Computer settings lost after car not used for a short while.

[TX1]

Car was not used for about eleven days and have noticed that the central locking settings and memory seat settings have changed. Not sure if they defaulted to original settings but anyhow the settings are not as I have left them. Car is an e92 with idrive.
Is this something someone else has experienced ?

[roofer]

Same key?

[TX1]

Yes same key, even the Tones settings on stereo have defaulted.
Its like a default button was pressed somewhere.

[Neil.D]

Likely to be a low battery. Give it time to recharge or hook it up on a charger periodically. Problem should go away.

[TX1]

Yes makes sense that it could be a low battery as car is not a daily drive so the eleven days or so not started did not help the cause.
Car suffered from a low battery when I first bought it just over a year ago and the dealer had to replace it as kept getting the low battery indicator even after it was fully charged.
I think these modern cars with all these gadgets are very battery hungry and unless driven regularly the battery does not last.
Thanks for the help.

[Neil.D]

TX1 said:

I think these modern cars with all these gadgets are very battery hungry and unless driven regularly the battery does not last.

Im in agreement there.

[PJ S]

TX1 said:

Yes makes sense that it could be a low battery as car is not a daily drive so the eleven days or so not started did not help the cause.
Car suffered from a low battery when I first bought it just over a year ago and the dealer had to replace it as kept getting the low battery indicator even after it was fully charged.
I think these modern cars with all these gadgets are very battery hungry and unless driven regularly the battery does not last.
Thanks for the help.

The E65 7 Series has a switch which when moved into position, reduces the draw - a bit like Standby on the TV.
Assuming not fitted to the E9x, then 11 days is too short a period with a healthy battery to result in low battery level issues.
Therefore the alternator isn't recharging the battery sufficiently, your driving isn't long enough to recharge the battery fully (if the alternator is just fine), or you've a problem with something that's causing a higher drain.

Most decent garages should have a battery tester - one which can show the voltage, drain, and alternator putting out a healthy voltage.
If you're not doing short hops, then that with the test results would lead one to check a module wasn't drainig the battery or a poor earth somewhere.

A good battery charger (CTEK tend to be well regarded) left on for a full day or so, then removed, and the car left for the same 11 days again, would be one option to test before spending more on battery test, and further on sourcing the drain.

£40 ish would allow you to manage the drain, if that's what the cause is, by hooking the charger up once a week for a day initially, then possibly just overnight, depending on drain level.