BMW X7 is a reliable road companion, but its a machine with hundreds of interconnected parts, and like any other machine it sometimes fail to deliver normal operation. In this article we go through most common causes of X7 breakdown and how you can fix the problem.
The most common causes that hinders normal starting operation of your BMW X7 are dead 12v battery, corrosion on battery terminals, and dead key fob battery. However, bad alternator, clogged fuel filter, broken starter, blown fuse, empty gas tank, immobilizer error, or any fault in the electrical system can also cause your vehicle not to start.
1. Weak Battery
If your X7’s engine won’t crank or cranks very slowly, then the most likely culprit is weak or dead 12v battery. Investigating more closely and doing a battery voltage test will clarify whether the starting problem is due to the battery. A test can be done to measure the voltage between the battery poles, check the acid level and assess the condition of the starter battery.
If a new car battery has been installed, the battery may not have yet reached its full capacity. There is nothing to worry about. A new battery only develops its full capacity over time.
Test 12v battery
The voltage of the battery on your BMW X7 can be measured precisely with a multimeter. Before the test, the multimeter is set to the voltage range of the battery and connected to its plus and minus poles. Successful testing of the car battery, i.e. checking the voltage, usually results in values of approx. 12 to 13 volts. Values above 14 or below 11.5 volts require an expert assessment of the condition of the car battery. Because the battery may have a defect with these measured values and must be replaced.
Jump start BMW X7
If dead battery is the reason for the breakdown of your X7, you can easily jump start it using jumper cables and a healthy battery from another vehicle, or using a battery booster if available.
First connect red cable to the positive terminal of your X7’s dead battery, then to the positive terminal of donor battery. Next connect black cable to the negative terminal of donor battery, then to the bare metal in the engine bay of your X7. Start the donor vehicle and then your X7. Remove the cables in reverse order.
2. Corrosion on battery
Corrosion on the contacts of your car battery leads to loss of contact and reduced current flow, which means that your engine can no longer start properly.
To know if your X7’s starting problems are from dirty battery contacts, you need to investigate them. If you lift the rubber covers over the two battery terminals, you can check the terminals for corrosion. If you discover white deposits or silvery-green deposits, but no further cracks or damage, you do not have to replace the battery, just clean it.
Clean battery corrosion
To clean the battery on your BMW X7, you have to remove the pole cables first, which requires no special knowledge, just a little concentration, as the order is very important. First remove the black cable from the negative pole. If the pole clamp is very tight, you can open it with pliers. We advise against using metal pliers, but if you use them, you must make sure that you do not touch any other parts of the body. Next you can unplug the red positive pole cable. Once the battery has been removed from the circuit, you can start cleaning the corroded battery. After cleaning, reconnect the terminals.
3. Weak key fob battery
If your X7 has push start/stop button, then its possible that your vehicle may not start due to weak key fob battery. Don’t worry, you can still start your vehicle – the battery is only used to send the signal for locking/unlocking. If the key fob battery is empty, the door no longer locks or unlocks at the push of a button. The doors must then be opened manually. The immobilizer is controlled by a passive transponder. Passive means, among other things, that the transponder in the key does not need its own power source.
How to start BMW X7 with dead key fob battery
If you have a model of X7 which only has a key fob with start/stop button and no place to insert a key, then try placing your key fob as close to the start/stop button as you can and then start the vehicle. If it doesn’t work, then look in your vehicle’s operational manual for exact location of key fob placement, as it may vary depending on model.
Tip: You can try starting your X7 with its second key. It will also rule out any other problem with the first key, for example, water damage.
4. Broken starter motor
A starter is a motor for starting the engine of your X7. The average life of a starter motor is about 100,000 to 150,000 miles, and the life will be shortened if the engine is started more frequently. In any case, since the starter motor also has a limited life, it will break down after using the car for a long time, and if the starter motor breaks down, the engine will not start.
Symptom: When you turn the key to start the engine of your X7, you will hear a clicking sound, which is the sound of a bad starter motor. And if the starter motor does not work with a healthy battery, suspect a malfunction of the starter.
If the starter fails, it usually needs to be replaced with a new one.
Temporary fix for starter
If the engine does not start due to the starter, the engine may start if you turn the key while hitting the starter motor with something like a stick or metal tool. This workaround is effective when the parts inside the starter are stuck together or the gears are slightly out of alignment.
However, it is possible that the starter is nearing the end of its life, so it is recommended that you have it inspected at a dealer or maintenance shop.
5. Defective alternator
An alternator is a generator that produces electricity. If your X7’s alternator fails, it will not be able to produce electricity and the battery will not be able to charge. Therefore, even if you think that the cause of the engine not starting is a battery failure and replace the battery, the battery will soon run out and the engine will not start.
Alternators rarely break down. In particular, modern cars have improved performance, so it is said that they will last 200,000 to 300,000 miles. Still, it can break down depending on how you use it, and in the case of a used car, the alternator may be quite old. Don’t let your guard down.
