BMW X3 Battery Problems, Complete Power Failure Help

Hey there! (Some experience with BMWs) Had a similar issue with my 2018 BMW X1 last year. Initially thought it was just the battery, but turned out the battery sensor was failing, causing all sorts of weird electrical problems, dead battery, dim lights, unusual error messages, the works. Took it to my regular workshop since my warranty had expired. The battery was actually fine, but the sensor wasn't reading the charge correctly. Total repair was 315 Euro for diagnosis, new sensor, and programming. Car's been running perfectly since then. Could be the same issue with your X3, but I'd need more info to be sure. What specific error messages are you getting? Also, how long does the car typically sit between drives? Let me know these details, and I might be able to share more relevant tips from my experience with the X1 (and my 's X3). Hope this helps as a starting point!

Thanks for sharing your experience! I'm also getting those exact issues with dim lights and unusual errors. Mine was sitting for about 3-4 days between drives recently. Had my last service about 2 months ago at 86986 KM, and everything was fine then. Would you happen to know if the sensor repair is covered under warranty? I've got all the symptoms you described, and it makes sense that it could be the battery sensor rather than the battery itself. Getting pretty worried since I depend on this car daily. Think I'll need to get it checked out this week. Really appreciate the heads up about the sensor issue, gives me something specific to mention when I take it in.

Hey again! Thanks for the follow-up about your X3. Yeah, given what you're describing, it's sounding more and more like the same sensor issue I dealt with on my X1. The 3-4 days sitting shouldn't kill a healthy battery system, so that's another red flag pointing to the sensor. About the warranty, I wish I'd known this earlier, but I found out later that the battery sensor IS actually covered under the basic warranty (4 years/50,000 miles). Since your X3 is a 2020 model, you should still be within that window! Much better than the 315 Euro I had to shell out for mine. Quick tip though, make sure you document all these symptoms (the dim lights, error messages, starting issues). When I took mine in, having all the details really helped speed up the diagnosis process. The techs knew exactly what to look for. If you're taking it in this week, I'd definitely push for them to check the sensor first before jumping to replace the battery. These newer BMWs are pretty sensitive with their electrical systems, and the sensor is often the culprit. Let me know how it goes! Always curious to hear if others run into the same fix I did.

Thanks so much for the detailed advice! Really relieved to hear it should be covered under warranty, that's a huge weight off my shoulders. Just called the dealership and got an appointment for tomorrow morning. Definitely going to mention the battery sensor issue right away and show them my notes about all the symptoms. Actually feeling much better about this now, knowing someone else dealt with the exact same problem. Was worried I'd need to replace the whole battery or that there might be bigger electrical issues. Will update you once I get the diagnosis, fingers crossed it's just the sensor like in your case! Thanks again for taking the time to share all this info, really helped point me in the right direction.