BMW is quietly changing batteries at every oil change for the N63 turbo V8 engines?

[MysticBlue]

Originally Posted by Rewted

Was seriously considering the X5 M or X5 50i..... but having seconds thoughts after reading this. Especially since I will be 6 hours from the closest dealership if an event were to arise.

What event? The worst we're talking about in this thread is a battery needing to be replaced after 2 or 3 years of use instead of 4 or 5 years. The worst that would happen is you have to jump start it or keep it on a charger until it can be replaced. I understand having second thoughts about being 6 hours away from a dealer. I spent 5 or 6 years and two new BMW's living 3 hours away from a dealer. It worked out ok. Anyway, 6 hours is a long way and could present problems, but this issue with the battery is not one of them. You would, I assume be planning trips to the dealer for scheduled maintenance, oil change, etc. The battery would be taken care of then. At their cost. But if you're concerned about being that far from a dealer for other unforseen problems... yeah, I could see that. But are you that far from other brand dealers also? If so, then it would be an equal problem no matter what brand you have. That's just something you have to deal with if you are a long ways from what everyone else considers civilization.

[Rewted]

Originally Posted by MysticBlue

What event? The worst we're talking about in this thread is a battery needing to be replaced after 2 or 3 years of use instead of 4 or 5 years. The worst that would happen is you have to jump start it or keep it on a charger until it can be replaced. I understand having second thoughts about being 6 hours away from a dealer. I spent 5 or 6 years and two new BMW's living 3 hours away from a dealer. It worked out ok. Anyway, 6 hours is a long way and could present problems, but this issue with the battery is not one of them. You would, I assume be planning trips to the dealer for scheduled maintenance, oil change, etc. The battery would be taken care of then. At their cost. But if you're concerned about being that far from a dealer for other unforseen problems... yeah, I could see that. But are you that far from other brand dealers also? If so, then it would be an equal problem no matter what brand you have. That's just something you have to deal with if you are a long ways from what everyone else considers civilization.

I mentioned an "event" as there was another individual commenting on how he/she has read about a lot of problems with the X5 50i and M (I asked to provide sources). I'm currently in an e92 M3, this is my 3rd BMW and I am loyal to the brand, however, the statement was simply made as I'm not looking for trouble. I've accepted the fact there is no local dealer and have been fine so far.

I've been considering the X5 50i or M year round, or a Jeep Grand Cherokee and upgrade to an M4 (summer car).

[42pilot]

I am trying an experiment tonight. I haven't driven my 30d for a couple of days now, so I hooked up a battery tender/charger to see how long it takes to bring the battery up to full charge. The charger works at 1.5 amps, so lets see how long it takes.

My Powerstroke has two full-size, 850 CCA batteries and quick trips into town kill these things, even with the 185 amp alternator working full time. When it sits for more than 4 or 5 days, I always hook up the tender. Not only does it prolong the life of the batteries, the ECU and FICM (fuel injection control module) require very specific volts to start and fire the injectors. Anything under 11-ish volts during start-up, will fry the electronics in the FICM. Lower than 10 volts, the ECU will not even send signals to the FICM, but the starter will still turn.

I would bet our cars are similar in voltage requirements.

[42pilot]

Originally Posted by 42pilot

I am trying an experiment tonight. I haven't driven my 30d for a couple of days now, so I hooked up a battery tender/charger to see how long it takes to bring the battery up to full charge. The charger works at 1.5 amps, so lets see how long it takes.

My Powerstroke has two full-size, 850 CCA batteries and quick trips into town kill these things, even with the 185 amp alternator working full time. When it sits for more than 4 or 5 days, I always hook up the tender. Not only does it prolong the life of the batteries, the ECU and FICM (fuel injection control module) require very specific volts to start and fire the injectors. Anything under 11-ish volts during start-up, will fry the electronics in the FICM. Lower than 10 volts, the ECU will not even send signals to the FICM, but the starter will still turn.

I would bet our cars are similar in voltage requirements.

At 1.5 amp charging rate, it took 3.25 hours to bring the battery to a full charge. At 4.8 amp hours to charge, this is nothing. Most batteries will take the same amount of time but at 10 amps which is 48.0 amp hours of charging.

My next service is in 1800 miles (the second service), so let's see what the dealer does - will they replace (which will tell me there is a defect in the batteries or the volt/amp mapping in the ECU) or leave it alone?

[F15GorDe]

Have gone more than 3 weeks between startups with no problems. Coming up on the second service where the batteries will be swapped out. Will have the battery evaluated as to condition. I've always suspected that the X's having the problems are located in hot climates and are driven only short distances.

[42pilot]

Look what I got via email today - time to change the battery. So much for keeping it charged properly.

-----------------------

Dear Donald:

Your 2014 X5 xDrive35d has indicated that you need to schedule a service appointment for the following service(s):

• Engine oil
• Microfilter
• Recirculating air microfilter
• Replace 12 volt battery according to SI B61 30 14

[Tremek]

Replaced my 2011 X5M's battery today for less than $200 and 10 minutes in the back of the car with an Autozone Platinum battery that has a free 3-year replacement warranty. The failing battery was an OEM BMW piece. This really isn't a huge problem.

[F15_X5_M_Sport]

Funny, I took my X5 to the dealership last week for the second oil change (22500km on the odo) and he said " What battery replacement?"

So I showed him this thread and told him its the "SI B61 30 14". He replies with if there was anything that needs to be done BMW would have told us. What we do is put your key fob in and take a reading. What ever job it lists to be done is what's done.

I asked him to please e-mail BMW Group and inquire about it. Been 7 days and haven't heard from the guy. Time to call him back.

