battery going flat after washing
 

Question
What would be the reason behind my 2010 X5 35d battery going flat after washing, the ignition is off and the car is lock, I am able to wash and dry the car and then move it but when it comes time to leave later in the day the battery is completely dead

Any thoughts on what could be causing it ? :dunno::dunno:

Don't leave the door open so long when you are cleaning, and drive more :D. You battery isn't fully charged. Either that or put it on the tender. It maybe on its way out, 4 years old now.

I had the same experience...realized that Comfort Access was keeping the X "awake" while I was washing and cleaning. Combined with a weak battery and faulty alternator and I was done in half an hour wash/vacuum session.

Bingo.


When I wash the X with the key in my pocket, it repeatedly locks and unlocks as the water/suds wash over the handles.

Perhaps drop you key/remote in a metal can?? (I just put mine in the house, its far enough away)

IMO, if the car is dead after this you have a battery on the way out.

blue dragon

i leave the door closed and its not a charge issure and i just got back from a 491kms or 305mile trip to the snow,and 26km or 16 mile tip into work that morning
this is also the 2nd battery i have had in the car.

would the locking and unlocking of the door really draw that much power to mke it go flat , i am able to drive out out of the wash bay and park it so its no dead straight after... just when it come time to leave to head home.
thanx for the advice
the car is at my local bmw dealer i will keep yu posted at to what they can find out.
hopefully ismjust something silly like i need a new battery (3rd one in 4 years)


if you can thinkg of any other reasons please let me know

(Reminds me of a trip to Aus where I drove from Sydney to Perisher and back over a weekend to ski in July...)

Your issue sounds like you have an underlying issue wherein your car may be straining the battery all the time, and shortening the life...then as the battery reaches the end of life it is susceptible to this behavior where a mild use can cause it to die.

There are faults where a module 'wakes up' periodically, causing the entire system to come on and draw a lot of current. This can happen constantly through the night, days on end, weeks on end...a battery that should last 5,6,8 years will deplete in 2 -3 years.

You want the dealer to LOG the voltage draw overnight and see if this is the problem. BMW has an SIB (service bulletin) for this.