transmission failsafe progam

[violet]

After getting my X5 checked and a few bits sorted been really happy with it..  Today on the way home the transmission failsafe mode came on.  I am hoping it's the battery.  I am going to buy a volt checker tomorrow.  I only drive 6 miles a day and tend to have the heated seats on etc etc and wonder if it's not getting a good enough charge.  What should a battery read.  It's due to go back in the garage next week to have a few bits done.  I have found the box a bit snatchy when cold if you put your foot down from a standstill.  It's been serviced got a good bill of health and now this.

Maybe with such short mileage it's not the right car.  Having had a discovery I know these things eat batteries.

Any thoughts.  It's a 4.8si 2005.

Like I say it's going in next week.  So will get them to check.  Don't want to part with it  but if it cannot cope with short trips  going to get something that can.

[shadrack]

do your short trips all week and take it for a good hour blast out at the weekend!!

[X5Sport]

There are very few cars that will cope with such short journeys every day.  And those that will are all small engined and mainly boring......

Better to keep the enjoyment and buy a battery conditioner.........a lot of owners have them, especially if they like you (and me) don't do a lot of miles.

I use a CTEK MXS10.

Richard

[violet]

The problem with using a battery conditioner is that the X5 is parked on the road the jag gets the drive.  So cannot have it trailing across the pavement and don't want to disconnect every morning.  My current house drive only fits one car.  Or would the one you suggest be ideal to use on a weekend to top up. Sometimes it goes out on a run  but this weekend it didn't.

[X5Sport]

Being a 10A version, it will fully recharge the battery in a few hours.  So you could do the X5 by day and the Jag overnight.

I have a connector that CTEK make which is permanently wired to the under bonnet jumper connections and just uses a 'snatch plug' to disconnect meaning it takes seconds to do and you can leave the bonnet safely shut in the meantime.

Adapter kit.

Charger Unit.  I got mine on a massive discount on an Amazon 'Lightning Deal'.

Given that next week is Black Friday, a number of places will be offering extra deals so you might get one cheaper.. 

Richard

[violet]

Sounds like a good investment.  Just hope this is a battery problem.

[kkx5]

Just buy a good AGM battery... Bosh, Varta. E53 its old car, does not have so many electical gadgets like e70 etc.  Invest in good battery,  not expensive charger.

[AW8]

No idea re cause of the dash message.

Regardless of the fault message......... Fwiw and IMO the E53 has more than enough components to cause issues with battery drain. A new battery may assist in short term but best to try to deal with any faulty issues that may cause a drain.

Charging with a decent conditioning charger simply makes sense. Especially if battery is drained rather than unserviceable. A decent battery condition meter is a sensible item to have and to use periodically also.

Charging shouldn't be daily need but worth doing every few months or certainly before winter.

As said - short journeys are not ideal.

[X5Sport]

[quote="kkx5"]
Just buy a good AGM battery... Bosh, Varta. E53 its old car, does not have so many electical gadgets like e70 etc.  Invest in good battery,  not expensive charger.
[/quote]

Not very sound advice really.  Short journeys will kill a battery regardless of make and model. You must know it takes at least 20 minutes of running time to put a single 'starting charge' back?  You're in a workshop aren't you?

A good battery is always a good idea but even BMW workshops know that keeping that battery in good condition on cars, including Demos means they need charging - hence the issue of SIBs to cover that!  A fully equipped E53 still draws a lot of power whilst running, and the 4.8 is well equipped.

As an aside, the CTEKs are the units that BMW rebadge and sell under their own name (for even more money!), and they are conditioner/chargers which is very different to just a 'charger'. 

You can but any brand you like as long as it copes with AGM.  AGM batteries need a different charge profile as well - but then as a 'mechanic' you will know that too eh? 

If you let an AGM battery go flat it is damaged and each time it happens the service life is shortened.  They must not be deep discharged.  But then of course you know that too.  You're a BMW mechanic and your advice is always unquestionable.

