2010 BMW x5 4.8L Interttent charging fault

[Wayneski]

Hi All

We have been having issues with our BMW battery suddenly going flat. Upon a jumpstart from roadside rescue the vehicle comes back to life and the car runs fine. We get the vehicle checked at our local mechanic. Battery checks out fine (Is only 6 months old) and voltage readings are normal.

Seems the car on startup will randomly at times not send any charge back to the battery.

Our mechanic as good as he is seems to think it is the alternator but cannot guarantee this will fix the problem.

After searching various threads it seems a common problem for many BMW owners.

As a workaround before I start the car I enter the hidden menu on the front dash (see youtube on how to get to this menu) and bring up the voltage reading. Battery reads 12.5 volts with no engine running. Start the car. Most times the voltage will quickly go to 13.5-14.5 volts. Other times it will read in the 11,s and not go up. I will turn off the engine off, restart 2-3 times and when it is reading correctly we can drive the car and monitor the voltage reading.

If the charge isn't going back to the battery the system electronics start failing. Multiple errors come up and the car goes into limp mode.

We have since taken the vehicle to the BMW dealer and they have diagnosed the alternator as faulty. We have a 6 week wait for this part to come from Germany. Hopefully this will fix the problem.

I will repost to confirm this has fixed the issue once the car has been running trouble free for a month or two.