Increased Battery Discharge

[Gibson6594]

So here's a new one to me. Went to get in my 2016 F80 last night and Comfort Access isn't working...strange. The FOB works, so I get in and start the car. When I do, I get an "Increased Battery Discharge" warning on my dash, telling me to start the engine. Engine starts no problem.

No lights were left on, no doors left open. Everything was off as it should be.

I don't drive that often (I take the train to work), she is a weekend car, but I had just driven her for about an hour the day before and all was fine.

Anyone else experienced this? Have any advice. Google just says it's related to leaving something on in the car, but that's not the case here. Can the battery be going bad already? Is it covered under warranty?

Any help is appreciated.

Edit: I had to drive this morning, and the problem was still there when I started her.

[2016SSM3]

Originally Posted by Gibson6594

So here's a new one to me. Went to get in my 2016 F80 last night and Comfort Access isn't working...strange. The FOB works, so I get in and start the car. When I do, I get an "Increased Battery Discharge" warning on my dash, telling me to start the engine. Engine starts no problem.

No lights were left on, no doors left open. Everything was off as it should be.

I don't drive that often (I take the train to work), she is a weekend car, but I had just driven her for about an hour the day before and all was fine.

Anyone else experienced this? Have any advice. Google just says it's related to leaving something on in the car, but that's not the case here. Can the battery be going bad already? Is it covered under warranty?

Any help is appreciated.

Edit: I had to drive this morning, and the problem was still there when I started her.

I also have a 2016, I got this message once about a month ago. I had my Carly adapter plugged in. Unplugged it and everything has been fine. I've gone several days without driving the car without issues.

[damageprone]

Do you have anything hardwired into the car? This happened to me once I installed my dash cam. I just decreased the record time from 24 hours to 12 hours before shutdown and the warning never came back.

[Gibson6594]

Originally Posted by damageprone

Do you have anything hardwired into the car? This happened to me once I installed my dash cam. I just decreased the record time from 24 hours to 12 hours before shutdown and the warning never came back.

Nothing. I have some things coded, but otherwise bone stock.

[DBACE]

Originally Posted by Gibson6594

Nothing. "I have some things coded" , but otherwise bone stock.

I was going to suggest that there is a short in the battery or car, but you said what you did and it looks like a big wet Matzo ball just hanging there.

You probably do not want to say exactly what you have had coded, but I presume you did not have said coding done by an official BMW Certified Coding Specialist. I.E. You have made some changes on your own, or with someone who told you there will be no impacts to the car's system operability.

I would be curious to know what was coded, since the system is programed to tell you when an unusual drain has occurred. So as other's have stated having an additional item such as a dash cam wired into the electrical distribution system will cause the noted error, which I think is initiated by the system monitoring the battery voltage and it reaching a threshold of a volt or two. It would be interesting to know how the coding left some component in a subsystem turned on that typically gets turned off sooner pre-code, or boosts its typical power usage, like to brighten LED's.

Good luck in finding out what is going on and get your coder back in there to restore to plan.

[Lexor1704]

I was seeing this message after a very specific condition, if the car sat outside in 15 degree or colder temps for more than 6 hours. Took the car in and they checked everything but found nothing wrong. No coding on my car all stock. BMW NA explained that the car checks the battery drain over the past 72 hours and if the drain exceeds that average the message you are seeing is displayed. Not sure if this is your problem but in my case nothing wrong but over aggressive BMW monitoring.

[Gibson6594]

Originally Posted by DBACE

I was going to suggest that there is a short in the battery or car, but you said what you did and it looks like a big wet Matzo ball just hanging there.

You probably do not want to say exactly what you have had coded, but I presume you did not have said coding done by an official BMW Certified Coding Specialist. I.E. You have made some changes on your own, or with someone who told you there will be no impacts to the car's system operability.

I would be curious to know what was coded, since the system is programed to tell you when an unusual drain has occurred. So as other's have stated having an additional item such as a dash cam wired into the electrical distribution system will cause the noted error, which I think is initiated by the system monitoring the battery voltage and it reaching a threshold of a volt or two. It would be interesting to know how the coding left some component in a subsystem turned on that typically gets turned off sooner pre-code, or boosts its typical power usage, like to brighten LED's.

Good luck in finding out what is going on and get your coder back in there to restore to plan.

I agree that it could be something coded, but I coded the car back in April of 2016 and it's been fine until now.

I also did not code very much. Windows up form keyfob, windows down with door open, mirrors fold with Comfort Access, door handle lights on reverse, enhanced bluetooth.

I think that's it.

[HPIA4v2]

Put a charger on it over night, and see if you still have the issue.
Will see if LiFePO4 is any better than regular lead-acid or AGM batt here; cause when that happens on two of my BMWs, the batts need replacement. And LiFePO4 for this car ain't cheap.

[ben1233]

Originally Posted by Lexor1704

I was seeing this message after a very specific condition, if the car sat outside in 15 degree or colder temps for more than 6 hours. Took the car in and they checked everything but found nothing wrong. No coding on my car all stock. BMW NA explained that the car checks the battery drain over the past 72 hours and if the drain exceeds that average the message you are seeing is displayed. Not sure if this is your problem but in my case nothing wrong but over aggressive BMW monitoring.

Exactly my situation too. Only happened when *really* cold like < 5 degrees F.
Has not happened since.

Also I remember a while back people would see issues if they parked outside yet left the key in the car (yikes) or perhaps close to the car while still being inside the house. They key being in range of the CA feature was to blame, if I remember correctly.

[BMWM5NYC]

If nothing was left on , It usually a sign that the car's electronics are not "going asleep" Usually it can be traced back to the comfort access. On the M5 board we have seen this quite a few times and it is usually one of the comfort access door handles starting to act up and not let the car sleep. If you are sure you left nothing on , I would look into this.

[Gibson6594]

In case anyone was interested, this went away on its own. Not sure what happened, but when I went to drive this weekend, the warning was gone and everything worked as expected.

Thanks for your help and suggestions.

[aerostar]

How close do you leave your key to the car?

[Gibson6594]

Originally Posted by aerostar

How close do you leave your key to the car?

I'd guess they are about 20-30 feet away from the car.

[Alan l.]

Do you have any piggyback tune on the car? I use to get this after installing my JB tune on my F10.

[Gibson6594]

Originally Posted by Alan l.

Do you have any piggyback tune on the car? I use to get this after installing my JB tune on my F10.

Nope, stock with the exception of some coding.

[nicknaz]

Hi, if the car sat outside in 15F temp, that probably caused the error. I wouldn't worry too much if it goes away when warmer. Same message in my brother's stock f25 x328 this winter in Toronto