BMW X5 Electrical nightmare

RKOELLNER

MEMBER
2001 BMW X5
6 CYL
AWD
AUTOMATIC
165,000 MILES

My 2001 BMW X5 has all kinds of false warning lights on the dash. At the same time, the transmission went into emergency mode where you have no control, the ABS Brakes, Anti Slip and brake lights all came on. It appears that I am have a freakish voltage or battery problem. When I shut the car down, it acts like it cant start and the battery is drained. Click, click, click is all you hear when you attempt to start it.
I purchase a new battery today, it worked for 10 minutes and the process started over.
I hear it can be a voltage regulator or alternator problem.
If I understand correctly, the car needs a voltage regulator along with the battery to stabilize the voltage. When the voltage is fluctuating, many of the sensors fail to work properly.

This is all of course just speculation. Any ideas or help would be great!
Rob
rob@borrowfromrob. Com

3 Replies

DOCHAGERTY

MECHANIC
9,601 POSTS

OK, lets see what we can do here. You are correct about the voltage issue, if you have a new battery and it was good for 10 mins, then the next thing to do is to put a volt meter on the battery when its running and see where the voltage is, it should be about 14 volts. If not, then the possibility of a failed alternator is what occurs to me, check the voltage and let me know what you find. Dr. Hagerty