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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Oct 2014
    Location
    florence,sc
    Posts
    6
    My Cars
    03 bmw x5,

    X5 electrical problems

    i have a 2003x5 e53.the check engine and abs light been on for while. While driving it the dash went dark and trans fail safe came up, tac quit
    working and temp gauge went all the way in the red. I made it home ok shut off for a while, restarted it and every thing was normal. I've had tranny rebuilt and had no problems with it. i haven't driven it in about a year but i start it two to three times a week. some day its ok and some when it get up to temp. check engine comes on, fail safe come on ,tach cut off, temp gauge in the red for about a minute then everything back to normal. it does this repeatedly until i cut it off. has anyone seen this happen or put me in the right direction.i runs normal while this is happening.

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Feb 2017
    Location
    Bolivar, MO
    Posts
    111
    My Cars
    '13 E70 & '15 F15 MSport
    Have OBD II codes pulled by a BMW capable scanner. Check your battery/charging system. Defective battery will give you many of those symptoms. A Peake or Foxwell or the like will give you more insight as to what is going on. A quick code pull at any of the auto parts places will only report, for the most part, the generic emissions related codes.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Jan 2016
    Location
    Ca
    Posts
    6,981
    My Cars
    2001 525it
    You need to start with a fully charged and load tested battery

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Oct 2014
    Location
    florence,sc
    Posts
    6
    My Cars
    03 bmw x5,
    I had battery checked after first incident. It was bad. Replaced with news battery. Same results.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Sep 2005
    Location
    North Carolina
    Posts
    10,579
    My Cars
    '86 M635/'10 Clubman
    Sometimes a bad ignition switch can make these cars seem like they're possessed. My spawn's X5 (162K miles) is on at least the third one of it's life, which is why I got the FEBI version (FEB-36545) from FCP Euro (lifetime replacement guarantee). I had all kinds of strange electrical crap going on, and it's been solid ever since.

    For $65 on a part that's likely to fail at some point anyway, it's probably worth a shot. Installation is relatively simple, IIRC you'll need some torx bits (T25 I think), a small flat screwdriver and a flexible spine to work on the underside of the steering column.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Oct 2014
    Location
    florence,sc
    Posts
    6
    My Cars
    03 bmw x5,
    Does it need programming?

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Jan 2016
    Location
    Ca
    Posts
    6,981
    My Cars
    2001 525it
    No

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Feb 2011
    Location
    IL
    Posts
    13,581
    My Cars
    2000 740i sport
    This is 100% an ABS Module issue. I had the exact same issue and had mine rebuilt on my 02 4.6iS which resolved the issue. I had mine rebuilt by Module repair pros in California...

    https://www.shop.modulerepairpro.com...2003_c1089.htm

    https://www.dropbox.com/s/xzoehjt6uf...81%29.mp4?dl=0

    Last edited by purplecty; 10-01-2020 at 09:07 AM.

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