If the alternator breaks down, it must be replaced with a new alternator.
6. Clogged fuel filter
The fuel filter of your X7 does not wear out like a mechanical part, but it gets clogged by dirt and airborne particles and clogs over time. The permeability of the filter drops, and so does the fuel pressure. To a certain extent this doesn’t matter, but if the fuel filter is too dirty, the engine will no longer perform at full capacity and in some instance may not start at all. Cleaning is not possible, you can only change the filter.
7. Fuel pump failure
If your X7’s fuel pump fails, then the engine won’t start. The pump normally ensures that the necessary amount of fuel is passed from the tank to the injection system of the engine with sufficient pressure.
Before your fuel pump stops working, it usually becomes noticeable: if your car’s engine breaks down from time to time, the car is difficult to start, the engine jerks a little or the engine performance drops, you should have your pump checked.
Wear or contamination of the pump can be the reason for this. If the pump is leaking, a power contact is broken, a line or a pump lever is broken, the fuel pump is usually also noticeable before failure. You can have a defective fuel pump replaced in your workshop.
8. Blown fuse
In rare cases, a blown fuse could also be the culprit in the breakdown of your X7. Check all fuses in the fuse box essential for starting the engine. But, be careful when lending a hand yourself to the fuse box! The box is under power and repairs or tests should always be done in a workshop.
9. Defective spark plugs
Without functioning spark plugs, the engine will not start. The spark plugs themselves are often not affected by a defect. Instead, plug connections on the ignition system come loose. If only one plug is actually loose, you can fix the problem yourself on site. If a spark plug has failed, it must be replaced in the workshop.
10. Rodent damage
Rodent damage can be another reason why your BMW X7 won’t start. The animals crawl under the vehicle and bite through cables and wires. In principle, this can affect all vehicle systems such as the fuel supply, the oil supply or the power supply.
The rodent damage can usually be seen quickly by looking into the engine compartment. The damage caused by the rodent bite can be repaired in the workshop. Be prepared for relatively high costs here.
11. Engine failure
Although very rare, but it can also be the cause of the breakdown of your X7. If a vehicle has an engine failure, then nothing works anymore. It is not uncommon for the driver of a vehicle to be responsible for such damage. Typical causes include tearing of the timing belt, incorrect fueling, insufficient oil, hydrolock, overheating of the engine, or continuous driving in an excessive speed range.
Only an experienced mechanic can diagnose engine failure in a workshop.
Use OBD2 scanner for diagnosis
Since BMW X7 is equipped with on-board diagnostics (OBD), a fault diagnosis can provide initial indications of where the malfunction is located.
To begin troubleshooting, you must first connect the diagnostic tool to your X7. The OBDII connector is usually located under the dashboard. With the wire connected, you should turn the ignition on. But be careful not to start the engine. Most diagnostic devices then ask for some information about the vehicle. It is important that you enter this 100% correctly, otherwise the result of the search may be falsified. In addition to the vehicle manufacturer and model, you usually also have to type in the engine and vehicle ID number. For exact troubleshooting, always check whether the information is correct.
Conclusion
There are many reasons why your X7 may not start. When looking for the trigger, you should always start with the most obvious cause, the empty battery.
In any case, it is advisable for laypersons to call a breakdown service or a workshop. In the event of a defect, the latter can directly initiate the repair.
I read your article and I have been desperately seeking someone to talk to in reference to an issue with the car I bought. I had about 3,000 miles and the car broke down twice.
I was told by the manager it was an exhaust issue and that BMW N America and engineers were involved and a case had been initiated.
I live in a cold weather state in the US and I was told due to using the auto start and warming engine up that it caused condensation and it froze inside the exhaust and therefore the car would not start.
The issue suddenly resolved itself after it was in the shop the last time. I became suspicious because they also never mentioned the exhaust issue again. I took it to a shop that works on foreign cars and they put it on a lift. They immediately saw non factory welds on the exhaust. They did not go any farther in the inspection.
They documented it and took pictures. The dealership never disclosed this to me and in an email prior to me learning about the exhaust being tampered with flat out denied doing anything to the car other than an oil change and replacing spark plugs.
So if I went to sell the car in the future it would appear that I had something done to the car. I’m unsure why they would not tell me about doing this unless it changed the performance or emissions. The horrible weld is located near the catalytic converter. It’s very easy to see it’s not a factory weld.
The dealership would not respond at all when asked about them doing this and many requests to the manager were ignored. I need to hire a professional to look at the car and assist me. I’m a nurse and my husband is disabled so I’m the bread winner.
I busted my butt to get this car and asked them to buy it back before even knowing they did anything to it. I also contacted BMW North America and was told they would do nothing and this was before finding out they messed with the exhaust.
Have you heard of other issues like this on these models? Can you refer me to someone to help me? Any guidance is greatly appreciated.