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BMW 5-Series Maintenance and Repair

2734 messages,  Last post on Mar 25, 2013 at 4:00 PM

You are in the BMW 5-Series Forum.

What is this discussion about? BMW 5 Series, Electrical, Engine, Sedan, Wagon

    
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Messages Page 204 of 274

#2024 of 2734 Battery? Alternator? by hpowders

Nov 09, 2007 (4:57 am)

I have a 2005 545i which has behaved flawlessly.... until now.
 
I was resetting the clock in iDrive when I got a warning that the battery was being drained and it will completely discharge. From that point on, whenever I started the car, it would turn over sluggishly and the battery would actually go off for a fraction of a second and I would lose data such as fuel consumption (mpg).
 
I brought the car to my dealer's service department. They kept it overnight and recharged the battery. They found nothing else wrong. I picked the car up yesterday afternoon and last night the battery went completely dead in a shopping center parking lot. The car had to be towed home.
 
Do I need a new battery and/or alternator? I am calling the BMW service department again this morning.
 
Thank you for any input.

#2025 of 2734 Re: Battery? Alternator? [hpowders] by ny540i6

Nov 09, 2007 (5:15 am)

Replying to: hpowders (Nov 09, 2007 4:57 am)
Let's assume that the dealer tested the alternator, and found it good, then it seems like a bum battery...

#2026 of 2734 Re: Battery? Alternator? [ny540i6] by hpowders

Nov 09, 2007 (5:48 am)

Replying to: ny540i6 (Nov 09, 2007 5:15 am)
I called BMW Assist and am currently waiting for a tow to BMW.
 
It looks like with the included maintenance, to keep their costs down, BMW will try the cheapest "fix" first. Instead of putting in a new battery, they charged up the original one. So instead of fixing the problem, I got stuck! I will scream for a replacement battery!
 
Thanks!

#2027 of 2734 Re: Battery? Alternator? [hpowders] by carnaught

Nov 09, 2007 (7:05 am)

Replying to: hpowders (Nov 09, 2007 5:48 am)
Howard: Yes, insist on a new battery !

#2028 of 2734 Re: Battery? Alternator? [carnaught] by hpowders

Nov 09, 2007 (8:51 am)

Replying to: carnaught (Nov 09, 2007 7:05 am)
Thanks, Carnaught!
 
The tow guy came by, juiced up the battery and the car started. He told me the alternator is fine but the battery has to go. I wasn't taking any chances, so the car was flat-bedded back 40 miles to the dealer. I told my service rep. not to re-charge the battery and that I expected a new one.
 
Last night, the battery was 90% dead several hours after getting it back from the dealer who charged the battery that afternoon.

#2029 of 2734 Question by xroxguy

Nov 11, 2007 (8:31 am)

I have an opportnity to but a 2003 530I in mint condition with about 93,000 miles..
 
This is a lot of miles and my first BMW - any advice? Should this still have lots of miles?
 
anything to look out for?
 
Thanks

#2030 of 2734 Re: Question [xroxguy] by andys120

Nov 11, 2007 (8:58 am)

Replying to: xroxguy (Nov 11, 2007 8:31 am)
If it really is in mint condition (have it checked out by an independent tech) and is well priced it may be worth your while. I have over 100K on my MY2000 528iA and it continues to give good performance and value.
 
E39 Fivers are prone to early radiator failures, see if you can find out if the radiator and
expansion tank have been replaced, if not price these for your area and plan on doing prophylactic replacements soon. Ditto tie rod ends and sway bar bushings.
 
Perhaps Roadburner will come by and have some additional ideas but that's all I can think of.

#2031 of 2734 Re: Question [andys120] by xroxguy

Nov 11, 2007 (11:01 am)

Replying to: andys120 (Nov 11, 2007 8:58 am)
thanks andys

#2032 of 2734 Re: Question [xroxguy] by ny540i6

Nov 11, 2007 (4:45 pm)

Replying to: xroxguy (Nov 11, 2007 8:31 am)
Well, I'd need to see a full service history on the car. Was it maintained by the (new) book, with maintenance only when the car said so, or were oil changes etc a bit more frequent? Has the brake fluid been changed/flushed at least twice in that period? Is it still on the original radiator/expansion tank/water pump? Does it use a lot of oil, or drink coolant? Any gremlins in the dash/radio displays?
 
Just a few things to look at, however 93K is not huge for the I6 engine.

#2033 of 2734 Re: Question [ny540i6] by xroxguy

Nov 12, 2007 (12:11 pm)

Replying to: ny540i6 (Nov 11, 2007 4:45 pm)
Thanks what do u think it is worth?

Messages Page 204 of 274

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