BMW X3 Forum
BMW X3 Forum
Welcome to the ultimate BMW X3 community.
BMW Garage BMW Meets Register Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read
Post Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
      06-11-2018, 05:18 PM   #1
JSGR8
Private
JSGR8's Avatar
17
Rep
53
Posts

Drives: 2016 X3 xDrive28i
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: Toronto

iTrader: (0)

Battery drain issue?

Scheduled my '16 X3 for the third oil change. I mentioned to them that on two separate camping trips the battery drained to a critical level where I was getting warnings to charge it up by driving. Is this normal? I would think not, but service rep booking my appointment said it was. She said it can happen when the car is not driven. I said it doesn't happen if I leave my car parked at home for 3-4 days without any driving. She still said it's normal.

I don't think I'm really stressing the battery camping. For the most part, the car is just parked there for two days. The car is left unlocked and I open and close the trunk a little bit more than usual. That is about it. I don't charge any devices, or play the radio, or hook anything else up to use the battery.

I really don't think that is normal. What do you all think?
__________________
( . )( . )

JSGR8
Appreciate 0
      06-11-2018, 08:51 PM   #2
Scout10
Second Lieutenant
United_States
86
Rep
268
Posts

Drives: 2017 BMW X3 X28i
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: S.W. Michigan (stalag michigan)

iTrader: (0)

yep, the bat has a drain on it just like any other "newer" car. This make has extra.
If the car sits, for more than a couple day, put a trickle or maintenance charger
on it.
IF camping look into a "solar" powered charger, usually available at RV dealers.
Know of a few people who say it works ! they have campers / motorhomes.
One neighbor parks his Mercedes for weeks while out on his boat, applies a solar charger
and it starts every time on a strong battery.
__________________
2017 BMW X3 x28i SOLD
2015 Honda CRV-EXL AWD
2019 Honda CRV-Touring AWD
1965 Chevrolet Corvette 327 / 4spd Convt
Appreciate 0
      06-23-2018, 07:41 AM   #3
Ol' Fart
Enlisted Member
Ol' Fart's Avatar
10
Rep
45
Posts

Drives: 2016 X3, 28d, Mineral White
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: N/E Pennsylvania

iTrader: (0)

My X3 sits for sometimes more than a week without being driven and without any issues, I was having a battery drain issue for awhile and after several trips to the dealership it was determined to be a sticking button on one of the remotes. I suspect that is unusual, but it can happen. Just a possibility !
__________________
Doug

2019 BMW 430 XI Grand Coupe, White, Black leather interior

2016 BMW X3, 28d, Mineral White metalic, Oyster Nevada leather interior.
Appreciate 0
      06-23-2018, 08:52 PM   #4
Scout10
Second Lieutenant
United_States
86
Rep
268
Posts

Drives: 2017 BMW X3 X28i
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: S.W. Michigan (stalag michigan)

iTrader: (0)

Well i guess then i would add, that if you walk by the vehicle with FOB you may wake
it up. Then as you walk away it shuts down.
noticed this happening regularly while it was in the drive way, and i'd walk past it
(with in 6ft) on the way to postbox. juice usage
__________________
2017 BMW X3 x28i SOLD
2015 Honda CRV-EXL AWD
2019 Honda CRV-Touring AWD
1965 Chevrolet Corvette 327 / 4spd Convt
Appreciate 0
      06-29-2018, 06:48 PM   #5
JSGR8
Private
JSGR8's Avatar
17
Rep
53
Posts

Drives: 2016 X3 xDrive28i
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: Toronto

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by Scout10 View Post
Well i guess then i would add, that if you walk by the vehicle with FOB you may wake
it up. Then as you walk away it shuts down.
noticed this happening regularly while it was in the drive way, and i'd walk past it
(with in 6ft) on the way to postbox. juice usage
Quote:
Originally Posted by Scout10 View Post
Well i guess then i would add, that if you walk by the vehicle with FOB you may wake
it up. Then as you walk away it shuts down.
noticed this happening regularly while it was in the drive way, and i'd walk past it
(with in 6ft) on the way to postbox. juice usage
I was thinking this. Maybe I'm too close to the car with my FOB so it's always awake.

