With cold weather coming, cars often suffer, the most basic case is to have troubles starting your BMW X5 in the morning with very low temperatures. In general this is related to problems recharging the battery of your BMW X5 . There are some reasons that can show you why your battery does not recharge effectively anymore, and today we will try to help you to solve this problem that can prevent you from using your car. To get this done, first we will show you how recharging your car battery functions, then the different problems of recharging a BMW X5, and finally how to recharge an empty car battery.

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How does recharging the battery of a BMW X5 function?

Before we detail the different problems of recharging the battery on a BMW X5 , we will show you to you how its recharging system operates so that you can discover the problems you are struggling with. A car battery functions like a phone battery, it will store energy to start your BMW X5 , turn on your headlights, listen to music, lower your power windows… However all these actions will consume energy and it may deplete the energy reserve that your battery can store. To get over this problem, the engineers have developed a element called the alternator , this element will use the energy produced by the engine unit of your BMW X5 to create energy thanks to a copper coil and a magnet. This energy will recharge the battery of your car . However, take into account that this process can only work when your motor vehicle is running, using electrical components of your car when it is stopped will decrease the energy reserve of your car. It is considered that a battery of a xxx has a life span of 3 to 5 years.

Problems recharging a BMW X5’s battery

We will now describe the different battery charging problems on a BMW X5 you may be victim of. If your battery is not recharging because there is necessarily a problem in your electrical installation, we will now see the different cases.

Battery charging problem on BMW X5: My battery is discharging even if I am recharging it with a particular charger

In this first case, it is quite possible that your alternator is dead , in fact, if you control to recharge your battery with a charger and your BMW X5 to start, the problem obviously originates from your alternator which should not be able to create any more current.

Battery charging problem on BMW X5: My car shuts off and does not start even if I have charged the battery

If you have recharged your battery and you have been able to start your BMW X5 but it switches off although you are driving and then does not start, the problem with recharging the battery of your BMW X5 is that your battery no longer holds the charge .

Battery charging problem on BMW X5: My battery is discharged although it is new

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If you’ve just bought a battery and it discharges although you’re driving, the problem most probably originates from your alternator. It cannot result from your battery, which is new and therefore holds the charge. The second opportunity is that you have a ground somewhere in your electrical system.

How to solve the problem of battery charging on BMW X5?

We will now give you the solutions according to the problem you are struggling with. Here are the different problems and their solutions:

  • Defective alternator: You can try with simple mechanics to check it with a pressure gauge to find out if it’s producing power. If it doesn’t, changing it is the best remedy, based on your motor you will pay a few hundred euros. This repair is feasible in the event your alternator is accessible.
  • Battery that no longer holds the charge: In such a case, the purchase of a new battery is the only realistic remedy. Indeed, if you have already recharged it but it is still empty because it is good to be replaced, count between 60 and 100 euros based on your engine.
  • Ground in the electrical circuit: If you cannot start your BMW X5 but your alternator and battery are in good condition, it is possible that you have a ground on your wiring harness and that you lose energy, a check by a car electrician is in such a case required.

How to recharge an empty battery of a BMW X5

At last, to recharge the empty battery of a BMW X5 there are only few solutions, using a battery charger is the most efficient remedy, you can locate some for 50 to 100 euros at vendors like Oscaro. In any other case you can use cables that will only provide the energy needed to start.

If you wish more tutorials on the BMW X5, go to our BMW X5 category.