Excessive Battery Discharge & Strange Electrical Problems
 

2012 E70 35D

So I have been getting the "excessive battery discharge" message. I had also received some message that said the car was shutting down some systems s a result, though I did not take pic of that message, or remember exactly what it said. I did notice a message that the headlights moving with my steering was being shut down, and my "one touch start," and some of my comfort door lock features stopped working.

As part of troubleshooting this I checked the battery, though I know that's not the cause of this message. The battery was the original from 2012, so I replied it. Then I reset my coding to turn back on all of the comfort stuff. Everything but the "one touch start" started working again. Then a few days later I got the same "excessive battery discharge" message. Before al of this started I did notice the my passenger side front door handle would not lock/unlock the doors like the others do. That has been going on for a long time before the "excessive battery discharge" messages started though.

Today I tulles my error codes and talking to my Indy Mechanic. He is not sure what to make of the codes, so I thought I would, ask here. Anyone have any thoughts or suggestions?

Engine / Motor
Fault Code: 0046F9
Fault Explanation: Reductant active tank temperature sensor signal
Fault Code: 004B6A
Fault Explanation: NOx sensor before DeNOx catalytic converter,
plausibility
Fault Code: 004BAC
Fault Explanation: Reductant tank active Fuellstandssensor, Signal

Transmission / Getriebe GS 19
Fault Code: 00CF37
Fault Explanation: :Embassy of CAS to K-Bus error / CAN bus /
Embassy SMG 3 / Signal from the DSC: DSC Status

Instrument cluster / Kombiinstrument
Fault Code: 00A559
Fault Explanation: :KL30g f Cutoff / KL30g f shutdown / Klemme30g
f shutdown / KL.30g f shutdown

Passive Go System
Fault Code: 00A0A9
Fault Explanation: :DAYS BFT Watchdog Timer / Days3 Watchdog
Timer

The Codes are way over my head, but check out this recent thread (If you haven't already), where OP was having the same high drain issue and was trying to disable the Driver's side CA door handle to resolve..

Makes me think you may have an issue with the Passenger CA door handle?

There is a known defect with the comfort access door handle- an internal short causes them to draw too much current. Drains the battery, can trip that error and cn cause the things you are seeing.


Someone recently posted a ghetto hack in which he just cut a wire instead of fixing it. Others have actually posted the fix.


If the door handle area is warm to the touch (or shows up warm with an IR thermometer) that is the likely culprit

Duc Hunter:

It sounds like you have a bad CA (comfort access) sensor in one of your door handles. As stated, the temperature of the bad handle may give it away.

Based on my research taking the bad sensor out of the loop (by cutting a wire) or replacing the handle were the only options. It sounds like some people (who live in a much nicer area than I do) have a better solution, hopefully they will be more helpful and point you in the right direction.

Best,
Jim from a part of a city, especially a slum area, occupied by a minority group or groups.

(Jim- I dont want this to be a class thing, or a how much money you make thing. I have a personal aversion to hacking. It is an unavoidable issue as cars age and the cost of repair doesnt 'scale' with the acquisition costs. All cars, it always happens. However it is, in a way, sad. Sad for the car, for it not being able to be repaired the way it 'should'.


Just my two cents. Appreciate your participation here, even if it sounds like we are snobs. ;) )

X2 - for ard

BMW has replaced 7 door handles on my 2011 X5 for excessive battery drain. I will support ard's comment on warm door handles. Car was in the garage, it was cool. Rear door handle was warm to the touch from overnight. I don't lock my car in the garage. I wonder if that would shut down the comfort feature that is keeping the door handle awake and thus warm.
My new door handles have been fine for 20 months.