[LXXV]

A couple weeks ago, after shutting down my engine, I left the radio on and interior fan blowing. Less than a minute later I got the battery icon on the top middle indicator. I have gotten no indications since. There seems to be no abnormal draw when turning on new accessories (wipers/lights/etc). Then a few nights ago I got the problem that many others have gotten with the door locks. Key fob/comfort access/inside button/pulling inside handle...Nothing would unlock the driver's door except the physical key in the outside lock. After going through the secret menu to check voltage (which checked okay) I got error indicators for the AWD system and ABS. After driving around the next day, those symbols went away on their own. Later that day, I replaced fuse 57(?) I think that's the one with a 20 rather than the recommended 15. Three days now and the car's acted normal. Any ideas or advice? It's an 06 325xi with 105k miles. As far as I know, the battery and alternator are original equip.

[unrealii]

Is the battery the original one from factory? I would get the battery tested.

[LXXV]

Originally Posted by unrealii

Is the battery the original one from factory? I would get the battery tested.

As far as I know, yes.

[fun2drive]

I vote for battery replacement. This is 13 your battery was most likely installed sometime in early 06 or late 05....

[LXXV]

Thanks guys. That's what I was leaning towards. A friend suggested maybe the alternator too. I plan on getting battery checked soon.

[TheeGovernor]

+1. A bad battery is havoc on these cars

[ctuna]

When you checked the battery what did it read?
If you did this with the motor running you were getting
the alternator voltage.
The original battery will have a glass eye on it indicating the condition
of the battery.
06 9x cars don't need registration so you can just throw a battery in .
Interstate 92R/h8 I think is the one.
(Mine wouldn't register with autologic or a coding setup and others have reported this to.)


The awd failure happens whenever the car looses voltage and is a known issue with power loss or battery disconnection its not a problem just a symptom of voltage loss.

[LXXV]

I believe they read 14 while running and 11.9 at rest. I'll check for the glass eye later. Cool about not needing the reg. Anyone else confirm this?

[mike5809]

Electrical Gremlins? Did you get them wet?

[LXXV]

Originally Posted by mike5809

Electrical Gremlins? Did you get them wet?

Ha! No, but I did feed them after midnight.

So, what am I looking for with this glass eye? I see nothing when looking in there without taking the battery out.
I'm not finding any clear dates. The negative post does have 12 06 stamped into it if that means anything.

[ctuna]

11.9 is very marginal
New battery's properly charged start out between 12.6 and 13
When I was at this level (12 ish)on my old battery I got long cranks
before it would start . If I drove it on the high way awhile I could
get it up to 12.4 but it would be back down to under 12 while sitting
overnight.

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showth...hlight=battery

If you look at the pictures in the above DIY the glass eye is in the center of the battery its also obscured by the hold down piece and the battery distribution block a little . If you look you will see three dots yellow , green and black that the eye is more or less inline with those and half obscured by the black battery distribution block (which is also red on some cars) but you can see it without taking anything off if you look at the right angle.