Is this a sign of a battery heading south?

[TexasSpartan]

For the past couple days I've noticed my headlights not coming on when I unlock or lock my '11 E92 with the key fob. I have CA. Is this a sign of a battery going down? I installed the V4's about a year ago with no problems and they do come on at night, just not when I hit the key fob to lock or unlock the car. My wife did drive the car (with her fob) the other day but I'm using my fob now. Any ideas?

[///M Ryder]

When the battery is heading South the car will start to shut down non essential options. This could be one of them but I think you'll start to notice other things as well. Slow clock and battery drain warning for example......Phil

[m3ray]

Originally Posted by TexasSpartan

For the past couple days I've noticed my headlights not coming on when I unlock or lock my '11 E92 with the key fob. I have CA. Is this a sign of a battery going down? I installed the V4's about a year ago with no problems and they do come on at night, just not when I hit the key fob to lock or unlock the car. My wife did drive the car (with her fob) the other day but I'm using my fob now. Any ideas?

I would check the battery voltage with a tester. Anything below 12.5 volts means its not fully charged. Then you can put a tender on it and see if it will hold a full charge. If it doesn't you'll know the battery is on it's way out.

[AshyLarryMP]

It's pretty normal for the battery to go bad. Mine got replaced for free under warranty before 30k miles. One of the first symptoms is the stop/start doesn't work anymore. Stop/start also wears out the battery.

[roastbeef]

i have noticed when i turn the auto headlights off, the angel eyes don't come on when i hit the unlock button (regardless of day or night lighting).
when i have the auto headlights on, the angel eyes and tail lights come on when i hit the unlock button (regardless of lighting).

try experimenting with the scenarios i described and maybe take a look at the battery if its getting to be that time anyways.

[marksae]

Another sign of the battery going out would be shorter times in "accessory" mode if you have comfort access. I think normally, you get 10 minutes after you shut the engine off before the radio turns off. Mine went down to 3 or 5 minutes when my battery was on its way out. You should get a warning message on your i-drive pretty soon if you're getting the other telltale signs.

[TexasSpartan]

Originally Posted by roastbeef

i have noticed when i turn the auto headlights off, the angel eyes don't come on when i hit the unlock button (regardless of day or night lighting).
when i have the auto headlights on, the angel eyes and tail lights come on when i hit the unlock button (regardless of lighting).

try experimenting with the scenarios i described and maybe take a look at the battery if its getting to be that time anyways.

I have my auto headlights on and all I get are my orange parking lights. The clock is spot on. I purchased the car used a couple years ago so not sure if the battery was changed prior. From the history I have, the battery may be the original. I'm just not getting any other symptoms. There's not a setting to have the lights come on when locked and unlocked other than the auto switch?

[Face15E]

I also noticed high power pull items start to not work - like the heated seats and more concerning safety-wise, the rear window defrost. Give those a shot, if the car won't allow them to draw power, you either have a battery without a full charge or one on the way out.
Mine went at 5 years.
Hope this helps.
Face

[///M Power-Belgium]

Originally Posted by TexasSpartan

For the past couple days I've noticed my headlights not coming on when I unlock or lock my '11 E92 with the key fob. I have CA. Is this a sign of a battery going down? I installed the V4's about a year ago with no problems and they do come on at night, just not when I hit the key fob to lock or unlock the car. My wife did drive the car (with her fob) the other day but I'm using my fob now. Any ideas?

You need this => "#26" http://www.m3post.com/forums/showthr...1#post15488771

[TexasSpartan]

Originally Posted by ///M Power-Belgium

You need this => "#26" http://www.m3post.com/forums/showthr...1#post15488771

Not sure why i need the CTEK. My E92 is my daily driver, plus doesn't get that cold here in South Texas although the heat takes a toll on batteries down here. The car hardly ever sits in the direct sunlight, always in my garage or the garage at work.

All accessories seem to be working just fine. Welcome Lights are on set at 40secs but they're not coming on.

[m3ray]

Originally Posted by TexasSpartan

Not sure why i need the CTEK. My E92 is my daily driver, plus doesn't get that cold here in South Texas although the heat takes a toll on batteries down here. The car hardly ever sits in the direct sunlight, always in my garage or the garage at work.

