise the fan went on like it was haunted by a ghost. If you have experienced this, the solution is to replace your BMW X5 Blower Motor Resistor (about $100).

Brand new 2 week old battery just died on me right now. I had the car sit for 2 days and just went to start it and it was dead. I have a 2001 3.0i, every thing was off on the car and don't understand what could cause the battery to die so soon.:dunno: