BMW X3 Emergency Call System Issues, Repair Guide Needed

Hi there! I have some experience with cars and had a similar issue with my 2019 BMW X5 last year. My backup battery also died, and the emergency call system started acting up, pretty much the same symptoms you're describing. I took it to my workshop and they diagnosed it pretty quickly. They had to replace the emergency battery unit completely. Cost me around 110 Euro, parts and labor included. The repair itself didn't take too long, maybe a couple of hours. Before I can give you more specific advice, could you share: Are you getting any specific error messages on the display? Have you noticed any other electrical issues? Has your car been sitting unused for long periods? I'm curious because sometimes these issues can be related to the main battery too. The X3 and X5 share quite a few systems, so I might be able to help more with additional details.

Thanks for the detailed response! My X3 just hit 18908 KM and had its last service about 3 months ago. I'm getting a "SOS system failure" message on the display, but no other electrical issues so far. The car gets regular use, usually daily. I might give your solution a try since our models are pretty similar and the symptoms match up perfectly. Really hoping it won't cost much more than what you paid because that sounds pretty reasonable. Did you notice any improvements in other systems after the battery replacement?

Yes, I remember helping you with this! After I replaced the emergency battery in my X5, I actually noticed several improvements. The most obvious one was that the SOS system started working perfectly again, no more error messages or reduced functionality. But what really surprised me was that some other minor electrical quirks I hadn't even associated with the problem also cleared up. Like, my car's alarm system seemed more responsive, and the central locking was working more smoothly. I guess these systems were somehow affected by the weak emergency battery. Since your mileage is quite low and you're using the car regularly, it's very likely just the emergency battery showing its age. These batteries typically last about 6-8 years, regardless of how much you drive. Mine was actually still the original one from 2010, so it had definitely served its time. One tip though, when you get it replaced, make sure they check the connections and housing too. My mechanic found a bit of corrosion on the connectors and cleaned that up while he was in there. Didn't cost any extra but probably helped ensure everything works properly now. Given that your symptoms are identical to what I experienced, I'd say go for it. The price should be similar since it's basically the same part and labor time.

Thanks so much for all this helpful information! I'm definitely going to get the emergency battery replaced now, especially hearing about those additional improvements you experienced. Those extra electrical benefits you mentioned are really interesting, might explain some tiny quirks I've been noticing too but hadn't connected to this issue. I'll make sure to ask them to check the connectors and housing for corrosion while they're at it. Great tip! Really glad I asked about this because now I feel much more confident about what needs to be done. The cost seems totally reasonable for fixing the issue properly. Think I'll book it in next week and get this sorted. Thanks again for sharing your experience, really helped me understand what I'm dealing with. I'll probably let you know how it goes after the repair is done!