BMW 740i model 1999 - Battery life is less

That is a beautiful vehicle... and EASIER to work on
Than you would believe... IF you have the CORRECT
DOCUMENTATION...

Merely dropping the battery is not going to cause
the described IGNITION TROUBLES...!!

ALTHOUGH
the FACTORY manuals are a bit expensive
I highly recommend them...

Professional GRADE shop manuals ... then
BENTLEY Manuals.
BMW 7 Series E38 Service Manual 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 740i...

You can find your (USA market) vehicle
circuit drawings and TECHNICAL Service Bulletins
(TSBs) on BBB Industries FREE website...
BBB Industries Premium Alternators Starters Power Steering Products

Ignition lights (meanings) are called out in your
OWNER'S MANUAL... FREE
BMW SERIE 7 2001 Manual Indicator And Warning Lamps

Get your codes READ...
Your OBD (on-board diagnostic) system will tell
you EXACTLY what your car is upset about...

UNLESS it reports OXYGEN SENSORS...
If so... skip on over to plugged MUFFLERS &
collapsed CATALYTIC CONVERTERS.

Save your money...
http://www.rockauto.com/en/catalog/bmw,2001,740i,4.4l+v8,1368288,exhaust+&+emission

Hope this helps...

Carnac the Magnificent

Programming
When
Key batteries completely discharged. Key batteries not replaced within 60 seconds. Key added or replaced. DO NOT press remote control buttons during battery replacement.
How
Unlock vehicle. Enter vehicle. Close driver's door. Switch ignition ON and OFF. Remove ignition key. Press and hold unlock button Fig. 1 [1]. Press lock button Fig. 1 [2] briefly 3 times within 10 seconds keeping unlock button [1] depressed. Release unlock button Fig. 1 [1]. Some models: LED Fig. 1 [3] flashes slowly for 10 seconds. Some models: Central locking system locks and unlocks rapidly to indicate correct programming. Some models: Repeat above procedure if central locking system does not work and LED does not flash or LED flashes continuously

To change batteries remove panel back of key then screws on plastic bar
Batteries are available from your local motor factor shop
You might not need new batteries try re programing as described above

I am having the same problem same car & year

did you ever find a solution?

It sounds like the DSC fault that I have on my 320ci, apparently I need a new steering angle sensor.

have alternator checked

you need to disconnect one side of the battery, put one lead from an ampmeter on the battery post you have disconnected and the other ampmeter lead on the cable you took off the battery. with nothing turned on on the car , all doors closed the reading on the ampmeter should be no higher than 0.17 amp, if it reads a lot hgher go to the fusebox and remove one by one all the permanent supply fuses looking at the reading every time until you find the circuit that is causing the high reading, this will be the drain. alot of the time it can be central locking system playing up, boot light, glove box light not switching off, stereo wired wrong. hope this helps.

hello Kirk , follow these instructions carefully :

sitting in car with all the remotes you wish to register with the vehicle readily available ,,close all doors ! insert key into ignition and remove 6 times within 10 seconds ,, (hazzard warning lamps will then flash twice) ** note withdraw key completely from the cylinder each time ,, if procedure is done too fast it will not enter registration mode ,, ok ,, insert ignition key into cylinder and turn to the accessory position ,, Push any button on the key fob once ,, (hazzard warning lamps will then flash twice),, at this time the new ID code is entered ,, at this time open drivers door ,, check operation of all remotes ..

enjoy Mate .

The battery is low which is causing the alarm to activate, replace the battery. I'm going to guess that it gets pretty hot where you are between the times you listed. BMW cars have been known to be affected by heat.

i think it is your alarm .

The below is taken from another site written a year ago:
What you are looking at is the Service Indicator. The green, yellow and red lights let you know when service needs to be performed. The green lights mean everything is still good. The yellow lights mean "anytime you're ready." The red lights mean do the service ASAP. There are also two other lighted areas. One says "inspection," the other says "oil change" (or oil service.) An oil change is an oil change. However, there are two inspections: Inspection 1 is normally at every other 15,000 miles; Inspections 2 is at every 30,000 miles. Your local BMW dealer should have a pamphlet listing all duties performed for each of the services. Inspection 2 can run you around $400-$800 depending on the service station/dealership's labor rates. Inspections 1 should be around 1/2 of that. You should have your oil changed about every 5000 miles. Dealership oil changes can range from $35-$65. A BMW that is well taken care of will last a long time. 

FYI, don't be surprised if the SI (service indicator) board decides to **** out one day. I'm surprised to see yours is still working (they usually die within 10 years unless someone went thru the expense to have it replaced.) If/when it does go, just gauge your services by the mileage intervals I've listed above. I'd also recommend when you stop into (or just call) the dealership, go to the parts department and order an owner's manual for your BMW. Should be less than $20 and get to you in about a week unless they have one in stock.
When the service tech has performed the necessary service(s), he will reset your SI board so that only green lights are showing.

• 1 year ago