XSeries-forum

[quote="X5Sport"]
It's worth getting a starter check done as there is a known problem with Magnettii Marelli made starters.  The check is simple enough to get done by a competent auto-electrician using a current clamp.  If the starter is drawing much more than 180A then it is suspect.  I have had two done.  One drew over 900A and the other 550A.  Both were replaced with Bosch units.  It took a BMW dealer multiple attempts to find the faulty one on the E53 but the E46 one I found (and replaced) myself.
[/quote]

Agreed. And in fact on mine the starter had killed the battery. So I had to replace both. and with the OP not knowing the history of the glow plugs it may need (as a worst case scenario) glow plugs, glow plug controller, battery and starter if it is the Marellii faulty type.
Id also say that if going to the exyent of replacing glow plugs that have unknown history then replace all six rather than just those showing up as faulty. The cost of the plugs themselves is low, the cost of the job is in the labour getting to them
Smee

Thanks for all the info.

Car has started better the last three days since it drained the battery on Thursday. I have been leaving it to pre-heat for longer though, so not sure if that has helped.

I've had a look at the battery, its branded Pavilion, which I've not come across and has this date marking on the side that I cannot decipher. Can anyone help?

yup thats an 019
personally i'd avoid bosch but anything with over 800 cranking amps is good

I bought this one last winter, it's been perfect so far, 5 yr warranty. http://www.halfords.com/motoring/bulbs- ... -guarantee

Only used Halfords due to having a trade card!

[quote="ianst0028"]
yup thats an 019
personally i'd avoid bosch but anything with over 800 cranking amps is good
[/quote]

What comes as standard then? My battery has only 550CCA, but its never been a problem in the 18 months I've owned it before recently.

Looking at this one, never had an issue with Varta before.
http://www.batterymegastore.co.uk/varta-h3.html

[quote="Insight G40"]
Thanks for all the info.

Car has started better the last three days since it drained the battery on Thursday. I have been leaving it to pre-heat for longer though, so not sure if that has helped.

I've had a look at the battery, its branded Pavilion, which I've not come across and has this date marking on the side that I cannot decipher. Can anyone help?


[/quote]

Interesting that you mention leaving it to pre-heat for longer. If it needs pre-heating a message will say so on the dash and then go out. But regardless of pre heating you should be waiting for all the dash lights to go out before cranking. The time taken for those lights to go out is longer than the pre heating, so either way you should always be waiting longer before cranking.
Most folk dont.

Your battery looks a little underwhelming spec wise.  It should be 12V, 830A CCA and 90Ah in an 019 format case.  At a guess I suspect it is being run harder than the car actually needs and it's life may be shortened.  That being said, it obviously works.  Cold weather will find a dying battery!

The date code could be anything as it looks like Pavilion use their own sequence.  I can't find a match with any of the obvious sequences I know of.

Not waiting for the lights to fully cycle will generate all sorts of oddities on the E53.  I was told to Turn - Long Pause - Crank and mine was fine ever after.

changed my battery  went for a Yuasa 5019 12v 100ah with 900cca  it made a vast difference to starting cold , old battery had a bad cell

[quote="Colin"]
changed my battery  went for a Yuasa 5019 12v 100ah with 900cca  it made a vast difference to starting cold , old battery had a bad cell
[/quote]

I put the same in mine Col ..... when tested it came up at over 1000cca so i'm very happy

[quote="Colin"]
changed my battery  went for a Yuasa 5019 12v 100ah with 900cca  it made a vast difference to starting cold , old battery had a bad cell
[/quote]

Yeah same here, like I said earlier got.mine from Halfords. She starts on the button everytime now.

Wonder if I can get one for the Mrs 

[quote="grumpywurzel"]
Wonder if I can get one for the Mrs 
[/quote]

:spiteful:

[quote="X5Sport"]
Your battery looks a little underwhelming spec wise.  It should be 12V, 830A CCA and 90Ah in an 019 format case.  At a guess I suspect it is being run harder than the car actually needs and it's life may be shortened.  That being said, it obviously works.  Cold weather will find a dying battery!

The date code could be anything as it looks like Pavilion use their own sequence.  I can't find a match with any of the obvious sequences I know of.

Not waiting for the lights to fully cycle will generate all sorts of oddities on the E53.  I was told to Turn - Long Pause - Crank and mine was fine ever after.
[/quote]

Given the comments, I'm going to replace the battery with 830CCA, and see if that solves the issue. Even if the battery is not the problem, an underpowered battery can't be doing the car any good.

If I'm still having problems, then I'll look at the glow plugs.

I think at my last service i had 4 faulty glow plugs  but haven't changed any of them  as i use my remote for the webasto heater a half hour or so before the first start up of the day , anyone know what price glow plugs are ?

As far as I recall when i had them done pre Christmas, the plugs themselves were circa fifteen quid each. The cost is in the labour unless of course you do it yourself

[quote="Colin"]
I think at my last service i had 4 faulty glow plugs  but haven't changed any of them  as i use my remote for the webasto heater a half hour or so before the first start up of the day , anyone know what price glow plugs are ?
[/quote]

Colin factor in for the controller change too, many have reported that the unit goes tits up too. Mine is for an oil service at the weekend I am gonna ask him to price up the plugs and controller for me