E39 M5 Battery Runs flat

Don-Quixote · #1 (**permalink**) 03-23-2008, 08:22 PM

Have a 2001 E39 (series 2) M5; magnificient car, but battery is continually running flat over night... seems to be something wrong with the GPS/Navigation/Radio; Because if I remove the three fuses that control these items, problem goes away; any one have similar experience, and perhaps even a fix ? thanks

RacerJames666 · #2 (**permalink**) 03-24-2008, 11:55 AM

Strange...
Try doing a load test on the battery to rule out anything of that nature

Don-Quixote · #3 (**permalink**) 03-24-2008, 03:29 PM

done all that.. Battery is fine... is definitely a "leak" associated with that equipment

cetrero23 · #4 (**permalink**) 03-25-2008, 06:10 AM

maybe the alternator is not charging correctly?, it happened to my brothers car, so he had it checked.

Don-Quixote · #5 (**permalink**) 03-25-2008, 02:23 PM

thanks... had not thought of that, will get it checked

ESP · #6 (**permalink**) 03-25-2008, 07:22 PM

There was a Service bulletin for E39s and E53s, the radio needed a programming update. It will basically turn on and wake up the rest of the systems in the car. The problem was specific to times of cold weather, below 40 degrees F. Otherwise the radio has gone bad and needs to be replaced.

I am dealing with the same issue in my X5 and am working with my dealer to determine whether or not my radio needs to be reprogrammed

ESP · #7 (**permalink**) 03-25-2008, 07:23 PM

Oops, just noticed you are in Australia, not sure if the bulletin applied to just US spec or not.