[briankerrys47]

[quote="X5Sport"]
[quote="kkx5"]
Just buy a good AGM battery... Bosh, Varta. E53 its old car, does not have so many electical gadgets like e70 etc.  Invest in good battery,  not expensive charger.
[/quote]

Not very sound advice really.  Short journeys will kill a battery regardless of make and model. You must know it takes at least 20 minutes of running time to put a single 'starting charge' back?  You're in a workshop aren't you?

A good battery is always a good idea but even BMW workshops know that keeping that battery in good condition on cars, including Demos means they need charging - hence the issue of SIBs to cover that!  A fully equipped E53 still draws a lot of power whilst running, and the 4.8 is well equipped.

As an aside, the CTEKs are the units that BMW rebadge and sell under their own name (for even more money!), and they are conditioner/chargers which is very different to just a 'charger'. 

You can but any brand you like as long as it copes with AGM.  AGM batteries need a different charge profile as well - but then as a 'mechanic' you will know that too eh? 

If you let an AGM battery go flat it is damaged and each time it happens the service life is shortened.  They must not be deep discharged.  But then of course you know that too.  You're a BMW mechanic and your advice is always unquestionable.
[/quote]whoooooooo, have a nice weekend Richard. O:-) 

[X5Sport]

I will.........

[kkx5]

[quote="X5Sport"]
[quote="kkx5"]
Just buy a good AGM battery... Bosh, Varta. E53 its old car, does not have so many electical gadgets like e70 etc.  Invest in good battery,  not expensive charger.
[/quote]

Not very sound advice really.  Short journeys will kill a battery regardless of make and model. You must know it takes at least 20 minutes of running time to put a single 'starting charge' back?  You're in a workshop aren't you?

A good battery is always a good idea but even BMW workshops know that keeping that battery in good condition on cars, including Demos means they need charging - hence the issue of SIBs to cover that!  A fully equipped E53 still draws a lot of power whilst running, and the 4.8 is well equipped.

As an aside, the CTEKs are the units that BMW rebadge and sell under their own name (for even more money!), and they are conditioner/chargers which is very different to just a 'charger'. 

You can but any brand you like as long as it copes with AGM.  AGM batteries need a different charge profile as well - but then as a 'mechanic' you will know that too eh? 

If you let an AGM battery go flat it is damaged and each time it happens the service life is shortened.  They must not be deep discharged.  But then of course you know that too.  You're a BMW mechanic and your advice is always unquestionable.
[/quote]
Richard, you got good theoretical knowledge, practical speaks for mine. In real world agm type is best choice for e53. No starting issues even if you doing short  journeys.
http://2009.bmwfans.info/parts/catalog/61216924023/

[violet]

Update.  No warning this morning.  Drove very long way around to halfords.  They did a battery check for me.  Battery good but needs a full charge.  Getting the charger as mentioned  be good for all cars.  Going to lay off heated seats etc for next few days.

Took a while to find the battery.  Thank you u tube.  What a faff to get to.  Just out of curiosity  the black dome that covers the battery has several cables running into it  anyone know what they are.  Sorry if a silly question  really should have read handbook.

Hurray to halfords poor lad can only have been 17 but ultra helpful a bit of learning curve meeting my X5 on his 2nd day.

[X5Sport]

Glad it's no more than the battery.  All four of our BMWs (E53, 2x E46, E71...and our Mini Countryman)  have suffered from short journey issues on the battery state, and all have AGM batteries by default.  Now I use a conditioner, the current two are fine.

I only need to do it every 4-6 weeks depending upon any longer journey use in between.  It takes 4-6 hours for normal, 6-8 hours for a flatter battery.  Completely dead takes roughly 12 hours.

Richard

[Horizon]

[quote="violet"]
Just out of curiosity  the black dome that covers the battery has several cables running into it  anyone know what they are.  Sorry if a silly question  really should have read handbook.

Hurray to halfords poor lad can only have been 17 but ultra helpful a bit of learning curve meeting my X5 on his 2nd day.
[/quote]

That's the air suspension compressor in the boot