BMW IBS Intelligent Battery Sensor Replacement

This works on many BMW cars from 2006 on like the e90, e91, e92, e60, etc. The IBS or Intellengent battery sensor monitors the battery and provides charging instruction to the alternator based on the usage and overall life of the battery. And it works too -- my OEM battery lasted 9 years! However this component is fragile and in my case got killed by an over voltage failure of the alternator. It's a quick and easy replacement process. I got mine from eBay by matching the part numbers.
If you want a new OEM replacement (but cheaper than the dealer), you can get it here: amzn.to/2FvjecB
#e90maintenance #bmwdiy #bmw335i
OGPedxing is all about DIY, gadgets, and tools.

[@freerain13]

For anyone who cares, if you have a scanner for BMW's and try to register your battery, it'll tell you that it can't communicate with the IBS. Also you'll get an error on your dash saying your battery is discharging and your car might not start up.

[@flex2x426]

Thank you, just described my situation

[@nate_588]

So what do you have to do to get it to work

[@reza_dc2]

@@nate_588 Nate , did you figure it out?

[@rbemuscle6058]

Yep, I got the same thing man. I changed the battery yesterday for a same spec one as the original. I used an ancel bd300 OBD scanner. It gave me an error message unable to talk to the IBS, error code 15, and engine running when it wasn't. I'm hoping as it is exactly the same spec as the OEM one, I should be ok without having to register it. I tried a different OBD scanner and it also gave the same error. Morale of the story, don't buy a BMW unless your rich 😅

[@barrettgarage1088]

Did you have any codes after changing the ibs or does it need to be coded to the car?

[@cliveruzvidzo8402]

I think im getting the similar problem i got a second hand car and the ibs seemed to have been disconnected to its been killing the alternator do you think i have to replace it?

[@JoseSandoval-ic5xe]

Hi can these sensor's go bad even if I don't have a check engine light code for it, I've been having engine surge and I've checked temperature reading on it and sometimes it's way off.

[@suprasupra718]

Hey bro I have , two codes on my MHD 38A4 and 38B4 says ibs is missing which it is I ordered one to install

[@snoopy81]

Hi,hope u can give me some advise here.my car 528i f10 engine shut down while driving which keep saying battery discharge,radiator reservoir float sensor abnormal.engine starter no crank. i change remote control battery but no diferent.once towed and sent diagnose,it's got 2 code with 1d2401 map thermostat activation short circuit to b+, 213a21 vehicle voltage too low but I measure the battery,the voltage around 13.+volt.this agm battery just change since last year.not sure maybe this ibs sensor was the cause of the problem or do I need to update the software to latest?car year made 2014

[@mustafasolmaz5946]

which code has it been generating? airbag?

[@austinmason2872]

Just had this issue with my 335i. Had to pay the mechanic $609...wish I saw this before.

[@gregcampbell5551]

wow what was your car doing ? i have no power

[@williamrogers733]

Very simple installation

[@Designer_R]

Hello I have bimmerlink installed on phone, and under sensor values for "battery voltage from IBS" it shows 65.54 volt, but under sensor values for simple "battery voltage" shows normal; no errors, no any other electrical problems, ive changed ibs, but same thing, on other cars it (bimmerlink) shows normal voltage from ibs, any ideas??

[@Kevin_Keo]

Thanks for the video, I replaced my battery and alternator on my 2006 BMW 325i but it still has the following codes. I’ll try the IBS sensor replacement, which I should have did first. It can’t be a faulty Water pump, is brand new and ran fine. I unplugged the BSD blue cable and everything works fine. So it has to be the IBS. Let me know what you think did you have similar codes? 2E81 - Engine Coolent Pump, speed deviation 2E84 - Engine Coolent Pump, communication 2F80 - Engine Shut Down Plausibility 2E8B - Intelligent Battery Sensor, Signal 2EA1 - Oil Condition Sensor, Communication 2E7C - Bit Serial Data Interface, signal

[@rockieg02]

So Was it a bad ibs?

[@Kevin_Keo]

@@rockieg02 Yes it was a bad IBS Sensor and ground connection on the valve cover. That was a loose connection as well causing the engine to shut down prematurely.

[@rockieg02]

Wow good find I just right now replace my alternator on my e70.. Battery light came on .that was it: dead on the freeway.. Bad alternator was the issue.

[@OGPedXing]

When the alternator goes out, it may actually just be the regulator which can often be replaced separately. When mine went out it was an overvoltage situation and I could have saved a bunch of time (and about $400 on my e90) just doing the regulator on the back.

