sd_dracula

Recently installed a multimedia video interface for the 6.5" M-ASK iDrive in my car and sometimes I get an iDrive warning: High rate of battery discharge.

I already had a Dension 500 + BT adapter + iPod video which is constantly plugged in the Dension and never got any errors before the multimedia adapter.
The video adapter gets rarely used (but its wired to the back of the headunit so it might be on all the time anyway) and I also had my iPhone plugged into the USB port on the Dension for charging (recently have taken it out to see if that was the cause, but the error still happens)

Sounds like the multimedia adapter right? Or once the warning happens once iDrive will keep spamming until coded out?
Is it one of those self correcting warnings?
How much power does the ipod still suck out of the Dension after I remove the keys and lock the car?

phlfly

well after market equipment that is connected wrong way it will do a trick.

sd_dracula

Can't be connected the wrong way. Power is fed from a quadlock plug and play harness, no splicing involved.
Forgot to mention, kind of forgot the parking lights on over the night, twice, before connecting anything else to the car. Had to jump start her so the battery has always been so-so.
Plus I don't drive her every day of the week.

daviek

I also have this problem since fitting the multimedia adapter , removed it and no more messages

stock545i

Just curious as to how old your batteries are/were when you attempted this install?

sd_dracula

Well I would guess its never been changed since the car was made on 22.09.2005 so not so new.
Or maybe it was changed at some point but got no record of it from the previous owner(s).
I don't mind the message too much as long as I won't try to start the car one day and it just won't.

nomis_nehc

Sounds more like time to replace your battery.

sd_dracula

Hmm. Maybe but don't think its a coincidence it started happening at the same time as the new add-on(s).
Is there a way to check power usage through iDrive and those secret menu commands?

nomis_nehc

Nope. Hardly a coincidence in my opinion. Your battery is possibly approaching 7 years old, and you don't drive the vehicle enough as you said (as well).

stock545i

If it is a factory battery, it will have the month and year etched on the battery lead.

If aftermarket then chances are it has been replaced, and most likely was not registered for optimal charging.

Our cars are known to drain the batteries since we have all the electronics in the car.

I would start with the battery first, assuming everything was wired correctly. I don't have any experience with the multimedia adapter, however a 7 year old battery may be on it's final round.