iFixit - Answers With Device "BMW 2003-2010 5 Series"

BMW 2003-2010 5 Series: Battery drains and now car won't start

Thu, 28 Nov 2019 08:37:00 -0700

Hi, I’ve got a 2010 BMW 535i (E60) with 178,000 miles on it. I’ve only had the car a few months, but overall it seems to be in great shape. However, it’s had a problem where when left parked for more than couple days the battery will drain down and then the car won’t start. From some Googling, it’s unclear if that’s actually a “problem” or if that’s just the way BMW designed these cars. For my use case it's definitely a problem since I don't drive every day. This weekend I charged up the battery, got the car running, left it running for maybe 20 minutes so the battery could charge up, and then shut it off. After that it won't start, even after further charging the battery. I tried disconnecting the "IBS" that's connected to the negative battery terminal, but that doesn't seem to make a difference. When I push the start button in the car I'll hear a faint noise for a few seconds (a fuel pump I think) and then nothing happens. I plugged in an ODBII scanner and don't get any error codes. It's a manual, so I was able to get the car up a hill and then successfully roll start the car. Once roll started the alternator appears to charge the battery like it should, but after shutting the car off it still won't start again. What should I try now? Something with the starter?

Update :

Both the battery and the starter were bad. I guess a bad battery can kill the starter, but it seems strange. I’ve got those replaced and now the car starts fine. I still think I have a battery drain problem, but it sounds like maybe new BMWs expect to be driven far more than I drive this car. For now I’ve added a battery tender (https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B000...) to the car to make sure I don’t destroy another battery and/or starter.

⟐ Answer accepted November 28, 2019 at 8:37 MST

BMW 2003-2010 5 Series: 2006 BMW 530xi P0012 and P0015 Code Problems

Sat, 24 Feb 2024 18:31:47 -0700

My car throwing out these two codes time to time. It appears when I do complete stop at lights or parked. RPM makes one jumps to 1200-1500 rpm and slowly decreases to 600rpm. This jump happens only one time. At the same time, engine light opens and P0012 and P0015 codes appears. For an unknown period of time, the engine light stays on and then goes away until another event. When I get these codes, there is no power lose on the engine.

What is done so far:

Oil and oil filter changed. Did not help.
Solenoid valves cleaned and then replaced (because oil was leaked and metal brackets that have screw holes are rusted, it was not possible to fit them tightly). Did not help.

I seen that head gasket leaking some oil but it is related? I am constantly checking oil and coolant levels and make sure they are not low.

⟐ Answered February 24, 2024 at 18:31 MST

BMW 2003-2010 5 Series: Why is my car cutting off with a hard start

Mon, 24 Oct 2022 10:30:57 -0700

Why is my car cutting cut and giving a hard start

BMW 2003-2010 5 Series: How can I clean the antenna for a good signal in the key

Thu, 22 Aug 2024 18:14:32 -0700

The remote key has not been working for some time, you have to bring it closer to the antenna, I would like to know how to clean it

⟐ Answered August 22, 2024 at 18:14 MST

BMW 2003-2010 5 Series: Why do I got to jump my car and when it starts 5 minutes later it shut

Fri, 13 Oct 2023 04:16:03 -0700

Why do I got to jump my car and when it starts 5 minutes later it shut

⟐ Answered October 13, 2023 at 4:16 MST

BMW 2003-2010 5 Series: I have a bmw 2007It consumes a lot of gasoline Anyone knowledgeable

Sun, 24 Sep 2023 08:07:12 -0700

hello i have a bmw 2007 My car used to have a 523i engine but I modified it to a 525i engine and after I changed it now consumes more gasoline than other bmw

how can i fix it.

⟐ Answer edited September 24, 2023 at 8:07 MST

BMW 2003-2010 5 Series: Why is my water pump not turning on before and after replacing it

Sat, 16 Sep 2023 16:05:39 -0700

I would like to know why my water pump doesn’t turn on before and after replacing it I checked all fuses and wire’s everything was fine when I first got car but out of nowhere it didn’t wanna start and car overheats now

⟐ Commented September 16, 2023 at 16:05 MST

BMW 2003-2010 5 Series: Shifter won’t go into 2,4,6 .

Wed, 17 May 2023 22:37:37 -0700

I was driving two days and and I shifted my manual bmw 545i into 2nd gear and I completely lost 2,4 and 6 but I still have reverse 1,3 and 5 I’m pretty it’s just the shift linkage.

⟐ Answered May 17, 2023 at 22:37 MST

BMW 2003-2010 5 Series: Bmw 530i 2006 no injector pulse

Thu, 25 Aug 2022 06:35:38 -0700

2006 bmw 530i no injector pulse crank but no start. Starts with starter fluid but shuts right off after starter fluid runs out. Has spark has compression and timing is good what could be the problem?

⟐ Answer edited August 25, 2022 at 6:35 MST

BMW 2003-2010 5 Series: бмв е 61, 525 2008г. ключът ми не заключва ,но пали как да го поправя

Sun, 24 May 2026 01:38:54 -0700

защо ключът на бмв 525 да 2008 година е61 197 к.с. спря да заклюва

BMW 2003-2010 5 Series: car start but no interior or dash lights

Mon, 15 Dec 2025 16:03:13 -0700

I replaced my battery, car starts but now key fob doesn't respond, no interior lights, no dash lights. At a loss???

⟐ Commented December 15, 2025 at 16:03 MST

BMW 2003-2010 5 Series: How do I replace my gear selector switch

Tue, 25 Nov 2025 23:42:16 -0700

How do I change my gear selector switch

BMW 2003-2010 5 Series: How do I change the breather hose on a 2007 BMW 550i and valve cover

Mon, 22 Sep 2025 17:58:29 -0700

How do I change the breather hose and remove valve cover driver side on a 2007 BMW 550i

BMW 2003-2010 5 Series: How to repair active steering

Wed, 05 Mar 2025 22:10:40 -0700

Active steering faulty always popup on my dashboard..

BMW 2003-2010 5 Series: Why my aircond not cool and no electric supply to comppresor

Sun, 21 Jul 2024 21:04:30 -0700

why my aircond not cool and no electric supply to comppresor

BMW 2003-2010 5 Series: What makes radiator fan run continuously

Thu, 23 May 2024 02:19:36 -0700

when starting a car the radiator fan runs continously

BMW 2003-2010 5 Series: Why do I keep getting a low oil pressure message

Tue, 12 Dec 2023 09:36:21 -0700

I own a 2007 BMW 525i, 192,000 miles on it give or take. I've been doing a lot of work on it and have come to another obstacle. When I start my car it gives a low oil pressure message, so I let the idle and then the message is resolved but this is an everyday thing. What is the issue

BMW 2003-2010 5 Series: Why am I not getting injector pulse on cylinders 1 2 and 3

Thu, 30 Nov 2023 12:54:20 -0700

Car starts runs but injectors 1 ,2 and 3 are not getting pulse