Car Dead Again...Not happy!!

2e9x's · 05-15-2008, 11:09 PM

So here's the deal...

My mom (age 69) has an 07 335i e92 with 7,000 miles. Last Sunday I go to pull the car out of the garage to wash it. Dead as a door nail. So I stuck the battery charger on it and eventually it started just fine.

Monday she has the car towed to Center BMW in Van Nuys. They check it out and report that the left turn signal was left on. I am 100% positive that when I got in the car the left turn signal was NOT on. She did, however, leave the key in the ignition for 2 days...So I attributed the dead battery to the key in the ignition and moved on. While there the dealer replaced the fuel pump and returned the car Tuesday.

Last night she comes over for dinner. After kissing her grandchildren good night she leaves around 9:00 pm and drives about 15 minutes home. The car sounded perfect when she left.

This morning she calls and tells me the car is dead again. Another call to BMW Roadside Assistance and the car is on another flat bed off to South Bay BMW (where it should have gone the first time...darned stubborn mothers). I call the SA this evening and he tells me that the car started right up, but threw a DSC code and a bunch of other codes.

I know the car is in good hands at South Bay. The tech, a friend and BMW CCA member and club racer, will make sure my mom is never stranded again. And NO, she does NOT have a piggyback or catless DP's or nitrous...lol...

I've been following this forum for a long time now and this is a first to me. Any thoughts?

Thanks everybody for the suggestions!

Revlis · 05-15-2008, 11:21 PM

You sure she doesn't have some sorta piggy back on there? I mean... at 69 years old... these ladies are still all about performance.

Interesting problem though, I do know that after leaving my car sit for only 8 days it didn't want to start... It was sort of odd for a brand new car.

2e9x's · 05-15-2008, 11:30 PM

lol...No piggy...No JB...Just a single turbo setup, straight pipes out the hood, a 100 shot nitrous, drag radials, full inboard reservior coilovers, a 14 piston Stopshort brake kit, 25" wheels (no spinners...that's not how mom rolls), and custom embroidered airbags with a delicate flower pattern.

In all seriousness, this is pretty concerning. I do not like the idea of her being stuck somewhere.

myfirstbmw335i · 05-16-2008, 01:17 AM

That does seem odd. I now have a second vehicle and leave my E92 sitting for several days at a time. So far no battery problems...

TTG · 05-16-2008, 01:28 AM

That is odd..... My car is stored most of the time and sometimes it goes months without being started due to my schedule. So far, I have not experienced a dead battery issue. Your mom's car even has a lot more miles than my year and a half old car so the battery in her car must be in better shape than the one in my car....

2e9x's · 05-16-2008, 08:46 AM

Thank you for the feedback thus far folks. Does anybody else have any thoughts?

bimmerlex · 05-16-2008, 09:49 AM

You mentioned she left a key on for a couple of days. Does she have CA? Could CA malfunction cause battery drain?

Hoothout · 05-16-2008, 09:57 AM

if it has idrive, it could have been left on if you have comfort access, ive done that to my friends m6 before, you shut the engine off and then just get out the car, and the nav stays on for a long time (dont know how long, i think it eventually shuts off) but still that would drain the battery

2e9x's · 05-16-2008, 12:40 PM

She did leave the key in, and yes the car has CA. At first I attributed the failure to that but when it again died a couple of days later I began to question my diagnosis.

According to my tech, this car's battery does not react well to being discharged. As such he got the service manager to approve a replacement battery. That should do it I think.

What are your opinions?

voltron1011 · 05-16-2008, 12:55 PM

If she left the turn signal while parked, that would leave the parking lights on for the left side of the car. It's one of those European features that I think BMW should have deactivated for the US.
The problem with our cars and their nifty turn signals is that you can't tell if you inadvertently hit the turn signal lever as you are getting out of the car. If you leave the car like this for over a day, you will definitely have a dead battery.

Kruz · 05-16-2008, 01:39 PM

Make sure she locks it when parked. The CA and NAV will stop once its locked.

kingjod123 · 05-16-2008, 01:54 PM

my car has gone dead before and i just got a whole bunch of work done on it (thread is on this page)

next time it doesnt work try unplugging the blue cable from the battery. if it starts with the cable unplugged we have an issue and you can PM me.

