Do not switch off engine message. Transmission fault?

[Waka]

I've not any helpful advice but do appreciate your updates on this thread

[Andy Collings]

Thank you ! Car still ok at moment, need to do a long trip just to prove alternator change and fixing the oil leak has solved the problem. Any one with similar age car could have the same issues some time. Will update again later.

[Andy Collings]

Good news, still no return of the original fault. New alternator and cure of oil leak seems to have sorted it. So, all the symptoms were a result of a power problem, most commonly caused by battery but on this occasion was caused by leaking oil getting on alternator. Oil was leaking from both rocker cover gaskets which had hardened but the oil which drowned the alternator was coming from the timing cover gasket, it was leaking directly onto alternator. A word of warning about rocker cover gaskets, the nearside gasket, one on passenger side is a sod to change, the engine has to be dropped, bear this in mind for labour costs.
Will update if any further developments !

[Andy Collings]

All still good and SOS sorted as per the thread. Reversing camera black and white next issue to play with! What next!

[Andy Collings]

Few more weeks on and some long journeys, no more warnings! All good at last. Was Alternator as per previous messages. SOS message still cleared, cured by replacement TCU. Still not looked into black and white rear camera yet.

[marti]

Thats good news then.....

[Andy Collings]

Yes good news at last! taken a while and a lot of money and hassle from wife but all sorted and all the other things found along the way fixed too. Have to keep it now for a while otherwise spent all the money for someone else's benefit. Love the car anyway, economy not too much of a problem as I only live 2 miles from work and on shift. Getting 14.6 back and forward to work and around town, fairly long run on A roads etc and a little motorway 15.8, mostly motorway long run 26.6. Pretty much as expected. Use mostly Superplus and Momentum fuel. Thanks for your interest.

[rehan]

Hi,

I was reading this thread with interest. I had a similar issues with the car going into limp mode randomly, and car hesitating. The issue with these cars is that for some reason there's no longer any battery warning light. The car would start without any issue, but after a while it would start misbehaving. Used a CTEK charger to keep the charge topped-up which didn't help. Charging voltage was around 14.6v. I changed the battery (wet lead acid) and coded it correctly to the car etc, which didn't fix it.

Went to a BMW specialist, and he said that I did the wrong thing by putting a wet lead acid battery in it, and it should be AGM. He said that I should start by changing the battery. I didn't do this as I had just put a new battery in it. I then bought a cigarette lighter voltage meter so that I could see what the charging voltage was during a drive easily. I would keep an eye on this, and found that, the car would stop charging the battery after a random amount of time. This could be 10 minutes or half an hour. It also sometimes just wouldn't start charging at all. I stopped taking it for long runs for fear of running out of charge.

I got a new (OEM Lucas I think) alternator fitted. The old one, like yours was soaked in oil from a leaking timing chain cover. I got both the covers changed also at the same time. The replacement alternator cured the problem. After starting, there's a delay of a few seconds, then the charge voltage goes up to 14.6v or so.

As far as MPG is concerned, it's similar for me, but struggle to stretch to 26. Would using premium make some difference to MPG on long runs?

[Andy Collings]

Hi,
Seems a familiar story after delving into more forums, not just on X5's. Many have had oil leaking onto the alternator from timing covers or rocker cover gaskets, mine was both but mainly the timing cover. As for battery, mine is a normal lead acid not an AGM, was the only one recommended by certain places. Had no trouble with it so far but do keep it charged up with Noco Genius charger. Premium fuel is supposed to be best for engine and economy I do mostly use it and Momentum but not always. Do keep tank over half at all times though. 26.5 mpg was over distance of around 350 miles round trip and mostly motorway doing around boring 70, took it easy just to see what I could get. Don't drive like it anymore but don't go mad. Got another problem now, really struggles to start recently, did a diagnostics and Cam sensor 2 knackered. Got 2 coming tomorrow, no point changing just 1. Cost £145.00 for the 2, fitting will be on Friday, better cure it! Then wait for the next thing to go wrong, like the car loads though and not tempted to change it any time soon. Will keep doing regular posts as things happen, good to share experiences and save people time and money. Learn;t a lot myself from forums.