XSeries-forum

I got into my car this afternoon turned the ignition on and waited for the lights to do the normal test sequence but something was different , the 4x4 light stayed on, turned the key to start the engine and nothing happened other than all the lights went out and the starter chattered accompanied by the occasional beep from something.
Thought the battery had failed again, I fitted a new one in February for similar defects, so I whipped it out and took it to the dealer where they put a tester across it and it showed OK.
Fitted it back in car and tried again to no avail.
Have now sourced a charger and am charging battery but I am not confident that this will solve the issue.
Anyone had similar issues and resolved it differently?     

Worth checking that all of the power connections to the battery, and up front under the bonnet where the charging/jump start points are fully tight.  It isn’t unknown for the +ve point under the bonnet to work loose.

Definitely worth fully recharging the battery - 12 hours or more.

You could also have a failed starter or solenoid.  The former is well known, particularly around 2004 on 3.0D engines, when they were made by Magnetti Marelli.  A current clamp will be needed to check whether the starter is drawing more than 180A.  If it is much higher - and some can draw 900A - then the starter needs replacing with a Bosch unit.  The battery cannot deliver enough current demanded by the starter so the volts plummet!

If the solenoid fails then the starter will not engage, however from your description it sounds like the volts have dropped too low so no cranking.

Was there any sign of slow cranking before it stopped?  That is another sign of starter trouble if the battery is OK.

It is a DIY job but you need a set of Torx sockets, long reach extensions and time.  Remanufactured starters are available from Eurocarparts.  I had the E53 one done under warranty and did our E46 one two years ago for the same problem.

I have had duff batteries pass a battery test. Did they do a full load drop test on it?

It is the only way to tell.

Did your battery come with a arrant - often they don't text them they just swap them over (tip - if buying new battery tape the receipt to the side of it as you need this to make a claim. Bosch Silver S5 comes with 5 year warranty. I claimed after 3 years. Other batteries are available and you need the correct fitting and rating which X5 Sport can advise). Iv never had a problem since but others will tell you that there are better batteries than Bosch currently. You pays your money and you takes your chances. For me if it is covered by a no quibble warranty for five years then Im happy with that even of it fails and I need to claim

As x5 Sport says there is the start issue. I had this (my car was late 2004) and I changed it to Bosch and battery issues went away

Smee

I had a varta battery that failed within a month.
Bought it online so i was asked to get it tested and email.them with the test printout.
Halfords was the only place that could test and supply a printout.
They tested the battery and the result was a good battery.
I went to Taynar batteries and they drop tested it with a digital meter connected and it failed big style.
I ended up paying £20 to return the varta battery and for them to test it and it did fail for them.
Old fashioned drop test is the only way if you ask me.

Absolutely.  Modern digital drop tests do not work the battery hard enough.

so that's three of us now. We're all agreed - depends on how your battery was tested .......

Over to you ...

It could also be the final stage resistor,or hedgehog as some people call it ,what happens is the the resistor brakes down and the interior fans run slowly and flattened the battery ,they are only on low and you cant hear them ,you can buy the part of flea bay for under £20 and is not a bad job to fit ,Im only saying from personal experiences, good luck and please post the outcome