2022 X5 xDrive40i cold start issues

mar_carol · 12-23-2022, 04:29 PM

Hi...for the last couple of months my car has been sporadically struggling to start on days where it hasn't been driven for a day or two when the temperature has been colder (in the 40s or so), and last night it was worse than ever. I've heard this happens at times with cars, but I've never had this issue with any other car that I've owned...and I frankly find this unacceptable, lol...anyway, I made an appointment to bring it in to BMW next week, but I just thought I'd ask here to see if anyone else has had this issue and perhaps if there was a solution or if its just "one of those things." Thanks

TurtleBoy · 12-23-2022, 04:36 PM

Definitely not normal. Without knowing any details I would guess your battery is low.

shelbymaize · 12-23-2022, 04:46 PM

Mine starts without hesitation , hope you can figure this out, not acceptable

mar_carol · 12-23-2022, 04:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TurtleBoy

Definitely not normal. Without knowing any details I would guess your battery is low.

Ah, okay, thank you for your reply, I appreciate this information.

Here's hoping they figure it out. I've been taking audio recordings at times when I start the car so that I can have something to play for them when I take it to the shop since they likely won't be able to duplicate it unless they keep it for a few days. Wish I recorded last night when it was at its worst. It's difficult cuz it's hit or miss. Anyway, thank you!

mar_carol · 12-23-2022, 04:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shelbymaize

Mine starts without hesitation , hope you can figure this out, not acceptable

Thank you, this is very reassuring. I appreciate it.

Marty in NY · 12-23-2022, 04:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mar_carol

Hi...for the last couple of months my car has been sporadically struggling to start on days where it hasn't been driven for a day or two when the temperature has been colder (in the 40s or so), and last night it was worse than ever. I've heard this happens at times with cars, but I've never had this issue with any other car that I've owned...and I frankly find this unacceptable, lol...anyway, I made an appointment to bring it in to BMW next week, but I just thought I'd ask here to see if anyone else has had this issue and perhaps if there was a solution or if its just "one of those things." Thanks

Once you do get it started, are you noticing any strange behavior? Idiot lights, flaky inconsistent or just not normal behavior of features, flashing interior lights, etc. It could simply be that your battery refuses to maintain a full charge and when batteries put out a lower voltage, strange things that don't make sense start to happen, not to mention starting issues. Even though your car is new, it can happen. Your dealer will be able to load the battery and test it. Hopefully that is all it is.

mar_carol · 12-23-2022, 04:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marty in NY

Once you do get it started, are you noticing any strange behavior? Idiot lights, flaky inconsistent or just not normal behavior of features, flashing interior lights, etc. It could simply be that your battery refuses to maintain a full charge and when batteries put out a lower voltage, strange things that don't make sense start to happen, not to mention starting issues. Even though your car is new, it can happen. Your dealer will be able to load the battery and test it. Hopefully that is all it is.

Thanks...that makes sense. But no, nothing strange, it works just fine after starting...and starts fine for the rest of the day/night. I definitely hope it's something "easy" like the battery. Fingers crossed!

jad03060 · 12-23-2022, 04:57 PM

The way BMW charges its battery is unlike most other vehicles...the alternator is on a clutch, similar to your a/c compressor so it doesn't run all of the time like older vehicles. It tries to only charge when decelerating, which also aids the brake life since you may not need them as often or for as long. But, if you drive shorter trips from cold, especially in the winter with the heat, blowers, lights, defrosting, etc., the electrical load is significant, and batteries can't push electrons as well, so a low battery becomes more of an issue. So, a battery maintainer may be called for. Since those tend to be fairly low powered, it may take over 24-hours or even longer to top off the battery.

bandersen · 12-23-2022, 05:04 PM

Haven’t had the issue - park outside on the street in the NE past year, starts like a champ. Listen to Turtle Boy and take it in.