05-15-2008, 11:09 PM	#1
2e9x's Major 51 Rep 1,137 Posts Drives: 335i ED 7/07 Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: A Sunny Place iTrader: (2)	Car Dead Again...Not happy!! So here's the deal... My mom (age 69) has an 07 335i e92 with 7,000 miles. Last Sunday I go to pull the car out of the garage to wash it. Dead as a door nail. So I stuck the battery charger on it and eventually it started just fine. Monday she has the car towed to Center BMW in Van Nuys. They check it out and report that the left turn signal was left on. I am 100% positive that when I got in the car the left turn signal was NOT on. She did, however, leave the key in the ignition for 2 days...So I attributed the dead battery to the key in the ignition and moved on. While there the dealer replaced the fuel pump and returned the car Tuesday. Last night she comes over for dinner. After kissing her grandchildren good night she leaves around 9:00 pm and drives about 15 minutes home. The car sounded perfect when she left. This morning she calls and tells me the car is dead again. Another call to BMW Roadside Assistance and the car is on another flat bed off to South Bay BMW (where it should have gone the first time...darned stubborn mothers). I call the SA this evening and he tells me that the car started right up, but threw a DSC code and a bunch of other codes. I know the car is in good hands at South Bay. The tech, a friend and BMW CCA member and club racer, will make sure my mom is never stranded again. And NO, she does NOT have a piggyback or catless DP's or nitrous...lol... I've been following this forum for a long time now and this is a first to me. Any thoughts? Thanks everybody for the suggestions! __________________ 2010 Evo X - silver with a big, stupid wing on the back 2009 VW CC - Black/Black - with a 2011 328i on order to replace it - ED 8/1/11
	Appreciate 0 Tweet Quote

05-15-2008, 11:21 PM	#2
Revlis Now With 33% MORE Sarcasm Free! 157 Rep 3,462 Posts Drives: M4 i3 X3 Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Phoenix AZ iTrader: (0)	You sure she doesn't have some sorta piggy back on there? I mean... at 69 years old... these ladies are still all about performance. Interesting problem though, I do know that after leaving my car sit for only 8 days it didn't want to start... It was sort of odd for a brand new car. __________________ A BMW is Just a Car, it doesn't make you smart, handsome, clever, better, cool, or wealthy.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

05-15-2008, 11:30 PM	#3
2e9x's Major 51 Rep 1,137 Posts Drives: 335i ED 7/07 Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: A Sunny Place iTrader: (2)	lol...No piggy...No JB...Just a single turbo setup, straight pipes out the hood, a 100 shot nitrous, drag radials, full inboard reservior coilovers, a 14 piston Stopshort brake kit, 25" wheels (no spinners...that's not how mom rolls), and custom embroidered airbags with a delicate flower pattern. In all seriousness, this is pretty concerning. I do not like the idea of her being stuck somewhere. __________________ 2010 Evo X - silver with a big, stupid wing on the back 2009 VW CC - Black/Black - with a 2011 328i on order to replace it - ED 8/1/11
	Appreciate 0 Quote

05-16-2008, 01:17 AM	#4
myfirstbmw335i myfirstbmw335i 17 Rep 349 Posts Drives: 335i 6-Speed, NAV, Sport Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Nashville, Tennessee iTrader: (0)	That does seem odd. I now have a second vehicle and leave my E92 sitting for several days at a time. So far no battery problems... __________________ 2007 335i 6-SPD Sport, Jet Black, Coral Red, Premium, NAV, Cold Weather, Park Distance & Comfort Access, Active Autowerke, Clear Reflectors IFORGED Essen, Flat Black w/Polished Lip, General Exclaim UHP 19 x 10 275/30/19 (ZERO RUBBING) and 19 x 8 235/35/19, H&R Sport Springs
	Appreciate 0 Quote

05-16-2008, 01:28 AM	#5
TTG ... 936 Rep 4,327 Posts Drives: M340 Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Seattle, WA iTrader: (3) Garage List 2011 BMW M3 [7.84] 2007 335 Coupe (ret ... [9.00]	That is odd..... My car is stored most of the time and sometimes it goes months without being started due to my schedule. So far, I have not experienced a dead battery issue. Your mom's car even has a lot more miles than my year and a half old car so the battery in her car must be in better shape than the one in my car.... __________________ 2020 G20 M340 xDrive - Portimao Blue - ZDA\|ZPP\|ZPX\|1CR\|1PE\|6NW\|6WD 2016 F10 535i xDrive - AW - Retired 2011 E92 M3 - AW……………....ED April 29th, 2010 - Retired 2007 E92 335i -Space Gray.....ED Oct 19th, 2006 - Retired
	Appreciate 0 Quote

