Battery/alternator question |
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carsmusings
Newbie Joined: 16-November-2006 Status: Offline Points: 11 |
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Posted: 09-September-2011 at 15:20 |
2002 520
110k on the clock about 10 weeks ago, it started needing a jump in the morning, got a guy to look at it and he said battery, relatively inexpensive so I put a new shiny battery in. yaay I thought. about 3 weeks ago, it started needing a jump again. boo says me. Dropped it into local garage who's been doing my services for me and Id trust, says its actually alternator, new one costs circa 750e, reconditioned one was 360e. (does this price sound right for a conditioned one) anyway, I went with the reconditioned one on the recomendation of garage who said it could be done. got another 2 weeks out of it, but battery dead again this morning. I gotta drop it back to garage but anyone any suggestions if its not battery and not alternator? also, its absolutely chewing the oil. I gotta do a top up of 3-4 litres like every 8-10 weeks. no leaks on the driveway. Is that just part of living with a car that old? I tried one of those viscous additives (dont ask me the name) on the last topup thats supposed to elongate the life of the oil but it didnt. |
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Andrew Rolland
Moderator Group Go away rain Joined: 19-August-2004 Location: Scotland Status: Offline Points: 6579 |
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I'm assuming it is an E39 520i i.e. petrol.
The price sounds right if in Euros for a re-con alternator, they are relatively expensive bits of kit. You obviously still have a drain on the battery. If it were an E60 I would say it might be the ABS unit. That could also be applicable I guess for an E39. It probably warrants a proper diagnostic with computer and correct software as you have also spent a fair whack on it and a new ABS unit will not be cheap either. Again assuming that it is the petrol M54 engine, these do have a thirst for oil. BMWs acceptable limit for oil consumption on these engine is frankl scary at something like 1 litre per 900 odd miles. More than that and you could have a clogged up crankcase breather system. I would only put oil in the engine and no additives, but that's just me. Andrew
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Current '13 62 F10 535i MSport Auto Previous '04 04 E60 545i SE Auto '03 53 E60 545i SE Auto (Stolen) '98 S E39 523i SE Auto |
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carsmusings
Newbie Joined: 16-November-2006 Status: Offline Points: 11 |
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andrew, thats for taking the time to respond. very helpful answers. Yes, its the e39.
On the alternator its a bit "holy jaysus, how much?" but if thats what it is then it has to be. I rang a bm garage yesterday and they confirmed not much change of 750 for a new one so half that sounds right for a recond. one. Yeah, the drain on the battery is a funny one, the only thing I can think is there's an electrical short somewhere. It took a bang to the back passenger side about 2 years ago, I got what I thought was properly repaired but after I got it back shortly afterwards the boot loaded cd player stopped working. My garage said theres a break in the electrics there and it would be pricey to start opening up things to see where the break was and as I dont really listen to cd's that much I never got it fixed. Possible theres something there. |
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Andrew Rolland
Moderator Group Go away rain Joined: 19-August-2004 Location: Scotland Status: Offline Points: 6579 |
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That could be a starting point. A wire might be chaffing on the body work and causing a short as you suggested. It could also be water getting in somewhere and shorting something out. |
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Current '13 62 F10 535i MSport Auto Previous '04 04 E60 545i SE Auto '03 53 E60 545i SE Auto (Stolen) '98 S E39 523i SE Auto |
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Peter Fenwick
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WRT the oil consumpsion, do you get any white deposit under the oil filler cap? Also if you take the filler cap off when the engine is running does it start to idle roughly?
If the answer is yes and no to these questions then your CCV is knackered. It's not an expensive part to buy but fitting it is a pain. |
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Entering an age of Austerity and now driving a Focus Diesel.
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Crispy-d
Senior Member I Joined: 07-May-2008 Location: Ipswich/Bristol Status: Offline Points: 130 |
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Whenever I've had a battery drain I've always removed a different fuse overnight to try to pinpoint at least the circuit that's at fault. But by the sounds of it this may not help as it drains over the course of a few weeks. Only thing is, is it draining when the engine is off as well as on? This would be an easy thing to check by testing for current flow.
If there is a flow of current when the engine's off then you can start taking out fuses to see when it stops (or at least decreases as the alarm etc. will take a small portion as a matter of course).
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BMW E39 M5 - 2002
Land Rover 110 4.0 V8 - 1986 BMW E39 530d Manual SE - 2001 BMW E34 540i 6 Speed Manual - 1995 Volvo S90 3.0 CD - 1997 Volvo 460 Si Turbo - 1995 Volvo 340 GL - 1989 |
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Andrew Rolland
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+1
Sounds a good plan but you need a good meter than can read up to 30 amps plus a good few hours to pin point. Would very much help to rule out other components.
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Current '13 62 F10 535i MSport Auto Previous '04 04 E60 545i SE Auto '03 53 E60 545i SE Auto (Stolen) '98 S E39 523i SE Auto |
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Dergside
Really Senior Member II Joined: 16-May-2004 Location: Mid West, Ireland Status: Offline Points: 4000 |
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As regards the cost of the alternator, a call to a well regarded BMW specialist dismantler might save you some money. Two that I have used are linked below. http://www.quarrymotors.co.uk/ |
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525ELUX
Newbie Joined: 17-September-2011 Location: Cambridge Status: Offline Points: 1 |
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I had the exact same problem with mine, after a lot or trial and error and some hair pulling I disconnected the radio aerial, worked a treat!
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Andrew Rolland
Moderator Group Go away rain Joined: 19-August-2004 Location: Scotland Status: Offline Points: 6579 |
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Ah but does your radio work now?
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Be exclusive and drive a Petrol 5 Series!
Current '13 62 F10 535i MSport Auto Previous '04 04 E60 545i SE Auto '03 53 E60 545i SE Auto (Stolen) '98 S E39 523i SE Auto |
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540 V8
Bavarian-Board Contributor Lick my badge Joined: 07-December-2005 Location: Running the asylum Status: Offline Points: 2280 |
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Alternators on these beasts are not cheap. I'd agree that it sounds like you have a short somewhere though in my experience you could find it quite easily or spend ages chasing your tail. Thing is, if you want your car sorted you may have to bite the bullet.
Perhaps you could try stripping out the rear end of carpet and trim where the smash was and see if there is anything obvious. You never know, you may see a broken or chafed wire and fix it in no time. May the force be with you Mike
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Current:E34 540i Touring 6 speed manual(Mpower bodykit & suspension)& Chrysler Voyager 3.3 V6 auto Previous:E34 530iSE AC Schnitzer suspension. E28 525e auto-Standard |
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Hasso
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BR Hasso
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