Please help! Big problem w/ X5 E70
 

I have a 2009 BMW X5 E70. Today I backed the car out of the garage, washed and dried the exterior, then pulled the car back into the garage to vacuum it. When trying to vacuum, I wanted to move the seat forward some, so from the passanger side I pressed the power button to put the car in acc mode to be able to move the seats. I pressed the button and the lights went back off. I tried again and same thing. I then put the actual key fob into the ignition to try that (I have comfort access). The interior lights still did the same thing, came off and on. It was a funky thing, some lights on the A/C would come on and some on the cluster gauge. I saw a gear symbol with an exclamation mark on it on the dash as well. Had never seen that. I try starting again and nothing.

Now the light on the hazard light button in the middle of the dash is doing a constant flickering. I tried pressing it and it did nothing and I am still unable to get the key out or start the car. The whole car is completely locked up. I crawled through to the trunk and used the emergency escape to open the rear hatch and disconnected the battery. I left it dc'd for about 15 min then hooked it back up. The flickering on the hazard light button continued and nothing else is working. I also tried manually releasing the parking break to see if that would do anything and it did not (I never set it in the first place, but worth a try). Does anyone have any ideas for me? I'm completely at a lost and now stuck at home and unable to make it to the families for Thanksgiving :/ I also linked a video from my dropbox to see the flickering I'm talking about.

https://dl.dropbox.com/u/99050247/VI...122_100001.mp4

I don't have much for you... I am thinking your battery is shot. It was low, working on the lower limits, but keeping it open and on when you were cleaning it ran it down below the minimum.

I'd try and charge it. Easiest to do, if you can get a charger. Make sure it is compatible with your type of battery.

Second option, just buy a new battery. Today it might be easier to find an autopsrtscstore open to buy one as opposed to a proper charger.

I know it is a bit of a shot in the dark, but you'll need a battery eventually..

GL

A

I agree, battery seems the most likely.

You may want try replacing the battery in your key fob (as you have comfort access). You didn't mention a second key fob?

Thanks guys I appreciate it. I'm charging the battery right now. Is a new battery covered under the BMWs warranty

battery has some charge but below the threshold - try a new battery unless you can charge it, and test it under a load... you said - 2009... has the battery been recently replaced? if this an an original battery - it is time to replace it anyways...

You did'nt have to put the car in acc mode to move the power seats!

If you leave say, the door open for quite a while (not sure of the exact time, I say 20 minutes), the car should cut off the power to everything including the power seats and even the two-piece glove box. However, you just need to press the power button once (preferably without a key-- with a key and acc is on) and everything will receive power.

car goes to sleep after 16 minutes (nominal value), most bimmers have that built-in into them...

@HFD-Chase,

FYI. I am still on my original battery. I think that once you have recharged it, you should be fine.

Not too sure about that with these cars. once the battery is replaced, it needs to be coded/registered to the car for optimal performance. The computer calculates the life of the battery and adjusts things accordingly. Just plunking a new battery in isn't just a simple swap anymore. Good job BMW...good job...