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guenterhoffmann5

BMW 2 Series Electrical Chaos: Battery or Alternator?

Hey all! Need some advice on electrical issues with my 2016 BMW 2 Series (68k km, gas engine). The dashboard keeps lighting up like a Christmas tree with various error messages, and the battery seems weak during start-up. Multiple system failures are occurring, and the fault memory shows overvoltage problems. Had a bad experience with my last mechanic and looking for recommendations. Has anyone dealt with similar electrical/overvoltage issues? What was the actual problem and how did you fix it? Thanks in advance!

Summary of the thread

The 2016 BMW 2 Series is experiencing multiple electrical issues, including a weak battery during start-up and various dashboard error messages, with fault memory indicating overvoltage problems. The core problem is suspected to be related to either the battery or the alternator. A similar case with a BMW 3 Series revealed that a failing alternator caused voltage fluctuations, leading to electronic system confusion and battery damage. The suggested solution is to have the vehicle properly diagnosed, as modern BMWs are sensitive to voltage irregularities, and addressing the root cause, whether it's the alternator or battery, should resolve the issues.

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4 comment(s)

thomasweiss29

Had a similar issue with my 2013 BMW 3 Series last month. Started with unusual warning lights and sluggish starts. Turned out the alternator was failing, causing voltage fluctuations that confused all the electronic systems. Took it to the garage and they diagnosed it with their computer system. The alternator wasn't maintaining proper voltage, which drained the battery and triggered all those fault codes. They had to replace both the alternator and battery since the constant voltage issues had damaged the battery cells. Not a quick fix, but definitely worth sorting out properly. The garage explained that modern BMWs are sensitive to voltage irregularities, and a bad alternator can cause havoc with all the electronic systems. After the repair, all the warning lights disappeared and the car runs perfectly now. Would suggest getting it properly diagnosed as these electrical issues usually get worse if left unchecked.

guenterhoffmann5 (community.author)

Thanks a lot for sharing your experience! This really sounds similar to what I'm dealing with. Been worried it might be something more complicated, but the alternator explanation makes a lot of sense. Can't help but ask, do you remember roughly how much you ended up paying for the repairs? Also, has everything been running smoothly since the fix, or have you noticed any other issues popping up?

thomasweiss29

Hey there! Just wanted to update you on the costs since you asked. In my case, it actually turned out to be simpler than the alternator issue I initially thought it was. The mechanic found it was primarily a battery problem causing the overvoltage detection, and after getting it fixed, I paid around 290 € for the whole thing. The great news is that everything's been running perfectly smooth since then, no more warning lights, no more sluggish starts, just my BMW performing like it should. All those Christmas tree lights on the dashboard are gone for good! It's such a relief when these electrical gremlins turn out to be something relatively straightforward to fix. Definitely worth getting it checked out properly, these electronic systems in modern BMWs can be super sensitive, but once you get the root cause sorted, they're usually fine. Really glad I didn't wait any longer to get it fixed. I'd say go for it and get yours checked too.

guenterhoffmann5 (community.author)

Thanks so much for the follow-up! That's actually a huge relief to hear it was just a battery issue and not as expensive as I feared. Was dreading a massive repair bill! Just got back from a trusted mechanic I found, and guess what? You were spot on, it was mainly the battery causing all those crazy warning lights. Ended up paying about the same as you did. The mechanic showed me how the old battery was struggling to maintain proper voltage, which explained all those system errors. The car's running like a dream now, no more light show on the dashboard, and it starts up perfectly every time. Should've done this weeks ago instead of worrying about it! Really appreciate you sharing your experience, helped me avoid getting ripped off and gave me the push I needed to get it sorted. Sometimes the simplest solution is the right one!

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