[@farmanshaikh6405]

@@OGPedXing yeah I got those same codes when using a non OEM VR with a non OEM alternator. After putting the OEM VR onto the non OEM alternator, the codes disappeared

[@coryfonseca8970]

hey dude this might be a late comment but I have a question I hope you can help me with. There’s a blue/white and also a solid grey wire coming off my sensor that has been cut since I bought the car. But on the car side, I can see the solid grey wire and a green wire that have been cut but no blue/white. Do I connect the blue/white to the green?.

[@OGPedXing]

On mine I've got a blue/white wire and a grey wire coming off the sensor. This goes to a blue connector just above the battery. On the other side of the connector, my blue/white connects to a green/red. Grey goes to grey. So yes, I think if you connect them like that directly it should be ok. There may be other problems still with the sensor, but that is how the factory intended them to link up.

[@coryfonseca8970]

@@OGPedXing thnk you, that clears things up

[@smamas114]

I did had problems with over voltage it was like 15v but the big problem was that the car was stopping because the alternator was not charging anymore but someone repaired my alternator and now i have 14,2v the car is working perfectly but i do have alternator communication error 4A07 ,does anyone knows what is the issue??

[@weldingjunkie]

I have a crank no start and have no comm with the ibs which is giving me all sorts of power issues. I click push to start she shuts off within a few seconds. Was yours a no start?

[@OGPedXing]

No I just had the no comm code. But if it's the ibs then pulling the blue comm plug should allow it to start. Any other codes? If you had a voltage regulator or alternator problem, a high voltage can cause other problems like an issue with the fuel pump or coils.

[@jahc8664]

Wow this video comment just got my car started I thought it was a major problem I was having just had to unplug the wire

[@Scotford_Maconochie]

I'm currently battling a bad IBS and battery on an 2017 F15 X5 with 60k mi. The car died, was towed to dealership they found little to none, died again, boosted several times, died again. After an CEL came I scanned it and it gave me a code for a bad IBS. The car battery won't charge on a DEFA charger (the bad IBS fully depleted the battery 4 times or more). Will be replacing the battery for an identical one and IBS in one motion, register it, reset the DME and clear the codes. If this doesn't cut it then I have no idea what to do next...

[@OGPedXing]

Yeah this is an annoying situation. If what your trying doesn't fix it, then next verify that the alternator is charging well...it should read 14.4 volts on a multimeter at the battery when the engine is running. Then you can check for other parasitic draws. A few ways to do this but the basic process is to disconnect the negative battery terminal, connect an amp meter between the terminal and the cable, and look for what the amp draw is. Above about 50 milliamps could be problem that will drain the battery over time. You can find what it is by then pulling fuses one at a time until the draw goes away. Then Google what's on that circuit and unplug each thing until you find the issue.

[@reza_dc2]

people are driving for months with the ibs disconnected , some guys up to one year already. many people are disconnecting them , having the same issues we are having.. .. I am also going through a faulty ibs at the moment , I disconnected it tonight and will be watching it throughout the night. Tests have been saying my alternator is good and I just got a new battery , waiting to see what happens in the morning.

[@reza_dc2]

@@OGPedXing can you please make a video explaining this , thanks ~

[@dsolo3250]

Did you have to have the IBS registered or programmed to the car? I have a new on coming in

[@OGPedXing]

I didn't because I got the exact same model number as what I had (used on ebay) but I don't think it's needed in any case.

[@MAW51187]

It is needed if you arent getting the same part number.

[@czarcaps8129]

My 2007 550i Battery gets drained out. every year. Tail Light Bulbs Popping always. Paid a mech to perform a diagnostic check and detect possible ground. None found. IS this something that an IBS will do? I gave up on it and now its junked in my garage. I wanted to revive it.

[@juandontworryaboutit4150]

Yes that IBS is responsible for many things, if it’s faulty u can get misfires, car not starting, loss of power, engine/transmission malfunction… i found mine Ibs adapter lead was making false contact Did u happen to fix your car yet?

[@massimilianoruocco3417]

Hello, I am writing to you from Italy. Why did you change the cable, what problems was the car giving you? Did the problem still occur after the replacement? my problem is that 1 or 2 times a year the machine does not want to turn on anymore. then I do the bridge with another battery and I have no more problems. my battery is new. My Bmw 525 i 2004.

[@OGPedXing]

For me it was a charging issue. The ibs was giving an error code and it caused the battery to not be charged correctly when the engine was running. It still charged but not perfectly. I never had problems starting the car, though.