All accessories seem to be working just fine. Welcome Lights are on set at 40secs but they're not coming on.

Heat wears out batteries quicker than the cold. I always use a battery tender. It's just good way to extend the life of your battery. Especially if you have a garage.

Maybe what you have going on isn't related to the battery but rather some of the settings on the car's computer or key fob.

[TX]

well anyone who gets 5 years out of a battery got their money worth out of it.
End of story.

[TexasSpartan]

Originally Posted by m3ray

Heat wears out batteries quicker than the cold. I always use a battery tender. It's just good way to extend the life of your battery. Especially if you have a garage.

Maybe what you have going on isn't related to the battery but rather some of the settings on the car's computer or key fob.

I've looked at the settings thinking that was the cause but can't find anything that looks like it's set wrong. The taillights blink and the front parking lights blink but no headlights.

[White 13]

If you could borrow a charger from a friend you could charge the battery and determine if it is the cause or not.

[MrPrena]

Slow clock or if display tell you to rest the time and date is a good sign.
I had to do that twice this month. After great advice on this forum, I bought the Battery Tender. My first day using it, and so far, no battery signs after I turn the engine off.

http://www.m3post.com/forums/showpos...postcount=1364

[TexasSpartan]

Originally Posted by MrPrena

Slow clock or if display tell you to rest the time and date is a good sign.
I had to do that twice this month. After great advice on this forum, I bought the Battery Tender. My first day using it, and so far, no battery signs after I turn the engine off.

http://www.m3post.com/forums/showpos...postcount=1364

Clock is spot on. All accessories are working. It's only the Pathway Lights that are not working. Welcome lights are working. Tail lights are flashing when lock/unlocking. As I mentioned in my OP, I did install the V4's last summer and they have been working fine since. Even though the "Pathway Lights" setting is checked and set for 70 secs, it's not working. I'll put my charger on it and see if that does anything.

[TexasSpartan]

Okay, so I put the car on the charger today. It only took about an hour to get it to a full charge. I tested the Pathway Lights and again, nothing. Everything else works fine, all accessories, Welcome Lights, tail lights flash, parking lights flash, but not the head lights. Odd.

[TommyLights]

Originally Posted by roastbeef

i have noticed when i turn the auto headlights off, the angel eyes don't come on when i hit the unlock button (regardless of day or night lighting).
when i have the auto headlights on, the angel eyes and tail lights come on when i hit the unlock button (regardless of lighting).

try experimenting with the scenarios i described and maybe take a look at the battery if its getting to be that time anyways.

They wont come on if you don't have it on auto.

[m3ray]

Originally Posted by TexasSpartan

Okay, so I put the car on the charger today. It only took about an hour to get it to a full charge. I tested the Pathway Lights and again, nothing. Everything else works fine, all accessories, Welcome Lights, tail lights flash, parking lights flash, but not the head lights. Odd.

At least you've ruled out the battery. Now it has to be some settings issue.

[TexasSpartan]

Originally Posted by m3ray

At least you've ruled out the battery. Now it has to be some settings issue.

Is the only setting to have the lights set to Auto and to have Pathway Lights set? Any other setting that could cause them no to flash? Seems to have coincided with my wife driving my car using her fob.

[///M Ryder]

Originally Posted by TexasSpartan

Is the only setting to have the lights set to Auto and to have Pathway Lights set? Any other setting that could cause them no to flash? Seems to have coincided with my wife driving my car using her fob.

My rings and rear only stay on when the light switch is in Auto mode. Your wife's key fob my have different settings. Make sure all of your settings are where you want them and then insert your key. I never use my second fob but if I grab it and go to the car I get all kinds of strange things happening. This is normal since I haven't set a program or features for the fob..........Phil

[m3ray]

Originally Posted by TexasSpartan

Is the only setting to have the lights set to Auto and to have Pathway Lights set? Any other setting that could cause them no to flash? Seems to have coincided with my wife driving my car using her fob.

Check out this video ..at 4:53. You can set the flash of headlights to come on/off when locking/unlocking using the BC stalk