Replaced the FSU today at my mechanic. Heater works perfect and when i shut it down in shuts down, So far so good will see how it goes. He said that he is 100% sure that this was the issue. Also he mentioned to me that some bushing in the front end needs to be replaced.

very good

Replacing the FSU have solved battery drain and heater not shutting off. Hope that will be the end of it. The shifter red light in p is staying on. I don't think it is is an issue.

merry christmas to all, that light by grashift usually turns off after 16minutes...

on very early models of E53 the little light by the shifter does not turn off when the car goes to sleep - the wiring of that LED is different on early models, even though the listed dates did not match the actual cars of members on this forum (we had a sampling of members trying to verify that info). On later models (sometime after 09/2001?, if I am not mistaken), the light should turn off once the car is asleep.

as per previous reply, yes may well be the case......'most' people are saying the x5 sleeps after 16mins.....and yes for some that light near gear knobs never turns off....

16 minutes is a statement from BMW - the GM sends "go to sleep" signal 16 minutes after last monitored activity, then a special relay (closed circuit current cutout relay K72 in glove compartment area) cuts off power to the rest of the car. some of the modules drop off like dead flies right away, but some other modules have their own internal 1 minute timer, that starts their own count-down before dropping dead... so, 17 minutes is total time (as the WDS claims)... but for simplicity, it is agreed upon 16 minutes...

What is the longest time that you guys don't drive the car and the battery is still good?

Such as parking the X5 at airport for a 2-week vacation etc.

My Month and 1 Week vacation to Mexico. Got home started right up. That battery was later changed due to leaving my hazards on while I was rear ended.

In my office underground garage, 4 weeks. No issues started right up.