The details in the service sheet said the battery drain was because of the "welcome lights" constantly being activated. So I guess every time I open a door or the trunk all the welcome lights come on. I'll turn that option off next time and see how it goes.
__________________
( . )( . )

JSGR8
Appreciate 1
      06-30-2018, 12:53 AM   #6
Tjalle
Major
183
Rep
1,259
Posts

Drives: X4 35i
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Sweden

iTrader: (0)

Good to know: BMW does not charge battery fully - in order to facilitate re-gen engine braking.

I.e. battery is not fully charged - which is bad for life - both in cold and heat. A lot of people on X3/X4 sites use trickle chargers - preferrably CTEK (Made in Sweden ) I "fill up" my battery at least once a month - preferrably when car parked for some time - I have two, and a garage.
Appreciate 1
      09-06-2018, 07:48 AM   #7
Polo08816
Brigadier General
1594
Rep
3,926
Posts

Drives: 2014 335i M Sport
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: MD

iTrader: (0)

We are having the battery drain issue on a 2016 F25 X3 35i when it sits in the garage for more than two days.

I'm wondering if using the CTEK recondition mode would help the battery? But then would you need to re-register the battery as if it were new?
Appreciate 0
      09-06-2018, 08:52 AM   #8
________
________
4157
Rep
2,301
Posts

Drives: ________
Join Date: Sep 2018
Location: ________

iTrader: (0)

It's not how long you not drive it, it's how little you drive. Get it? Lol

You can leave the car parked for days. That won't deplete the battery.

What depletes the battery is driving short distances. You can drive your car every day to work. If it's a 5 minute commute, your battery will go low. You need a battery tender if your commute is short.

I have DEFA.
Appreciate 0
      09-06-2018, 01:13 PM   #9
Polo08816
Brigadier General
1594
Rep
3,926
Posts

Drives: 2014 335i M Sport
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: MD

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by OnerDriver View Post
It's not how long you not drive it, it's how little you drive. Get it? Lol

You can leave the car parked for days. That won't deplete the battery.

What depletes the battery is driving short distances. You can drive your car every day to work. If it's a 5 minute commute, your battery will go low. You need a battery tender if your commute is short.

I have DEFA.
GF's typical commute is about 36 miles of highway which takes approximately 35-40 minutes door to door. I wouldn't consider that a "short" commute.

In fact, my 2014 335i is driven shorter distances because I have a work car on the weekends and it is doing better on its original battery.
Appreciate 0
      09-06-2018, 01:57 PM   #10
________
________
4157
Rep
2,301
Posts

Drives: ________
Join Date: Sep 2018
Location: ________

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by Polo08816 View Post
Quote:
Originally Posted by OnerDriver View Post
It's not how long you not drive it, it's how little you drive. Get it? Lol

You can leave the car parked for days. That won't deplete the battery.

What depletes the battery is driving short distances. You can drive your car every day to work. If it's a 5 minute commute, your battery will go low. You need a battery tender if your commute is short.

I have DEFA.
GF's typical commute is about 36 miles of highway which takes approximately 35-40 minutes door to door. I wouldn't consider that a "short" commute.

In fact, my 2014 335i is driven shorter distances because I have a work car on the weekends and it is doing better on its original battery.
Definitely not normal then. Hope they figure it out. Let us know what they find out.

EDIT: I just realized you are not the OP. Hopefully OP will chime in.
Appreciate 0
      09-07-2018, 08:27 AM   #11
TheCoolX3
Lieutenant
174
Rep
540
Posts

Drives: 2016 BMW X3 35i M-Sport
Join Date: Feb 2018
Location: FL

iTrader: (0)

Garage List
Friend of mine just had a similar issue in his E60 M5. Battery would constantly drain even after he put a new battery in it. Turns out that all of the illuminated buttons were staying on but the regular interior lighting stayed off.
Check to see if you're having that same problem.
Best wishes!
__________________
2016 X3 35i |M-Sport|Megan Racing Coilovers|FBO+|BM3|Jordan Tuned|Valvetronic Designs|
1998 750iL V12|2017 440i|2019 991.2 GT3RS Weissach|2019 Model X|...and some others
Instagram @TheCoolX3
Appreciate 0
Post Reply

Bookmarks

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 07:55 PM.




xbimmers
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
1Addicts.com, BIMMERPOST.com, E90Post.com, F30Post.com, M3Post.com, ZPost.com, 5Post.com, 6Post.com, 7Post.com, XBimmers.com logo and trademark are properties of BIMMERPOST