ST JAMES

Hi the other night I had parked my car and when I went back a few hours later to leave the alarm went off and It didn't want to turn off! I started the engine it was still going off. Locked all the doors it was still going off. So what I did was disconnect the red + wire in the front of the car and both pos and neg battery connection in the back along with a ground wire. It WAS STILL ON! I was assuming it was feeding off the left over energy from the alternator. So I waited and waited and after a few "shut the *uck up!"s from the neighbors around the area it finally stopped. Left it off and went to smash my GF and came back the next day to connect everything back together but take out the alarm fuse. Car started and alarm was gone but now I have a gillion problems popping up on the DME. "active steering" "transmission gears can change when brake" (or something like that) "increased emissions" "brake pads at min level" (this one might be true I know my brakes are low I'm going to get them replaced soon) I usually just turn off my car and turn it back on hoping all of them don't show up (sometimes) or at least just the "increased emissions" light is on so it wont effect my driving. It randomly switches between these lights.
SO PLEASE HELP ME
Is there a certain wait to install the battery? Should I disconnect everything and re-install it the correct way if there is one?

twh

The alarm has it's own battery that it can use if you disconnect the main battery. That explains why it was still going off.

If you main battery is more than 3-4 years old, I'd just replace it and see what you get.

ST JAMES

HAHAHAH HOLY... You think my batt is old? Where and what is the best batt? I was thinking about getting a new battery and having it registered by some shop. Everything was working fine before the weird alarm incident.

rice_rocket88

All those errors come up with a dead battery etc... I'd start with replacing the battery and see how it goes. I recently needed a change in my own and I just went with an OEM one at $275 plus tax. I read in a thread that advanced auto carries the exide correct one for $180 ish? But I was on the fence about OEM or not.. my friend said he can't register a new battery unless it's a stock one that has serial numbers etc.

ST JAMES

Do you guys think I can just charge the battery at some place or is it best to just get a new one? Also thinking about just getting the one at auto zone 95R-DLG and just install it. Is there anything that I can or have to reset on my own besides registering it?

rice_rocket88

Probably a bad battery... mine still has the "green light" but when I came back from holiday it was a 2 day decline until I couldn't start it. Trickle charged it all night and it could only start once... it's pretty sucky trying to get a jump start just to go home.. haha

twh

My 2006 530xi had a non-AGM battery. Used this one from Advance Auto Parts:
AutoCraft Gold Battery, Group Size 95R, 950 CCA
Battery Type: Lead Acid
Amp Hours: 110 hr
BCI Group Size: 95
Cold Cranking Amps: 950 amps

Wife's 2009 X5 had GM. Used this one from Advance Auto Parts:
AutoCraft Platinum AGM Battery, Group Size H8, 900 CCA
Battery Type: AGM
BCI Group Size: H8
Cold Cranking Amps: 900
Cranking Amps: 1000

I'd see if I could get an online coupon for Pep Boys or O'Reillys or Auto Zone and get the same kind (AGM or non-AGM) you have now and then get it registered. If the CCA or Ah rating is just a little higher, don't worry about it.

Don't forget to reinstall the vent tube on the side of the battery and make sure the vent hole on the other side of the battery is plugged off.

ST JAMES

My car came with an Interstate batt. All I did was go to autozone and get a battery with the SAME EXACT SPECS as the battery it came with and everything is running perfect. Didn't register anything.

ST JAMES

Thank you guys!