[PB617]

Sorry to bring back an old thread, but the E71 forum is not very active. I purchased a CPO 2013 X6 50i three months ago. After about 5 weeks i started getting the increased battery discharge warning. The message would come and go and i even got a battery tender, but it didn't help much. Lately i would constantly see that message at least a 3-4 times per week maybe more.

My X6 is currently at the dealer and i got a call from my service rep saying that my car seems to have an original battery and has never been changed, and its normal to replace every 4-5 years. Not covered by the BMW warranty.

What are the chances that my car has an original battery with the well know issue with N63's eating batteries so frequently?? Shouldn't this be covered under warranty? I just got the car and it had the CCP done back in 2015, they should of replaced the battery then, if it had not been replaced before that. My rep is looking into it for me and is well aware of the service bulletin for battery replacement every 12 months

[double_j]

Originally Posted by PB617

Sorry to bring back an old thread, but the E71 forum is not very active. I purchased a CPO 2013 X6 50i three months ago. After about 5 weeks i started getting the increased battery discharge warning. The message would come and go and i even got a battery tender, but it didn't help much. Lately i would constantly see that message at least a 3-4 times per week maybe more.

My X6 is currently at the dealer and i got a call from my service rep saying that my car seems to have an original battery and has never been changed, and its normal to replace every 4-5 years. Not covered by the BMW warranty.

What are the chances that my car has an original battery with the well know issue with N63's eating batteries so frequently?? Shouldn't this be covered under warranty? I just got the car and it had the CCP done back in 2015, they should of replaced the battery then, if it had not been replaced before that. My rep is looking into it for me and is well aware of the service bulletin for battery replacement every 12 months

Theoretically the car should have been brought up to maintenance standard before being given the CPO designation. This would have included a new battery per the technical service bulletin.

[PB617]

Originally Posted by double_j

Theoretically the car should have been brought up to maintenance standard before being given the CPO designation. This would have included a new battery per the technical service bulletin.

That's what i was telling my rep. I haven't heard back yet but i'm going to push and have this covered by the dealer.

[Apple Corps]

I had to jump start my 2014 550i (N63tu engine) yesterday for the first time. The car is not driven that much. So, at my oil change today the SA tells me it will take a bit longer because a new style battery needs to be retrofitted and then coded to the car.

Two companies whose premium products I buy are Apple and BMW. Over many years we have had little trouble with either and always had SUPERB warranty experience on the few occasions it was needed.

[PB617]

Originally Posted by Apple Corps

I had to jump start my 2014 550i (N63tu engine) yesterday for the first time. The car is not driven that much. So, at my oil change today the SA tells me it will take a bit longer because a new style battery needs to be retrofitted and then coded to the car.

Two companies whose premium products I buy are Apple and BMW. Over many years we have had little trouble with either and always had SUPERB warranty experience on the few occasions it was needed.

So they are covering the battery under warranty?

[Apple Corps]

Originally Posted by PB617

So they are covering the battery under warranty?

You bet - and my understanding is that it is a new design battery - not simply giving me a free old design. Don't know the technical differences though.

I am guessing that when they insert your key fob into their reader your VIN is uploaded and compared to a master data base for that production run. Any applicable service needs are loaded onto the dealer's screen. That is what I think I observed today.

[alphaod]

I don't think the new battery is "redesigned" but actually just higher capacity than the older ones which if you bought an F15 in the last couple years would already have the higher capacity battery.

That's my understanding of the situation.

[PB617]

Originally Posted by Apple Corps

You bet - and my understanding is that it is a new design battery - not simply giving me a free old design. Don't know the technical differences though.

I am guessing that when they insert your key fob into their reader your VIN is uploaded and compared to a master data base for that production run. Any applicable service needs are loaded onto the dealer's screen. That is what I think I observed today.

Good to hear!

I got a call from my service rep that the battery had not been changed out for the new higher capacity battery in 2015 when the N63 CCP was done on the car. They went ahead and replaced my battery free of charge to me, but they're going to have the dealership that did the CCP work pick up the tab because they can't claim it under the warranty since it should have been replaced by them.

[Apple Corps]

Originally Posted by alphaod

I don't think the new battery is "redesigned" but actually just higher capacity than the older ones which if you bought an F15 in the last couple years would already have the higher capacity battery.

That's my understanding of the situation.

Just picked the car up and according to the tech the replacement battery is a redesigned tecnology - absorbed glass mat as opposed to the original battery which is standard lead plates in acid.

https://www.optimabatteries.com/en-u.../agm-batteries

[spike5150]

Does anyone have a copy of the most recent update to this bulletin? I'm in for my 4th oil change today and the battery replacement did not show up on the email or the key read (June 2015 built X5 50i).

Latest one I can find via google is dated Dec 2015. This one only lists F15 with prod dates of 8/2013-7/2014 as being eligible.

[Kzang]

Originally Posted by spike5150

Does anyone have a copy of the most recent update to this bulletin? I'm in for my 4th oil change today and the battery replacement did not show up on the email or the key read (June 2015 built X5 50i).

Latest one I can find via google is dated Dec 2015. This one only lists F15 with prod dates of 8/2013-7/2014 as being eligible.

Mine is a March 2015 build and my SA told me that all X5's in this build time does not fall in the battery replacement program. Id' like to see if there is an updated bulletin as well.

[spike5150]

Originally Posted by spike5150

Does anyone have a copy of the most recent update to this bulletin? I'm in for my 4th oil change today and the battery replacement did not show up on the email or the key read (June 2015 built X5 50i).

Latest one I can find via google is dated Dec 2015. This one only lists F15 with prod dates of 8/2013-7/2014 as being eligible.

My SA printed me the latest bulletin: