2006 E64 650i - Bizarre symptoms & wont start

[OnTheSauce]

Had the car out on Saturday and all seemed well. It had sat on the drive all week, which is the norm for it as it’s a weekend car.

Went to start it yesterday and it wasn’t happy at all. It took a while to start and when it did, I got a steering wheel logo pop up. Drove it and immediately noticed I’d lost all power steering assistance.

The power steering fluid is fine, and the battery hasn’t given me a low power warning (although it did a few weeks ago)

Now it won’t start at all. No warning signs and still no low power warning.

Any ideas?

Cheers

Edited by OnTheSauce on Monday 16th April 15:54

[E65Ross]

I'd definitely start with trying to charge the battery, especially if you were given a warning a while ago. Low battery can give all sorts of bizarre symptoms in these cars.

[Collectingbrass]

Was the steering wheel logo amber or red? The amber one is just that the steering angle opitical sensor has lost it's centre on loss of power and should reset after a drive, especially with some full lock turns.

I haven't had full loss of power steering, but as others have said low / failed battery can throw some "interesting" error codes and faults. They are very sensitive to low & poor condition batteries so I would get the battery changed. They do need to be coded so I would pay some one (the AA?) otherwise you will be chasing error codes for the rest of your ownership (ask me how I know...). I would also get a trickle charger to keep the battery condition tip top.

The other thing I would look at if the battery is not charging properly, from my own experience, is the earth lead to the starter motor.

[Herbs]

+2 for battery

[trickywoo]

+3 for battery as an initial step.

Could then also be the IBS (intelligent battery sensor) or the alternator.

After you've put a new battery in it'll need coding and then you may as well read the charging rates including under load.

Its not at all uncommon for the housing on the regulator to crack leading to failure.

[OnTheSauce]

Thanks for the replies, all.

Collectingbrass, it’s the amber one. I’m hoping it’s ‘just’ a low battery. Thinking about it, I’ve had a couple of strange electrical issues when the car had gone even longer periods without use, namely when the windows all partially dropped and the iDrive read ‘Soft Top Not Locked’ when it was.. So I definitely agree that low power really upsets these things.

Just remembered that I have some breakdown cover. Might call them out and see if they can boost the battery, or read any fault codes.

Cheers,

[OnTheSauce]

Lead or AGM battery?