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how much does the battery drain

Discuss your latest mods or ideas, and anything to do with the BMW X5 (E53).
Smeeagain
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Re: how much does the battery drain

Post by Smeeagain » Mon Nov 17, 2014 2:20 pm

[quote="X5Sport"]
[quote="Smeeagain"]
Can you do the test at the charging points under the bonnet?
[/quote]

No.  You need to disconnect one side of the battery and put an ammeter in circuit, or run the BMW test system on the car.  I don't know which part of the software suite does it though.

Richard
[/quote]

So to do that you'd need to have the boot open - will the car still go to sleep ? Im thinking for example the interior light will still be on ?

Raj
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Re: how much does the battery drain

Post by Raj » Mon Nov 17, 2014 3:09 pm

I've got the same thing at present. 135mA draw at rest. You have to test at battery as Rich has said but if you activate the boot lock while it's open it will trick it into thinking it's closed and start the sleep process.
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X5Sport
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Re: how much does the battery drain

Post by X5Sport » Mon Nov 17, 2014 4:37 pm

My old E53 just went to sleep even with the boot open.  Lights went out etc.

Richard
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MrCam
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Re: how much does the battery drain

Post by MrCam » Mon Nov 17, 2014 6:02 pm

I'm having problems with my E53, I just don't do enough miles, I'm thinking of getting one of those battery chargers that charge and condition the battery, 1.5 miles to work and back every day just doesn't do it.

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X5Sport
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Re: how much does the battery drain

Post by X5Sport » Mon Nov 17, 2014 6:35 pm

Good idea.  It will save you a good deal of hassle.  You could always walk...... :P

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Smeeagain
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Re: how much does the battery drain

Post by Smeeagain » Mon Nov 17, 2014 8:57 pm

so what is the FSR .....?

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Re: how much does the battery drain

Post by Raj » Mon Nov 17, 2014 10:04 pm

[quote="Smeeagain"]
so what is the FSR .....?
[/quote]

Final Stage Resistor aka hedgehog.

Google it and you will find plenty of threads on it on varying models.
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Re: how much does the battery drain

Post by chrisn7 » Mon Nov 17, 2014 11:40 pm

[quote="X5Sport"]
[quote="chrisn7"]
According to the WDS the X5 closed circuit current drain should be no more than 40 mA
[/quote]

US or UK version?  UK have an alarm system that is not fitted to the U.S. spec cars - and may not be fitted in Europe either.  That brings it up a little bit.

Richard
[/quote]

Fraid I can't answer that-you don't have to specify the VIN when using the WDS, unlike ETK and TIS.

For anyone who wants to do the current drain test:

http://www.meeknet.co.uk/e38/E38_Battery_Drain.htm

Same principle for E53 as E38

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Re: how much does the battery drain

Post by X5Sport » Tue Nov 18, 2014 9:56 am

Good description.  If I may add one note of caution for those attempting the test.  Make sure you have an ammeter capable of handling at least 10A (or even more) in case the car awakens mid-test.  the only smoke you want is from the exhaust, not cooking electrical meters...... :P

Richard
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Re: how much does the battery drain

Post by Smeeagain » Mon Dec 01, 2014 5:39 pm

[quote="Smeeagain"]
my wife came back to a flat battery (third time in 3 months and only when she uses the car and i used it far more than she does ....)

Anyway, having forgotten all the instructions I gave her about jump starting she called the AA. He got her going but said that it needed a new battery because there was too much drain off it.

Now I wasnt there and she cant quite remember how much he said it was/should be draining. It is is a four year old Bosch silver S5 battery in an E53 3.0 Do Sport Auto 2004 - can someone tell me how much a good battery should be draining with the various permanent systems (he also didn't wait til it had gone to sleep as far as I can tell so presumably that would give him an 'incorrect' value)

Smee
[/quote]

Turns out the battery is fine and there is no drain. As I said in original post the AA guy didn't wait for the systems to shut down before declaring a drain. appreciate they have lots of cars that they are expected to know about but I think that is a basic error as I'd imagine the same principles apply to most modern cars these days
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Re: how much does the battery drain

Post by X5Sport » Mon Dec 01, 2014 8:34 pm

So short journeys killed it?

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Smeeagain
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Re: how much does the battery drain

Post by Smeeagain » Mon Dec 01, 2014 10:42 pm

no not at all - she has a tendency to leave the lights on or not close the boot properly

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sleepyfolk
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Re: how much does the battery drain

Post by sleepyfolk » Mon Dec 01, 2014 11:31 pm

New wife required maybe!
E53 X5 4.6is Carbon Black 2003
Mercedes CLK 320
Audi A6 Quattro 2.4

Smeeagain
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Re: how much does the battery drain

Post by Smeeagain » Tue Dec 02, 2014 10:28 am

Perhaps time to trade in and get a newer model  :)

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Re: how much does the battery drain

Post by Greydog » Tue Dec 02, 2014 12:28 pm

I had a flat battery issue with one of the E55 estates AA fitted a new battery didn't cure the issue AA called out again, again advised needs a new battery? When I pointed out they had not long (1 month) fitted one he couldn't give any reason other than short journeys as the alternator output was good.
Neither Mercedes or the AA could give an answer but one of my control engineers traced the problem to a soft diode in the voltage regulator. New regulator fitted no more problem I then read in the Sunday papers that AA operators were on commission for Battery and wiper sales, makes you think
4.6is X5 Estoril Blue (current)
4.4 X5 Sport Topaz Blue LPG (now gone squashed by a tree)
Subaru Outback 3.0 Rn Star Silver (current)
AMG 6.3 CLS Obsidian Black (sold)

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