[danbart]

The plot thickens or more correctly spirals into the absurd.

This would be pure comedy if it was not at my expense.

Just got this from the service advisor:

[danbart]

Asked him how a software issue can start affecting hardware like this.

Waiting on a reply.

[CJ421]

Yeah. This screams of the issue not being properly diagnosed. Dealers are not known for doing so, they prefer to replace parts ...

If I was forced to cause a lot of things to fail in a car, I'd send a ton of voltage through the electrical system.

Charles

[Pprior]

Dealers fix things by randomly replacing expensive parts without proper diagnosis ALL the time.

I’m currently on year 8 of ownership of my current BMW - it still has the original BMW OEM battery that it was built with and it has auto stop/start so it’s used all the time.

[stlcdr]

I think it is the battery as a root cause. However that can cascade into the electronics - they do not like voltage variations (tend to have tighter tolerances, even on vehicles). If the battery was in poor health the alternator will have a hard time.

An alternative is that the alternator is a problem, and caused a battery failure - again, changes to voltage outside of even an auto’s wide voltage range could cause the computer/modules to get screwy.

So, a battery or alternator problem may require both changing, but did that cause any permanent issues with the electronics?

[StanDiego]

Originally Posted by Pprior

I’m currently on year 8 of ownership of my current BMW - it still has the original BMW OEM battery that it was built with and it has auto stop/start so it’s used all the time.

I tend to proactively replace the battery at around the 5 year point whether it needs it or not as they sometimes fail without warning. I've not had one fail at less than 5 years though I know they occasionally do.

[danbart]

Well the saga has finally come to an end.

I got the car back 2 weeks ago and everything is running properly again.

In the end they had to replace the body control module, and re-flash/reprogram the car dozens of times to clear out all the fault codes. The print out of the reprogramming was 10cm thick.

Hopefully this is the end of it. The original cause is still unknown.

The dealer blames either Beemer Code or the Front Camera, but they do not know which. I still think it was some sort of random electrical short that damaged the Body Control Module.

Fortunately, it cost less then estimated to get the car up and running and best of all since the car is 100% back to stock with all new software installed I get the factory warranty back.

[yo4]

I don't think it is necessary to replace the ECU.
Remove all third party electronics.
Programming with ISTA will return the car to its initial state.
After that, you can use the FSC Repair Kit.
Please understand more about IBS.

[StanDiego]

Originally Posted by yo4

I don't think it is necessary to replace the ECU.
Remove all third party electronics.
Programming with ISTA will return the car to its initial state.
After that, you can use the FSC Repair Kit.
Please understand more about IBS.

Are your comments directed at his service department? Is your IBS comment referring to the noted parasitic draw?

[danbart]

I'm at the mercy of the service department, not much I can do.

I agree that it sounds crazy to have to replace hardware to fix software. Seems to me like a clean sweep and fresh install of all the software should take care of everything.

[Living Dead]

I just got the below email from my dealership note the highlighted parts seem contradictory. In 41 years of car ownership I've never had a battery last less than 5 years.

To view this email as a webpage, go here.

Habberstad BMW of Huntington

EXTENDING YOUR BMW'S BATTERY LIFE.
Dear John,

Original BMW Batteries are designed and tested to deliver a longer service life than conventional batteries. We recommend having your BMW model's battery checked at least twice per year and replaced about every three years.

Here Are 5 Ways to Extend the Life of Your BMW Battery:

Limit Short Drives
Turn Off All Your Lights
Visual Check of Battery Connections
Park in Cooler Areas
Take Good Care of Your BMW
When looking for a BMW replacement battery schedule an appointment online. Our staff would be delighted to assist you.

Keep your BMW running strong.
Learn More
Habberstad BMW of Huntington
945 E Jericho Turnpike, Huntington Station, NY 11746

Contact
Sales: 800-997-9313
Service: 800-661-5793
Parts: 631-647-6940
Service Hours
Monday 7:00AM-7:00PM
Tuesday 7:00AM-7:00PM
Wednesday 7:00AM-7:00PM
Thursday 7:00AM-7:00PM
Friday 7:00AM-7:00PM
Saturday 8:00AM-4:00PM
Sunday CLOSED
This is an email advertisement sent by Habberstad BMW of Huntington. You are receiving this email because you have either purchased a vehicle or your vehicle has been serviced by Habberstad BMW of Huntington. Habberstad BMW of Huntington sends special sales and service offers as well as vehicle news to all our customers. To ensure delivery of future emails, please add this Habberstad BMW of Huntington contact to your safe senders list. To stop receiving these owner emails from Habberstad BMW of Huntington, please click here to unsubscribe. Please note: This email was sent from a notification-only address that cannot accept incoming email. Do not reply to this message. Contact dealership directly with questions and comments.
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[GerryC]

Originally Posted by Living Dead

I just got the below email from my dealership note the highlighted parts seem contradictory. In 41 years of car ownership I've never had a battery last less than 5 years.

To view this email as a webpage, go here.

Habberstad BMW of Huntington

EXTENDING YOUR BMW'S BATTERY LIFE.
Dear John,

Original BMW Batteries are designed and tested to deliver a longer service life than conventional batteries. We recommend having your BMW model's battery checked at least twice per year and replaced about every three years.

Here Are 5 Ways to Extend the Life of Your BMW Battery:

Limit Short Drives
Turn Off All Your Lights
Visual Check of Battery Connections
Park in Cooler Areas
Take Good Care of Your BMW
When looking for a BMW replacement battery schedule an appointment online. Our staff would be delighted to assist you.

Keep your BMW running strong.
Learn More
Habberstad BMW of Huntington
945 E Jericho Turnpike, Huntington Station, NY 11746
...

If you're talking about older FLA batteries, 3 to 4 years was typical lifespan. Being in a hot climate like Florida, anything over 3 years was good. The last BMWs I had with FLA batteries (a 2002 325 and a 2006 525) got 4 years out of them. Around 2007, BMW switched to AGM batteries. In my experience, BMW AGM batteries last about 6 years.

One other suggestion is if you're doing lots of short trips or the car sits several days between use, a battery maintainer will help. I've used the CTEK (the same one that's branded by BMW) and had good results. BMW recommends using it at least once a month. About 2-3 days will bring it up to full charge.

The dealer's recommendation to have it checked twice a year sounds like a money maker for them. With the CTEK and a voltmeter, you can monitor it yourself. Let the CTEK charge it, then check the voltage with the engine off. It should be about 12.8 V. After a day or two of normal use without using the charger, check it again. If the voltage has dropped down around 12 V or so, it's showing its age. If it's down to 11.5 V in a couple days, it's time for a new battery.

[danbart]

The Auto Start/Stop is brutal on batteries.