I have a 2006 530xi. A warning message has started to appear that reads "Heavy battery drain." Dealer says nothing to worry about. I have a service scheduled in two weeks. My concern is that I am traveling on business this Thursday and leaving the car at the airport for two days. I am afraid that when I return at 11:00 in the evening, it will not start. Currently the car starts right up. It is kept in a warm garage. Should I worry?

 

get one of those $25 jump start packs and put it in the trunk. cheap insurance.

 

I drove my 2006 530xit 300 miles from Seattle Spokane, parked it for two nights and then the next morning it wouldn't start. Had it jumped and drove 300 miles back to Seattle. All seemed find for two days and then it would start again. Dealer replaced the battery and that fixed the problem. Bottom line...it wouldn't trust it on a long trip with that warning.

 

Depends really. If your car is of a certain vintage, this error is erroneous. My 2006 (spring 05 build) had this error until the code was updated by the dealership. This erroneous "High Battery Drain" notice is documented for the rev of code that came on these cars during that time.

If this is the reason for the error, it should get you a free code update. Either way, get it to a dealer.


Mine just sat for two weeks (I travel a lot) and it fired right up.

 

Thats what the dealer told me prior to buying my car, and wouldnt you know it, three months later dead battery. Of course it wasnt covered under CPO so I had to take the compliant to BMW NA.