XSeries-forum

We recently did a friend a favour and stored his classic MG in our garage so our 2006 X3 was left outside.
Unfortunately we didn't use it for a few weeks due to illness and the battery went flat.

We charged the battery but now the parking sensors are playing up. When the parking sensors are activated the sound through the speakers sounds distorted. The system works when reversing but once the front detects anything it goes into error. We have checked all of the sensors we're ticking and the corner ones at the front didn't seem great so we changed them but the problem persists.

Is it possible the flat battery has caused the issue and is there any kind of reset ? Or is it a garage visit ?

Any help would be appreciated

Thanks
David

As it's easy to access the battery on the E83 X3, I would disconnect it for an hour. When you reconnect you will have to turn the steering lock to lock to cancel out the 4x4 fault on the dash.
Worth a try as so easy to get at.
Other thought is water ingress to one of the front sensors. Good luck.

Hi horizon

I should have mentioned I have also tried that as well  but thankyou for the suggestion

The parking sensors are fixed 

Cost £443 

It turned out the PDC control unit had failed so a replacement was needed from BMW and coded to the car.

I guess a lesson learned, don't even trickle charge the battery whilst on the car as apparently the electrics don't like it !

Charging on the car is how it is supposed to be done, and the handbook says so.  You should use the under bonnet points though.

Charging with a decent quality smart charger like a CTEK is NOT going to damage your car............its recommended by BMw and other major marques, and there are charge points under the bonnet for this, and for jump starting.  Electronics die for many reasons, static being a large cause, and old-style unregulated "trickle chargers" are definitely not a good idea, CTEKs and similar chargers do not cost a fortune any more.  We have at least three vehicles hooked up to CTeKs at any time for months on end with absolutely no issues.

Agreed.  Our E46 is permanently on one in storage.

I did actually use a CTEK charger so was surprised it caused a problem.

I guess the unit might have been on its way out and the flat battery was enough to push it over the edge

Its disappointing having spent over £1k on the car a couple of months before having the DPF cleaned , swirl flaps blanked  and various sensors etc replaced.

Having said all of that , its still one of the best cars we have had ( and i have had a few) and we love it !