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SI B61 03 14
General Electrical Systems

November 2014
Technical Service

This Service Information bulletin supersedes SI B61 03 14 dated July 2014.
designates changes to this revision
SUBJECT

Check Control Messages Related to Battery Charge During Cold Ambient Temperatures
MODEL

.
E60 (5 Series Sedan)
E61 (5 Series Sports Wagon)
E63 (6 Series Coupe)
E64 (6 Series Convertible)
E70 (X5)
E71 (X6)
E72 (X6 Hybrid)
F01, F02 (7 Series Sedan)
F04 (ActiveHybrid 7)
F06 (6 Series Gran Coupe)
F07 (Gran Turismo)
F10 (5 Series Sedan)
F10H (ActiveHybrid 5)
F12 (6 Series Convertible)
F13 (6 Series Sedan)
F15 (X5)
F25 (X3)
F30 (3 Series Sedan)
F30H (ActiveHybrid 3)
F31 (3 Series Sports Wagon)
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F32 (4 Series Coupe)
F33 (4 Series Convertible)
F34 (Gran Turismo)
SITUATION

On cold days with an outside ambient temperature of less than 15°F, customers may notice a check control
message related to the battery that is displayed on the instrument cluster and the control information display.
Under these conditions, the vehicle starts. Various power management faults can be stored:
z

213901 – Power management: Reduction or shutdown of individual electrical consumer

z

8040BD – Reset or deactivation of Terminal 30F

z

8040B9 – De-activation of terminal 30B: Top start capability limit reached

z

8020E8 – Reset or deactivation of terminal 30F

z

800E89 – FRM: start capability limit reached with lights active during stationary mode

z

93076B – Deactivation of terminal 30B: upper start capability limit reached

z

93076A – Deactivation of terminal 15: upper start capability limit reached, but deactivation preventer active

z

z

93076C – Deactivation of terminal 30B: upper start capability limit reached, but deactivation preventer or
legal loads active
930769 – Deactivation of terminal 15: upper start capability limit reached

Note: When the outside temperatures drop below 46°F, the charging system is switch to full charge.
CAUSE
z
z

z

z

z

The check control message (ID 229) is caused by a heavily discharged battery.
The check control message is triggered when the current state of charge (SoC) of the battery approaches the
minimum SoC that is required to start the vehicle (start capability limit).
In low outside ambient temperatures, the start capability limit of the vehicle is higher. Therefore it takes
more energy from the battery to start a cold engine.
Without the early warning of the check control message, the current state of charge would drop below the
start capability limit and the vehicle would not start.
The vehicle’s intelligent power management system actively takes measures to increase the charge of the
battery, such as increasing idle speed and reducing or shutting down certain electrical consumers.

PROCEDURE

1. Consult with the customer to find out which conditions the vehicle was in when the check control message
was displayed (ambient temperature, parked outside or in a garage, etc.)
2. Perform energy diagnosis to identify why the battery is discharged, and troubleshoot according to the results
of the test plan.
3. Troubleshoot all power management faults that are stored in the vehicle.
4. Check the condition of the battery (E-Series vehicles: use the external battery tester; F-Series vehicles: use
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the Energy Diagnosis test plan). Charge or replace the battery as needed.
5. “Unfavorable Driving Profile” occurs when the vehicle is driven mostly on short trips (less than three
miles), and the charging system cannot keep up with the discharging of the battery because of low ambient
temperatures. For vehicles that are identified as having an “Unfavorable Driving Profile,” it is recommended
that the customer use a suitable battery trickle charger (a newly released 4.3-amp battery charger would be
recommended in cold climate conditions in order to maintain optimum battery performance. See the
attached Aftersales bulletin for more information). All vehicles that are identified with an “Unfavorable
Driving Profile” are covered under warranty, as per SI B61 13 05, if the battery needs to be tested,
recharged or replaced and the vehicle is still covered under the warranty period.
6.

Program the vehicle using ISTA/P 2.54 or higher. The following changes in the power management
software will occur after the vehicle software is updated. The purpose of this change is to reduce the amount
of erroneous CC messages that occur during cold winter months.
{

For all gasoline engines, the CC message (ID 229) sensitivity is lowered 10% in cold temperatures.

{

For diesel engines, the CC message (ID 229) sensitivity will be lowered in March 2015.

{

The CC message (ID 229) is changed from a yellow battery to a yellow triangle with an exclamation
point inside (see attachment) when displayed.

{

For all engines, the CC message (ID 415) sensitivity is lowered 10% in cold temperatures.

{

The CC message (ID 415) is changed from a yellow battery to a white battery when displayed.

Note that ISTA/P will automatically reprogram and code all programmable control modules that do not have the
latest software. For information on programming and coding with ISTA/P, refer to CenterNet / Aftersales Portal /
Service / Workshop Technology / Vehicle Programming.
Always connect a BMW approved battery charger/power supply (SI B04 23 10).
7. The attached flyer contains information for the customer.
WARRANTY INFORMATION

Covered under the terms of the BMW New Vehicle/SAV Limited Warranty.
Covered under the terms of the BMW Certified Pre-Owned Program when the issue is not caused by a battery that
requires replacement.
Defect Code:

10 42 31 59 00

Labor Operation:

Labor Allowance:

Description:

00 00 006

Refer to KSD2

Performing “vehicle test” (with vehicle
diagnosis system – checking faults)

Refer to KSD2

Charging battery

Refer to KSD2

Perform battery energy diagnosis

And:
61 21 528
And:
61 20 502
And, as necessary:
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Work time (WT)

Performing vehicle diagnosis – test
module

Labor Operation:

Labor Allowance:

Description:

61 00 710

Refer to KSD2

Programming / encoding control unit(s)
(not including CAS)

Refer to KSD2

Programming / encoding control unit(s)
(with CAS)

Labor Operation:

Labor Allowance:

Description:

61 00 730

Refer to KSD2

Programming / encoding control unit(s)

61 00 006
And:
E Series Vehicles

or
61 00 720
Or:
F Series Vehicles

Labor operation code 00 00 006 is a Main labor operation. If you are using a Main labor code for another repair,
use the Plus code labor operation 00 00 556 instead.
Refer to KSD2 for the corresponding flat rate unit (FRU) allowance. Enter the Chassis Number, which consists of
the last 7 digits of the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN). Click on the “Search” button, and then enter the
applicable flat rate labor operation in the FR code field.
Even though work time labor operation code 61 00 006 ends in “006,” it is not considered a Main labor operation.
Work time (WT) labor operation 61 00 006 requires an individual punch time and an explanation in the claim
comments section.
If a control module or component was working properly and/or had no related faults stored prior to vehicle
programming and it fails to program correctly or requires initialization, this additional work must be claimed with
separate labor operations under the defect code listed above; refer to KSD2.
Repairs to control modules and components with pre-existing conditions are not eligible to be claimed under the
defect code listed in this bulletin.
Other Repairs
If performing ISTA diagnostics and related test plans results in other eligible and covered work, claim this work
with the applicable defect code and/or labor operations listed in KSD2.
ATTACHMENTS

View PDF attachment B610314_Dealer_Information_CCM.
View PDF attachment B610314_CCM_Changes.
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View PDF attachment B610314_B-13-0614-6104_Battery_Charger.
[ Copyright ©2014 BMW of North America, Inc. ]

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