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Current Drain
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- Senior Member
- Posts: 2716
- Joined: Fri Jun 21, 2019 10:06 am
- Location: Costa Del Sol
Current Drain
Recently I have noticed if I leave my car standing for more than a couple of days I get a message on the drive screen and dashboard saying something about excessive battery drain. Once I went back to the car after it was left standing for 3 days and on the fourth day the battery was completely dead, not a sign of life in the car at all, meaning I had the to charge the battery overnight to get it working again.
I have some aftermarket accessories plugged in which I thought might be the culprit, such as sound system dash cam etc. so I unplugged each of these but it made no difference. Checking each day with a multimeter I can see the battery draining more and more every day.
I installed a new Varta battery less than 2 years ago and registered it to the car. To rule out a defective battery I have had it tested to make sure it is not defective which it isn't so yesterday my mechanic put it on his scanner but the only error popping up is a defect in the electric heated door mirrors. I don't know if this is causing the problem and on the other hand I have never been able to test the heated mirrors since well it never gets that cold here to need them.
Anyone had a similar experience or have any ideas before I spend money taking it to an auto electrician?
I have some aftermarket accessories plugged in which I thought might be the culprit, such as sound system dash cam etc. so I unplugged each of these but it made no difference. Checking each day with a multimeter I can see the battery draining more and more every day.
I installed a new Varta battery less than 2 years ago and registered it to the car. To rule out a defective battery I have had it tested to make sure it is not defective which it isn't so yesterday my mechanic put it on his scanner but the only error popping up is a defect in the electric heated door mirrors. I don't know if this is causing the problem and on the other hand I have never been able to test the heated mirrors since well it never gets that cold here to need them.
Anyone had a similar experience or have any ideas before I spend money taking it to an auto electrician?
2009 sdrive30i auto Sapphire Black / Coral Red
- B21
- Lifer
- Posts: 5326
- Joined: Tue Oct 05, 2021 7:15 pm
- Location: In my Banana Yellow Space Shuttle...somewhere over Southern Caledonia
Current Drain
Excess battery drain is often caused by the DME failing to close down all but essential cicuits..usually because another device, Bluetooth, Comfort Access etc is faulty or has a s/w related issue..
I have it on my 35is where Comfort Access is preventing full shut down, looks like a faulty comfort access fault..
Using ISTA / Protool you would usually see a DME error and most likely an error from the module causing the issue..
I have it on my 35is where Comfort Access is preventing full shut down, looks like a faulty comfort access fault..
Using ISTA / Protool you would usually see a DME error and most likely an error from the module causing the issue..
We choose to go to on with this endeavour at this time and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard..
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- Senior Member
- Posts: 2716
- Joined: Fri Jun 21, 2019 10:06 am
- Location: Costa Del Sol
Current Drain
Probably the scan tool that my mechanic has cannot pick up the fault although I wonder if it is related to the heated mirror defect it did pick up.
Is Protool still android only? I don't have ISTA either which I am guessing is Windows only. I guess the best bet is to take it to the local BMW dealers for them to give me diagnostic readout.
Is Protool still android only? I don't have ISTA either which I am guessing is Windows only. I guess the best bet is to take it to the local BMW dealers for them to give me diagnostic readout.
2009 sdrive30i auto Sapphire Black / Coral Red
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- Member
- Posts: 709
- Joined: Sun Nov 27, 2011 11:29 pm
- Location: South Manchester
Current Drain
I've had a similar problem for some time now. Never got as bad as the car failing to start though. When I can remember i do put the battery on a CTEK
Z4 ‘13 20i Mineral Grey
Z4 '07 2.5Si Montego Blue
Z4 '07 2.5Si Montego Blue
- B21
- Lifer
- Posts: 5326
- Joined: Tue Oct 05, 2021 7:15 pm
- Location: In my Banana Yellow Space Shuttle...somewhere over Southern Caledonia
Current Drain
Hi yes ISTA is windows only and the install and use is not very user friendly…Silverstar wrote: ↑Wed Jan 18, 2023 4:28 pm Probably the scan tool that my mechanic has cannot pick up the fault although I wonder if it is related to the heated mirror defect it did pick up.
Is Protool still android only? I don't have ISTA either which I am guessing is Windows only. I guess the best bet is to take it to the local BMW dealers for them to give me diagnostic readout.
Bimmergeeks Protool is Android only..I’m an Apple user but just bought a cheap ruggedised Chinese android phone as a dedicated Protool device..just like you might do with a cheap code reader like Foxwell..
We choose to go to on with this endeavour at this time and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard..
- Smartbear
- Lifer
- Posts: 13685
- Joined: Wed Feb 05, 2014 6:54 pm
- Location: a barn in Somerset
Current Drain
When you leave the car for a few days is it locked? If the car’s left unlocked it causes it to stay “awake” for hours before it shuts down properly.
Rob
Rob
e89 Sdrive 20i, plenty of mumbo & good economy-the thinking bears z4
e89 Sdrive 30i, this ones busted, pass me another...
e85 3.0si sold
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- Senior Member
- Posts: 2716
- Joined: Fri Jun 21, 2019 10:06 am
- Location: Costa Del Sol
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- Senior Member
- Posts: 2716
- Joined: Fri Jun 21, 2019 10:06 am
- Location: Costa Del Sol
Current Drain
Will have to consider doing this, thanks.B21 wrote: ↑Wed Jan 18, 2023 5:23 pmHi yes ISTA is windows only and the install and use is not very user friendly…Silverstar wrote: ↑Wed Jan 18, 2023 4:28 pm Probably the scan tool that my mechanic has cannot pick up the fault although I wonder if it is related to the heated mirror defect it did pick up.
Is Protool still android only? I don't have ISTA either which I am guessing is Windows only. I guess the best bet is to take it to the local BMW dealers for them to give me diagnostic readout.
Bimmergeeks Protool is Android only..I’m an Apple user but just bought a cheap ruggedised Chinese android phone as a dedicated Protool device..just like you might do with a cheap code reader like Foxwell..
2009 sdrive30i auto Sapphire Black / Coral Red
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- Senior Member
- Posts: 2716
- Joined: Fri Jun 21, 2019 10:06 am
- Location: Costa Del Sol
Current Drain
A quick update. Took my car in to my local BMW specialist who hooked it up to their diagnostics. They found that there was no communication with the audio module and suggested as B21 said that it was not shutting down and hence draining the battery.
They reckon it’s the MMi box that is connected to the radio that is causing the fault! Means I am now going to have to disconnect the MMI box and put the car’s original loom back in the radio to check.
They reckon it’s the MMi box that is connected to the radio that is causing the fault! Means I am now going to have to disconnect the MMI box and put the car’s original loom back in the radio to check.
2009 sdrive30i auto Sapphire Black / Coral Red
- B21
- Lifer
- Posts: 5326
- Joined: Tue Oct 05, 2021 7:15 pm
- Location: In my Banana Yellow Space Shuttle...somewhere over Southern Caledonia
Current Drain
Hmm interesting..keep us postedSilverstar wrote: ↑Sun Feb 19, 2023 8:16 pm A quick update. Took my car in to my local BMW specialist who hooked it up to their diagnostics. They found that there was no communication with the audio module and suggested as B21 said that it was not shutting down and hence draining the battery.
They reckon it’s the MMi box that is connected to the radio that is causing the fault! Means I am now going to have to disconnect the MMI box and put the car’s original loom back in the radio to check.
We choose to go to on with this endeavour at this time and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard..