2023-2025 BMW Discharged Battery Diagnosis TSB SI B61 13 05

BMW has issued Service Information Bulletin (SIB) SI B61 13 05, Revision 8, dated January 11, 2024, to address complaints of a BMW discharged battery in various models. This bulletin supersedes the previous version, SI B61 13 05 dated September 2023. The electrical systems in BMW vehicles have evolved significantly, placing higher demands on the battery. This document provides crucial information for dealers on how to properly diagnose and resolve a BMW discharged battery issue.

The bulletin emphasizes that a discharged battery is often a symptom, not the underlying cause. Simply replacing the battery without identifying the root problem can lead to repeat failures. Proper diagnosis is essential to ensure a lasting repair.

Symptoms of a Discharged Battery

Owners may notice various symptoms indicating a BMW discharged battery. These can range from obvious battery failure to more subtle electrical issues. Common reasons for a discharged battery include:

• An aged battery, particularly in vehicles equipped with an Intelligent Battery Sensor (IBS).
• Alternator faults preventing proper charging.
• The vehicle not entering sleep mode or being constantly woken from sleep mode.
• High closed-circuit current or closed-circuit current infringement.
• Excessive battery discharge from systems like Terminal 30F shutdown or Terminal 30B electric fan/coolant pump after-run.
• Lights or hazard warning lights being left on for extended periods.
• The vehicle being parked for too long or used predominantly for stationary operation.

Why Proper Diagnosis is Crucial

To effectively resolve a BMW discharged battery complaint, it is critical to perform the diagnostic test plans to completion. Without a thorough energy diagnosis, the root cause of the discharge cannot be identified, significantly increasing the likelihood of repeat repairs. The bulletin explicitly states, "Without performing the energy diagnosis test plan, the root cause of the discharged battery cannot be identified. This increases the chances of a repeat repair."

The BMW Energy Diagnosis Procedure

For vehicles with an advanced Intelligent Battery Sensor (IBS), such as the F01/F02 models, the system can monitor the battery's State of Charge (SoC) and State of Health (SoH). Diagnosis and testing are performed using ISTA (Integrated Service Technical Application).

Technicians must complete the energy diagnosis test plan for every vehicle presenting with a BMW discharged battery. Access to the energy diagnosis test plan can be either automatic, if a power management fault is stored, or manual by navigating to: "Vehicle Management > Troubleshooting > Function structure > Body > Voltage supply > Energy diagnosis."

For specific battery fault types, different test plans are recommended:

• Auxiliary battery faults: Perform the applicable test plan, with support from the auxiliary battery and Power Control Unit (PCU).
• High Voltage (HV) battery faults: Perform the applicable test plan.
• Other battery faults (specifically the 12 V battery): The "Energy Diagnosis" must be performed.

If fault codes are stored, ISTA will display the "Most Likely Causes." Technicians must work through all selections in the General information section to determine the cause, especially if the battery failure cause is undetermined or if "Most Likely Cause (0), is undetermined" is displayed.

Important Warnings for Diagnosis and Repair

BMW's Service Information Bulletin SI B61 13 05 includes several critical warnings to ensure accurate diagnosis and prevent warranty claim denials:

• Do not register the exchanged battery until the Energy Diagnosis test plan is thoroughly completed. Registering a new battery or programming the vehicle before completion will delete stored energy history, potentially leading to a return visit if the root cause is not fixed.
• Do not register a battery exchange, program the vehicle, or erase fault codes until the Energy Diagnosis test plan has been fully completed.
• Prioritize completing the energy diagnosis first, before investigating unrelated errors.
• After removing transport mode (TRA), do not erase faults until the energy diagnosis has been fully processed, as clearing errors will affect test plan results.
• If the test plan indicates "State of charge of the battery is too low Recharge battery!", the battery must be charged until full. Disconnect the ICOM and battery charger, and allow the vehicle to sit for a minimum of 3 hours to allow the IBS to update the battery's SoC.
• Answering questions incorrectly during the conditional sections of the Energy Diagnosis test plan may result in the denial of a warranty claim.

Warranty Information

To claim an eligible faulty battery under the BMW New Vehicle Limited Warranty or BMW Original Parts Warranty, the Energy Diagnosis test plan must be performed to completion. Warranty coverage applies when the energy diagnosis results indicate a vehicle fault, an undetermined fault, or certain operating faults where the battery needs replacement.

However, warranty coverage is typically not provided for operating faults such as the vehicle being parked too long or a battery that has not been properly maintained. For specific details on claiming diagnosis work time, refer to SI B01 01 20 or B01 07 20.

NHTSA ID: 10249027