wierd electrical stuff

[Sidewaze Samm]

Wierd stuff has just started happening - it's not my car so I haven't actually witnessed all the issues, only some of them.
Battery has been tested at 12.6V, with alternator at 14.2V

In normal daytime driving:
"all" the warning lights come on;
power steering is lost;
centre console lights (eg on heater controls) go off;
radio goes off.
This lasts for 1 to 2 seconds then all returns to normal, and has occurred around 7 or 8 times.

When stationary, and within a minute of the above happening, opening (and closing) the windows resulted in a flurry of warning lights when the window movement stopped. (got that on video but file size larger than the max uploadable here of 8Mb)

Don't know if there could be a connection, but HID kit was fitted some weeks ago though there were no problems til two days ago :idunno:

Car is 2005 2.5 manual E85

Any ideas?

 

[Smartbear]

I’d check the tightness of the battery terminals before digging deeper.
Rob

 

[JamesClements]

I have the exact same issue happened yesterday. I don't loose power steering though, just all the dash lights flash on very briefly, radio cuts out then returns to normal. I put it down to the car being sat for a few months but battery looks ok 12.5V really strange

 

[Ewazix]

After the basics like battery condition connectors and earth I'd check for any codes then research the well documented "B+ battery connector" issue that has been mentioned on here before and led to a recall due to electrical power shutting off. I wouldn't trust the limited recall range which I think BMW limited depending on the age and country (even though it's the same cars from the same factory!).

 

[JamesClements]

After the basics like battery condition connectors and earth I'd check for any codes then research the well documented "B+ battery connector" issue that has been mentioned on here before and led to a recall due to electrical power shutting off. I wouldn't trust the limited recall range which I think BMW limited depending on the age and country (even though it's the same cars from the same factory!).

Thanks for the advice, the positive clamp had ridden up the terminal a little, re affixed the connector today and it seems to be resolved

 

[Ewazix]

After the basics like battery condition connectors and earth I'd check for any codes then research the well documented "B+ battery connector" issue that has been mentioned on here before and led to a recall due to electrical power shutting off. I wouldn't trust the limited recall range which I think BMW limited depending on the age and country (even though it's the same cars from the same factory!).

Thanks for the advice, the positive clamp had ridden up the terminal a little, re affixed the connector today and it seems to be resolved

Well done, glad it was a cheap fix