Lithium Battery Issue

joeybrown105 · 12-07-2020, 12:12 PM

Took my X5 to the dealership because of the lithium battery warning, turns out it needs to be replaced. This was 3+ weeks ago, and our dealership is saying they have to get the battery directly from BMW...

It's been a bit of a frustrating situation, to say the least. I'm curious if anyone here has experienced the same thing? Seems unlikely that no BMW dealerships in US/Canada would have this part in stock.

Appreciate guidance, in advance.

taybo20 · 12-07-2020, 12:18 PM

Complete battery replacement? That is awful

joeybrown105 · 12-07-2020, 01:57 PM

taybo20 the main battery is fine, it's the lihium-ion battery that needs to be replaced. our dealer telling us there's not a single battery in the entire US/CAN, and we're at the mercy of getting it delivered here from HQ in Germany.. with no tracking... that was 3 weeks ago.

philooo · 12-07-2020, 06:28 PM

argh that is a tough one... luckily I have been reading that the battery can be removed from under the car without having to remove too many parts so once replaced your car should still be close to factory specs. still you wonder how these things pass quality control

jad03060 · 12-07-2020, 07:32 PM

This is not the PHEV main battery that drives the vehicle, it's the ICE. The vehicle has a (small) lithium battery to keep the computers and various bits functioning that is separate from the AGM one that starts the engine. I think the PHEV has the same battery in the engine bay (the AGM one is in the boot).

TurtleBoy · 12-07-2020, 08:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jad03060

This is not the PHEV main battery that drives the vehicle, it's the ICE. The vehicle has a (small) lithium battery to keep the computers and various bits functioning that is separate from the AGM one that starts the engine.

This is correct. As part of the dual system the second battery is either lithium ion or AGM, depending on vehicle options, and it is under the hood.

taybo20 · 12-07-2020, 08:30 PM

Oh thanks for the clarification all!

denaliman · 12-08-2020, 10:17 PM

Ok...so they build this vehicle in Spartanburg USA and they don’t have a battery available in the USA? So what are they doing in Spartanburg shuddering the line because they have no batteries? Hard to believe

jad03060 · 12-08-2020, 10:39 PM

BMW doesn't stockpile parts. They operate in the JIT (Just in Time) production method as many companies do today. This means that parts arrive almost literally on the day they are needed to be put into a vehicle. Long gone are factories that are largely stock rooms where parts are drawn as needed...the stockpiles are their suppliers that deliver JIT to keep things running smoothly.

Parts are stocked nationally based on history and a projection of what is likely to be needed. Each order refines that logic to help to improve on it for the future. Say, analysis says they'll need five of those units in between orders, but for some reason, they need six, there may not be any around. It's a delicate balancing act to have parts available when needed without having stuff sit around unused, and tying up money.

While annoying not having the part you need, it's not unusual in today's way of doing things. It is often better, you just got unlucky. The COVID-19 situation has also made normally reliable suppliers less so. Even if air freighted in, paperwork could take a few days.

12-07-2020, 12:12 PM	#1
joeybrown105 New Member 2 Rep 8 Posts Drives: 2019 540i Join Date: Oct 2019 Location: Nashville, TN iTrader: (0)	Lithium Battery Issue - 2019 x5 Took my X5 to the dealership because of the lithium battery warning, turns out it needs to be replaced. This was 3+ weeks ago, and our dealership is saying they have to get the battery directly from BMW... It's been a bit of a frustrating situation, to say the least. I'm curious if anyone here has experienced the same thing? Seems unlikely that no BMW dealerships in US/Canada would have this part in stock. Appreciate guidance, in advance.
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12-07-2020, 12:18 PM	#2
taybo20 Private First Class 37 Rep 127 Posts Drives: 2021 X5 xdrive45e Join Date: Nov 2020 Location: Georgia iTrader: (0)	Complete battery replacement? That is awful
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12-07-2020, 01:57 PM	#3
joeybrown105 New Member 2 Rep 8 Posts Drives: 2019 540i Join Date: Oct 2019 Location: Nashville, TN iTrader: (0)	taybo20 the main battery is fine, it's the lihium-ion battery that needs to be replaced. our dealer telling us there's not a single battery in the entire US/CAN, and we're at the mercy of getting it delivered here from HQ in Germany.. with no tracking... that was 3 weeks ago.
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12-07-2020, 06:28 PM	#4
philooo Private First Class 82 Rep 198 Posts Drives: porsche Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: miami iTrader: (0)	argh that is a tough one... luckily I have been reading that the battery can be removed from under the car without having to remove too many parts so once replaced your car should still be close to factory specs. still you wonder how these things pass quality control __________________ 2021 45e journal
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12-07-2020, 07:32 PM	#5
jad03060 Major General 3164 Rep 6,805 Posts Drives: X5 45e Join Date: Aug 2018 Location: NH iTrader: (0)	This is not the PHEV main battery that drives the vehicle, it's the ICE. The vehicle has a (small) lithium battery to keep the computers and various bits functioning that is separate from the AGM one that starts the engine. I think the PHEV has the same battery in the engine bay (the AGM one is in the boot).
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12-07-2020, 08:30 PM	#7
taybo20 Private First Class 37 Rep 127 Posts Drives: 2021 X5 xdrive45e Join Date: Nov 2020 Location: Georgia iTrader: (0)	Oh thanks for the clarification all!
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12-08-2020, 10:17 PM	#8
denaliman Major 470 Rep 1,292 Posts Drives: 2021 BMW X6M Competition Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Ontario, Canada iTrader: (0) Garage List 2013 X6M [0.00]	Ok...so they build this vehicle in Spartanburg USA and they don’t have a battery available in the USA? So what are they doing in Spartanburg shuddering the line because they have no batteries? Hard to believe __________________ _____________________________________ 2021 X6M Competition, 2021 Audi SQ5 Technik, 2013 Audi S4
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12-08-2020, 10:39 PM	#9
jad03060 Major General 3164 Rep 6,805 Posts Drives: X5 45e Join Date: Aug 2018 Location: NH iTrader: (0)	BMW doesn't stockpile parts. They operate in the JIT (Just in Time) production method as many companies do today. This means that parts arrive almost literally on the day they are needed to be put into a vehicle. Long gone are factories that are largely stock rooms where parts are drawn as needed...the stockpiles are their suppliers that deliver JIT to keep things running smoothly. Parts are stocked nationally based on history and a projection of what is likely to be needed. Each order refines that logic to help to improve on it for the future. Say, analysis says they'll need five of those units in between orders, but for some reason, they need six, there may not be any around. It's a delicate balancing act to have parts available when needed without having stuff sit around unused, and tying up money. While annoying not having the part you need, it's not unusual in today's way of doing things. It is often better, you just got unlucky. The COVID-19 situation has also made normally reliable suppliers less so. Even if air freighted in, paperwork could take a few days.
	Appreciate 0 Quote