Modules complaining after a dead battery, replaced new battery but still no joy

[billabong02]

Hi,

I picked up a M6 Gran Coupe Competition last weekend and drove it 350 plus miles home.
Didn't start it for a week because I was busy and as I started it this morning it fired up but the dashboard was lit up like a Christmas tree with a lot of modules complaining. I figured this was battery related so I called the AA and they confirmed that the battery was depleted.

The AA mechanic replaced the old battery with a brand new one and a lot of the codes went away but like 10 plus of them still remain.

He was unable to get these modules/codes to go away and recommended I go to a dealer.
I have scheduled a dealer appointment to have the car looked at but am seriously worried that the remaining modules have either fried or malfunctioned somehow.

The car has no power steering at the moment, it's complaining about the restraint, diff, parking brake and a bunch of other stuff and honestly I'm baffled.

Is this normal?

Can a bad battery have such a negative impact on the car?

Was the car trying to protect the modules by disabling them or something?

[SWFLf10]

Yes, it’s very common to hear of a dead or dying battery causing all kinds of mayhem. Personally I’d clear the code myself, including the BMW specific ones that a generic reader won’t read. But I have access to tools to clear them myself.

You can use a simple scanner like what Foxwell sells, just make sure to get one for BMW specifically. Or you can go all out and install ISTA on a laptop and clear them that way.

[Msparta]

BimmerCode with a reader Would be recomended as it can show and clear all these codes and you can register your new battery with the app although it’s not required…

[billabong02]

I see, If I make a list of issues the car is complaining about would you guys be able recommended something to clear/reset these issues?

I just hope all the modules are fine and nothing's permanently blown.

If this saves me a trip to the stealership, I'd hugely appreciate it. I've only had this car about a week and it's already stressing me out 😔

[billabong02]

Update:

Tried to clear the codes with carly and that didn't quite work.

[Qsilver7]

Originally Posted by Msparta

BimmerCode with a reader Would be recomended as it can show and clear all these codes and you can register your new battery with the app although it’s not required…

Just an FYI…Bimmercode is for coding…Bimmerlink is their sister app that is used for diagnostics (reading and clearing codes etc). Bimmerlink will register a new battery…which should be done anytime a battery is replaced…in order to start a new charging baseline. The Bimmercode app can only “code” a new battery which is required if you change the type of battery (from AGM to wet/cell or the AH rating from 92AH to 105AH or vice versa).

Here’s a link to both apps so that one can see the difference:

• www.BimmerLink.app
• www.Bimmercode.app

[billabong02]

So the new battery that went in had the exact same specs as the original battery, 105ah and 950cca so you'd think it'd work but not in this case.

[Qsilver7]

Originally Posted by billabong02

So the new battery that went in had the exact same specs as the original battery, 105ah and 950cca so you'd think it'd work but not in this case.

Did you register the new battery? And did you double check all of the connections? There’s multiple positive connections on my f06 650ix GC…so I made sure that all of those connections were all put back together and tightened.

[billabong02]

I don't have the ability to register the battery myself so I'll have to wait to see a specialist. Also I don't really wanna mess with it.

As far as the connections go, I only saw one set of positive and negative connections. I could be wrong so will double check.

The car starts and runs but just complains about a lot of stuff. I have no power steering so driving it is like is driving a tractor at the moment.

[OnlyGerman]

Originally Posted by billabong02

I don't have the ability to register the battery myself so I'll have to wait to see a specialist. Also I don't really wanna mess with it.

As far as the connections go, I only saw one set of positive and negative connections. I could be wrong so will double check.

The car starts and runs but just complains about a lot of stuff. I have no power steering so driving it is like is driving a tractor at the moment.

Get bimmerlink…

[Qsilver7]

Originally Posted by billabong02

I don't have the ability to register the battery myself so I'll have to wait to see a specialist. Also I don't really wanna mess with it.

As far as the connections go, I only saw one set of positive and negative connections. I could be wrong so will double check.

The car starts and runs but just complains about a lot of stuff. I have no power steering so driving it is like is driving a tractor at the moment.

You can see the multiple POSITIVE battery connections that sit atop the battery:

And as someone mentioned above...you can easily (and not that expensive) register your battery using the Bimmerlink app and an appropriate OBD II dongle (that you can also use to use Bimmercode app). Just open the app, plug in the OBD dongle and go to the battery registration section...BOOM...your done in less than a minute.

[billabong02]

I see, I'm seeing a specialist tomorrow. If he quotes me anything ridiculous. I'll probably get it done myself.

A separate question about the M6's steering. Is it hydraulic or electronically assisted?

[Qsilver7]

Originally Posted by billabong02

I see, I'm seeing a specialist tomorrow. If he quotes me anything ridiculous. I'll probably get it done myself.

A separate question about the M6's steering. Is it hydraulic or electronically assisted?

Raise the hood & look for a power steering reservoir. If you have one, it’s probably like the regular AWD f06/f12/f13 models which has a hybrid hydraulic/electrical steering system. The RWD models have EPS (electrical power steering) unless you have one of the upgraded steering systems like Integral Active steering (sorry I’m not that familiar with some of the M6’s differences).

Also, some BMW models have an aux battery which facilitates some of the electrical steering features. Have you checked to see if you have an aux battery and if it is in good health?

Pics below shows the N63TU engine in AWD & RWD form….the AWD version has a power steering reservoir but the RWD version does not:

[billabong02]

Thanks Qsliver7!

The car has been checked out and fixed. The battery wasn't registered properly as you guys rightly pointed out and there was also a blown fuse. The fuse getting blown is probably due to the AA mechanic's sloppy work because he kept touching the negative battery connection on and off repeatedly while he was placing the battery while the positive connection was on.

All the dashboard warning lights are gone and car drives beautifully.

The specialist charged me £90 pounds for the diagnostics and battery registration which I'm quite happy with.

The stealership would've probably charged double or maybe triple that amount.

I'm gonna invest in bimmerlink to avoid this in the future.

Thanks for your help guys, I really appreciate it.

Peace!

[Qsilver7]

Great news! Glad you got it all sorted out and thanks for posting back with an update.