Out of curiosity, can you use the app to remote start? That function will not work at all if battery is too low.

shelbymaize · 12-24-2022, 09:49 AM

3 degrees here in Michigan, no problems at all starting

Bimmersurfer · 12-24-2022, 11:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mar_carol

Hi...for the last couple of months my car has been sporadically struggling to start on days where it hasn't been driven for a day or two when the temperature has been colder (in the 40s or so), and last night it was worse than ever. I've heard this happens at times with cars, but I've never had this issue with any other car that I've owned...and I frankly find this unacceptable, lol...anyway, I made an appointment to bring it in to BMW next week, but I just thought I'd ask here to see if anyone else has had this issue and perhaps if there was a solution or if its just "one of those things." Thanks

in the 40's, wow i have been around -40 this last week. the car struggles but starts after 12hrs in the cold at work. glad i have a heated garage at home.

weinerbarn · 12-24-2022, 12:16 PM

When you say struggling to start, does it crank normal but takes longer or does it just idle rough for a while? It’s not uncommon for it to start and idle a bit rough at first, especially if there are large temp swings between when you parked it and started it again.

Bimmersurfer · 12-24-2022, 12:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by weinerbarn

When you say struggling to start, does it crank normal but takes longer or does it just idle rough for a while? It’s not uncommon for it to start and idle a bit rough at first, especially if there are large temp swings between when you parked it and started it again.

slow on cranking rpm quite noticably, you can hear it, but engine starts and runs just fine.

kgelfen360 · 12-24-2022, 01:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shelbymaize

3 degrees here in Michigan, no problems at all starting

Yea I was gonna say 40s is not cold by any measure. Definitely not normal.

weinerbarn · 12-24-2022, 01:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bimmersurfer

slow on cranking rpm quite noticably, you can hear it, but engine starts and runs just fine.

Yeah that’s not normal. It’s probably a bad battery or it’s just not getting charged properly.

eelnoraa · 12-24-2022, 02:19 PM

Yes I agree with other. Slow crank is a slight of 12V battery SOC low. Can be battery degraded or charging system isn’t properly charged the battery. Being 2022, battery degradation is not likely. Trunk placed battery in me last very time, 6-7 years easily in my other bmws.

Bimmersurfer · 12-24-2022, 02:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eelnoraa

Yes I agree with other. Slow crank is a slight of 12V battery SOC low. Can be battery degraded or charging system isn’t properly charged the battery. Being 2022, battery degradation is not likely. Trunk placed battery in me last very time, 6-7 years easily in my other bmws.

actually it is normal, did i mention -40 degrees. a fully charged battery does not do as well at -40 degrees. what is incredible is that BMW does not have block heaters and the car still starts at -40 degrees. all my vehicles over the last 35years or so from Ford to Honda to Range Rover and now BMW, they all have a slower crank rpm in this type of weather.

weinerbarn · 12-24-2022, 03:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bimmersurfer

actually it is normal, did i mention -40 degrees. a fully charged battery does not do as well at -40 degrees. what is incredible is that BMW does not have block heaters and the car still starts at -40 degrees. all my vehicles over the last 35years or so from Ford to Honda to Range Rover and now BMW, they all have a slower crank rpm in this type of weather.

I think most people are responding to the OP which is talking +40F, not -40C. I quoted you by mistake from my phone earlier. Yes, we know they will crank slower when you're parked next to polar ice caps watching glaciers move by.

Marty in NY · 12-24-2022, 03:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by weinerbarn

I think most people are responding to the OP which is talking +40F, not -40C. I quoted you by mistake from my phone earlier. Yes, we know they will crank slower when you're parked next to polar ice caps watching glaciers move by.

-40C is the same as -40F but right, cars will crank slower when exposed to those temps. Crazy stupid cold if you ask me. I had -1F last night, just cannot imagine -40. Why, why, why?

weinerbarn · 12-24-2022, 03:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marty in NY

-40C is the same as -40F but right, cars will crank slower when exposed to those temps. Crazy stupid cold if you ask me. I had -1F last night, just cannot imagine -40. Why, why, why?

Maybe I need to put my contacts in but I believe the OP said PLUS 40F as they live in California, not NEG 40C in Canada.

Marty in NY · 12-24-2022, 03:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by weinerbarn

Maybe I need to put my contacts in but I believe the OP said PLUS 40F as they live in California, not NEG 40C in Canada.

