[k1ng_3nglewood]

Hey guys. Wanted to reach out for help on here as a last effort before taking the car to the stealership. Hopefully someone can point me in the right direction.

I have a 2009 328i x-drive E92 N52. I’ve had it a couple years and have never had any trouble.

Recently I got the “red battery” dummy light. The manual said charging system fault. I had the alternator tested and it was bad. So I replaced it.

After a few weeks my clock began to reset occasionally. Checked the internet and the common belief was it’s due to voltage dropping below the threshold to remember the time when starting the car. Had the battery and alternator checked. Battery was weak and the alternator tested for excessive ripple.

Exchanged the alternator and bought a new battery as well as the “Carly for BMW” software to register it.

Put the new parts on and programmed and registered the battery. Seemed fine for 3 days and today the clock reset when I started it. Put the Carly scanner on it and it read fault code: 0x2E8E (intelligent battery communication error).

The problem is, mine is a non-iDrive model. So it doesn’t have the IBS on the negative battery terminal.

Any ideas or experience with these issues? I put the car on the charger and the battery was at 70%.

[nsjames]

is IBS only found on idrive cars?

I didn't think that was a mandatory thing for IBS.
Have you actually looked to see if you have the IBS module on the negative cable? It's common to break it if or disconnect it if you're rough during the battery install.

[Mayorie]

Originally Posted by nsjames

is IBS only found on idrive cars?

I didn't think that was a mandatory thing for IBS.
Have you actually looked to see if you have the IBS module on the negative cable? It's common to break it if or disconnect it if you're rough during the battery install.

+1

[k1ng_3nglewood]

Originally Posted by nsjames

is IBS only found on idrive cars?

I didn't think that was a mandatory thing for IBS.
Have you actually looked to see if you have the IBS module on the negative cable? It's common to break it if or disconnect it if you're rough during the battery install.

From what I’ve seen online, the IBS on e90-e92’s is only on iDrive equipped models.

I don’t have IBS. I noticed during the initial alternator change when I took the negative side off. I looked around for it thoroughly when I had the battery out as well. Just a regular looking cable.

[e90yyc]

I don’t follow the idea that the presence (or lack of) iDrive determines whether a car has IBS. My non-iDrive 2007 has it.

Why would the car be throwing an IBS error if it doesn’t have IBS? It doesn’t make any sense. That error is quite specific.

Did BMW not put IBS on all its cars after a certain production date?

[mecheng77]

Do a current drain test with ameter on negative cable. Without locking the doors it will take some time to go into sleep mode. Also check if your car goes into sleep mode, without locking it it should go in 30 min and the current drops very low.

[gbalthrop]

Originally Posted by k1ng_3nglewood

...2009 328i x-drive E92 N52. I’ve had it a couple years and have never had any trouble...Put the Carly scanner on it and it read fault code: 0x2E8E (intelligent battery communication error). The problem is, mine is a non-iDrive model. So it doesn’t have the IBS on the negative battery terminal.

Originally Posted by k1ng_3nglewood

From what I’ve seen online, the IBS on e90-e92’s is only on iDrive equipped models...I don’t have IBS. I noticed during the initial alternator change when I took the negative side off. I looked around for it thoroughly when I had the battery out as well. Just a regular looking cable.

My 2007 328xi has the IBS as shown in the photo attached to NEXT post so as NOT to mess up margins of this post. It is the black rectangle shown below the (-) battery post in the top-view photo. I do NOT have idrive, so do NOT believe everything you see on the Web -- you CAN believe me and "e90yyc"

A communication error suggests that the BSD Bus that connects the IBS to the DME is NOT plugged into the IBS. I would suggest:
1) Look again to determine if you do in fact have an IBS on the Negative terminal, next to (-) battery post;
2) Follow the Gray wire from the IBS to the connector ABOVE the Negative Battery Terminal (NOT the 12V+ voltage-read-wire connected to the Power Distribution Panel on top of the battery).
3) Complain to the last person who worked on/replaced your battery.

Here's the TIS circuit diagram for the IBS wiring to the DME:
https://www.newtis.info/tisv2/a/en/e...rfaces/oYPEvM2

Here is the "Installation Location" for the IBS Connector X13895:
https://www.newtis.info/tisv2/a/en/e...rfaces/oYPEvM2

George

[gbalthrop]

IBS Top View, 2007 328xi, NO iDrive

[ewicky]

Originally Posted by gbalthrop

IBS Top View, 2007 328xi, NO iDrive

Whaaaat your IBS has a cover on it?! No fair. I don't see that on realoem and looking at "e90 ibs" on ebay, I see some have covers and some don't. I will lose sleep over this.

[N52bigblock]

Originally Posted by nsjames

is IBS only found on idrive cars?

I didn't think that was a mandatory thing for IBS.
Have you actually looked to see if you have the IBS module on the negative cable? It's common to break it if or disconnect it if you're rough during the battery install.

All E9x from 2007 onwards have IBS

[ctuna]

I have an 06 an its non idrive . It has and IBS.
Idrive has nothing to do with it.
This may vary from country to country .
They put out some real strippers with tiny motors
in some parts of the world.

Measure voltages
Running and non running .
Monitor the drop in battery voltages overnight.
Any aftermarket equipment?

[e90yyc]

Just to re-state what I said in my initial post:

The error you are receiving is specific to the IBS module. This isn’t just a coincidence; it indicates that indeed you have IBS, and that this is where you should direct your attention. The symptoms you describe also support this conclusion.

Getting this error on a car without IBS would be like me getting a boost-related error code on my N52. It wouldn’t make any sense.

Keep us posted on what happens!