05-16-2008, 08:46 AM	#6
2e9x's Major 51 Rep 1,137 Posts Drives: 335i ED 7/07 Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: A Sunny Place iTrader: (2)	Thank you for the feedback thus far folks. Does anybody else have any thoughts? __________________ 2010 Evo X - silver with a big, stupid wing on the back 2009 VW CC - Black/Black - with a 2011 328i on order to replace it - ED 8/1/11
	Appreciate 0 Quote

05-16-2008, 09:49 AM	#7
bimmerlex Captain 26 Rep 865 Posts Drives: 2018 F15 X5 xDrive35d Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: SoCal. iTrader: (25) Garage List 2018 F15 X5 xDrive35D [0.00]	You mentioned she left a key on for a couple of days. Does she have CA? Could CA malfunction cause battery drain?
	Appreciate 0 Quote

05-16-2008, 09:57 AM	#8
Hoothout Colonel 59 Rep 2,799 Posts Drives: 2008 BMW E92 328i Join Date: May 2008 Location: Brentwood, TN iTrader: (0) Garage List 2008 e92 328i [0.00]	if it has idrive, it could have been left on if you have comfort access, ive done that to my friends m6 before, you shut the engine off and then just get out the car, and the nav stays on for a long time (dont know how long, i think it eventually shuts off) but still that would drain the battery __________________ 2008 SG E92 328i iDrive,Premium Pkg,Sport Pkg,Cold Weather pkg,Black Dakota Leather,GP Thunder 8500k cornering,drl,and foglights, ,Blacked Out Grills,Painted Reflectors,Shadowline Emblems,Hardwired Beltronics V-995, AFE Intake, Muffler Delete, Berger tune
	Appreciate 0 Quote

05-16-2008, 12:40 PM	#9
2e9x's Major 51 Rep 1,137 Posts Drives: 335i ED 7/07 Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: A Sunny Place iTrader: (2)	She did leave the key in, and yes the car has CA. At first I attributed the failure to that but when it again died a couple of days later I began to question my diagnosis. According to my tech, this car's battery does not react well to being discharged. As such he got the service manager to approve a replacement battery. That should do it I think. What are your opinions? __________________ 2010 Evo X - silver with a big, stupid wing on the back 2009 VW CC - Black/Black - with a 2011 328i on order to replace it - ED 8/1/11
	Appreciate 0 Quote

05-16-2008, 12:55 PM	#10
voltron1011 Colonel 119 Rep 2,909 Posts Drives: 2011 135i, FJR-1300 Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Wiesbaden iTrader: (2)	If she left the turn signal while parked, that would leave the parking lights on for the left side of the car. It's one of those European features that I think BMW should have deactivated for the US. The problem with our cars and their nifty turn signals is that you can't tell if you inadvertently hit the turn signal lever as you are getting out of the car. If you leave the car like this for over a day, you will definitely have a dead battery. __________________ '06 E90 325i (Delivered May '05) 6-spd manual, Nav, Xenons, 18' 162's, sport-suspension, 15mm RE spacers, NURBURGRING: http://www.e90post.com/forums/album.php?albumid=3270
	Appreciate 0 Quote

05-16-2008, 01:39 PM	#11
Kruz Major 22 Rep 1,083 Posts Drives: 2021 M2C 6MT Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Chicagoland iTrader: (4) Garage List My garage spot [0.00] 07/07 BMW 335xi [8.50] 2001 Honda CBR600F4i [0.00] 2007 Husqvarna SM610 [0.00] 2004 Chevy Tahoe Z71 [0.00] 2005 Harley Davidso ... [0.00] 2007.9 335xi [6.50]	Make sure she locks it when parked. The CA and NAV will stop once its locked. __________________ 2021 BMW M2 Competition, BSM, Exec Pkg, 6MT GONE:07/07 E90 335xi SG Black Dakota\|Alum\|ZSP\|2AB\|ZPP\|ZCW\|Nav\|CA\|6FL\|PDC\| Blacklines\|3M Summers: 235/40/18 265/35/18 Hankook Ventus V12 on VMR 701s A/S: 225/40/18 255/35/18 Pirelli PZero Nero M+S on OEM 162s
	Appreciate 0 Quote

05-16-2008, 01:54 PM	#12
kingjod123 Installing an Air Cooler 7 Rep 225 Posts Drives: 335i Sedan Black Sapphire Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: NJ iTrader: (0)	my car has gone dead before and i just got a whole bunch of work done on it (thread is on this page) next time it doesnt work try unplugging the blue cable from the battery. if it starts with the cable unplugged we have an issue and you can PM me.
	Appreciate 0 Quote