Failing Electrics in BMW X7? Multiple System Faults!

Hey there! I've got some experience with car maintenance and had a very similar issue with my 2019 BMW X5 last winter. The symptoms you're describing sound exactly like what I went through, tons of unusual error messages, sluggish starts, and electrical gremlins all over. Took it to my regular workshop and after running diagnostics, turns out the battery was severely discharged and starting to fail. They replaced the battery and reprogrammed the car's battery management system, cost me around 290 Euro but fixed all the issues instantly. Haven't had a problem since. Before I share more details, could you tell us if you've noticed any warning signs before this started? Like dimming lights or slow cranking? Also, how many miles/kilometers are on your X7? This could help pinpoint if we're dealing with the same root cause. If it helps, my went through similar issues with his X3 too, seems pretty common with newer BMWs when the battery starts going bad.

Thanks for sharing your experience! My X7 is currently at 117607 KM and had its last service about 2 months ago. Now that you mention it, I did notice the start-stop system acting weird for a few weeks before these issues began. It would occasionally fail to restart at traffic lights, but I just brushed it off thinking it was a unusual glitch. The lights also seemed slightly dimmer during night drives, but it was so subtle I didn't make much of it at first. Your battery solution sounds promising, definitely cheaper than what I was fearing! Did you go with the original BMW battery or an aftermarket one? Just want to make sure I'm making the right choice if I end up needing a replacement too.

Hey again! Thanks for those extra details about your X7. When you mentioned the start-stop issues and dimming lights, it really confirms what I suspected, sounds exactly like what I dealt with. For my X5, I went with the original BMW battery after my mechanic strongly recommended it. Initially, I was tempted to save some cash with an aftermarket option, but he explained that modern BMWs are super sensitive about their electrical systems. The original battery came with the right specs and coding, which meant no compatibility headaches. One thing I forgot to mention in my first reply, after my battery replacement, they also found that my alternator was working overtime trying to compensate for the weak battery, which explained all those overvoltage warnings we both got. Luckily, my alternator wasn't damaged, but the mechanic said it could've been if I'd waited longer. Given your symptoms match mine so closely, I'd bet good money you're facing the same issue. Just make sure whoever does the work knows how to properly code the new battery to your car's systems, that's crucial with these newer BMWs. Learned that the hard way when my tried to DIY his X3 battery replacement! Let me know how it goes if you get it checked out. Always interested to hear if others have the same fix work for them.

Thanks so much for all the detailed feedback! Really appreciate you taking the time to explain everything, especially about the original BMW battery versus aftermarket options. That's super helpful advice about the coding too, definitely not something I want to mess up! I've just booked my X7 in at the workshop for tomorrow morning. Going to show them all these electrical issues and specifically ask them to check the battery and alternator first, based on your experience. Makes total sense about the alternator working overtime, that could explain all those overvoltage warnings I've been getting. You're absolutely right about not waiting longer. Don't want to risk damaging other components, especially the alternator. Will definitely go with the original BMW battery if that turns out to be the problem. Even if it costs a bit more, it seems worth it to avoid any compatibility issues. I'll update the thread once I get it sorted. Thanks again for sharing your experience, it's really helped point me in the right direction and given me some confidence about what I'm dealing with. Fingers crossed it's as straightforward a fix as yours was!