No contacts needed, I was only referring to your -40C statement in that maybe others thought the same thing. . .. and not to poke at the OP but when I read that he mentioned +40F, I was at 6F and found myself wishing I was in San Francisco dealing what that cold 40F

Bimmersurfer · 12-24-2022, 04:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by weinerbarn

I think most people are responding to the OP which is talking +40F, not -40C. I quoted you by mistake from my phone earlier. Yes, we know they will crank slower when you're parked next to polar ice caps watching glaciers move by.

fortunately the polar caps and glaciers will melt in another 3 months

12-23-2022, 04:29 PM	#1
mar_carol Private 58 Rep 93 Posts Drives: 2022 BMW X5 xDrive 40i Join Date: Sep 2021 Location: San Francisco iTrader: (0)	2022 X5 xDrive40i cold start issues Hi...for the last couple of months my car has been sporadically struggling to start on days where it hasn't been driven for a day or two when the temperature has been colder (in the 40s or so), and last night it was worse than ever. I've heard this happens at times with cars, but I've never had this issue with any other car that I've owned...and I frankly find this unacceptable, lol...anyway, I made an appointment to bring it in to BMW next week, but I just thought I'd ask here to see if anyone else has had this issue and perhaps if there was a solution or if its just "one of those things." Thanks
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12-23-2022, 04:36 PM	#2
TurtleBoy General 13718 Rep 20,399 Posts Drives: 2019 X5 40i,2021 M340i Join Date: Jan 2019 Location: Colorado iTrader: (0)	Definitely not normal. Without knowing any details I would guess your battery is low. __________________ 2021 BMW G20 M340i xDrive - Verde Ermes/Black - 03/2024.40 2019 BMW G05 X5 xDrive40i - Phytonic Blue/Cognac - 11/2023.50
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12-23-2022, 04:46 PM	#3
shelbymaize New Member 10 Rep 23 Posts Drives: BMW X 5 2023 x drive Join Date: Dec 2022 Location: Michigan iTrader: (0)	Mine starts without hesitation , hope you can figure this out, not acceptable
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12-23-2022, 04:57 PM	#8
jad03060 Major General 3245 Rep 6,946 Posts Drives: X5 45e Join Date: Aug 2018 Location: NH iTrader: (0)	The way BMW charges its battery is unlike most other vehicles...the alternator is on a clutch, similar to your a/c compressor so it doesn't run all of the time like older vehicles. It tries to only charge when decelerating, which also aids the brake life since you may not need them as often or for as long. But, if you drive shorter trips from cold, especially in the winter with the heat, blowers, lights, defrosting, etc., the electrical load is significant, and batteries can't push electrons as well, so a low battery becomes more of an issue. So, a battery maintainer may be called for. Since those tend to be fairly low powered, it may take over 24-hours or even longer to top off the battery.
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12-23-2022, 05:04 PM	#9
bandersen Captain 614 Rep 827 Posts Drives: MY22 X5 40I M-Sport Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Philadelphia iTrader: (0)	Haven’t had the issue - park outside on the street in the NE past year, starts like a champ. Listen to Turtle Boy and take it in. Out of curiosity, can you use the app to remote start? That function will not work at all if battery is too low.
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12-24-2022, 09:49 AM	#10
shelbymaize New Member 10 Rep 23 Posts Drives: BMW X 5 2023 x drive Join Date: Dec 2022 Location: Michigan iTrader: (0)	3 degrees here in Michigan, no problems at all starting
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12-24-2022, 12:16 PM	#12
weinerbarn Unapologetic Tool Hoarder 736 Rep 966 Posts Drives: 2020 X5 M Competition Join Date: Nov 2020 Location: Missouri iTrader: (0)	When you say struggling to start, does it crank normal but takes longer or does it just idle rough for a while? It’s not uncommon for it to start and idle a bit rough at first, especially if there are large temp swings between when you parked it and started it again.
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12-24-2022, 02:19 PM	#16
eelnoraa Brigadier General 2088 Rep 3,757 Posts Drives: G05 X5 Join Date: May 2022 Location: SF Bay Area CA iTrader: (0)	Yes I agree with other. Slow crank is a slight of 12V battery SOC low. Can be battery degraded or charging system isn’t properly charged the battery. Being 2022, battery degradation is not likely. Trunk placed battery in me last very time, 6-7 years easily in my other bmws.
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