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      11-20-2015, 12:21 AM   #1
loco
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Unusual electrical problem

I'm having an intermittent fault with my 2012 135i.

I go to start it and there is no electrical activity. First time I thought it was a flat battery. But the key in ignition registers no dash lights and key won't activate door locks. First time when tow truck turned up at home, surprise surprise the car started. Plenty of battery power.

Next time the car was out of action for a day. Next time about an hour.

Methinks some electrical component the problem obviously but which one?

The fault doesn't happen often and hard to diagnose when there is no fault.

For example yesterday I opened the boot electrically with the key, closed the boot then inserted key and boom, no electrical activity.
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      11-20-2015, 12:56 AM   #2
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Sounds like it might be a bad positive or ground cable connection.

Open up the boot and open up the floor to reveal the battery. I'd disconnect the terminals off the battery and give everything a good clean. Also unbolt the cables that go from the battery to the big lugs that attach to the body and clean them.
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      11-20-2015, 01:57 AM   #3
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Cannot open the boot without electrical power. Fortunately I have the back seats down so I disconnected the negative. Reconnection did not solve problem. All terminals look clean but I'll try to clean and tighten both whilst contorting to fit inside a sandalwood chest.
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      11-20-2015, 02:22 AM   #4
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Quote:
Originally Posted by loco View Post
Cannot open the boot without electrical power. Fortunately I have the back seats down so I disconnected the negative. Reconnection did not solve problem. All terminals look clean but I'll try to clean and tighten both whilst contorting to fit inside a sandalwood chest.
I think if you have an earlier build e82 there will be a lock on the boot enabling you to open the boot with the key. Otherwise I think there will be an emergency pull handle on the inside of the boot.

If you're interested in diagnosing:

If you have a multimeter it can help diagnose your issue. If you put the multimeter across the battery check the voltage, then check the voltage on the big cables bolted to the battery tray. Also test the voltage across the jump terminal in the engine bay.

Depending on the results it will give you an idea on where the connection is being broken.
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      11-20-2015, 04:15 AM   #5
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The battery is brand new and voltage is not a problem. The first time it happened, I connected another battery across the terminals under the bonnet and that still did not power up the car. But I'll give the multimeter a shot anyway..
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      11-20-2015, 06:42 AM   #6
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Anybody know what years the battery cable recall applied to? Does it apply to this vehicle?
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      11-20-2015, 08:15 AM   #7
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http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/acms/cs...3V044-6848.PDF
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      11-20-2015, 03:46 PM   #8
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Not a flat/dead key battery is it? Do you have comfort access?
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      11-22-2015, 07:36 PM   #9
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Most likely the battery connection on the positive terminal. Gave it a wiggle. Car started 30 minutes later..
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      11-22-2015, 08:21 PM   #10
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Do you also get airbag errors? I read thats normally associated with the positive battery safety terminal fault
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