[@massimilianoruocco3417]

@@OGPedXing ok thanks for the reply. good day and merry christmas

[@skunkedagain]

how did you know it was bad? was there some troubleshooting of the IBS to lead you to believe it's not good. Also, please keep your camera steady. Use a tripod or something steady; then use tools to point to things instead of moving your camera all around.

[@OGPedXing]

After replacing the alternator and clearing the codes, the ibs failure and ibs communication failure kept coming back. I'm not sure if these will show on a regular obd scanner but any bmw scanner software will show it. I got ista+ a while back and have been using that. Yeah I should probably invest in a good tripod.

[@skunkedagain]

@@OGPedXing I'll check mine this morning since I bought the $300 BMW scanner. Just wanted to make sure that I didn't start just replacing parts. Thanks for your video and comments.

[@OGPedXing]

@@skunkedagain That scanner is nice to have. The software route can be free but requires a laptop and it can be annoying to get set up.

[@jrjr8574]

@@OGPedXing did you ever try to disconnect it and start it with out I’ve seen people do that and it works

[@OGPedXing]

@Jr Jr yes, that will work. For me, I never had any problems with starting. Replacing this helps improve the lifespan of the battery.

[@cptrey]

Did this solve your issue? I just got my alternator replaced but this code keeps popping up. Is the car safe to drive with the blue cable disconnected?

[@OGPedXing]

I have seen the code come back, but when cleared again it stays clear for a few weeks or months. Before it came back instantly. Basically what this does is control charging taking into account the age of the battery. Without it connected it will be charged at a default rate. My original battery lasted 9 years which I guess means this process works. But it won't kill your battery not to have it...the life span may be 5-6 years.

[@robbob1693]

How do you the life span without the sensor is 5 to 6 years.

[@Jeremaiah95]

I have 2009 e61 n47. But no blue connector. :/

[@supermanhlp]

Noob question, but which number do I look to order a new ibs sensor? There's numbers everywhere on this little module over the negative terminal lol. Thanks in advance

[@OGPedXing]

I think the main number was on the back/underside but honestly I had to Google a couple before the right part came up. 😁 After that I found it on eBay for a decent price.

[@supermanhlp]

@@OGPedXing gotcha lmao I shall wing it! Wish me luck 😂

[@MAW51187]

For future reference to get a part number just contact a bmw dealer with your part and vin number.

[@blankblanco3997]

So recently i bought a 2001 325i and it ran fine when i bought it but i had to park it in my backyard because i dont have time to go to the dmv to get it registered yet but i think the starter blew after i brought it in and shortly after i lost almost all electrical functions except things that dont seem to draw alot of power like my dash doesent work the cluster only shows the e brake light and the aribag light the heated seats turn on but the ac and radio dont some lights work some illuminate on the inside but not enough to actually show light my trunk lights come and go and whenever i connext a charger to it the lights flicker or dont turn on i thoughtnit was fuses at first but i dont have any of that stuff over top of my battery the only thing ive got is a black cable with a twist knob connected to my negative terminal honestly any input helps

[@OGPedXing]

You may have had a problem with your alternator or regulator giving you an over voltage situation. I'd start by checking the battery voltage and also under load...you can get a load tester online for about 20 bucks or take it to an auto store and they will test it for free. If the car will start, test the running voltage with a multimeter. It should be 13.5 to 14.4. if it's higher than that, it means the regulator is shot. I had one go out and it was running at 17v. When this happens you get a lot of weird electrical problems.

[@Chico27]

I’m having this exact problem rightnow, a couple differences are my radio screen turns off at high rpms/revs but turns back on when I make a complete stop , my windshield wipers turn on by them selves, did you end up finding out the cause of yours ?

[@alexbs5916]

El conector de cable azul con negro a donde va conectado...

[@andrewgourzong9252]

The 1 in the link description is different from the 1 in the video

[@OGPedXing]

I think that's a good thing, I heard they updated the part to make it less failure prone.

[@triplextriplexxx8225]

my bmw is overcharging battery when ibs is plugged in , when i unplug ibs charges battery normal, Bmw diagnostics is not showing that ibs is faulty ? did your diagnostics say that ibs is fault ?

[@OGPedXing]

The specific codes are usually one or more of 2e8b,c,d,and e. I was getting the two that say ibs comm error and ibs general fault.

[@triplextriplexxx8225]

@@OGPedXing ok good i think i have short somewhere in can bus i will buy tool for finding shorts and oscilloscope and get it checked, thanks

[@Cdswjp]

Was your screen showing "charging malfunction" before you replaced the IBS ?

[@OGPedXing]

Nothing on the screen directly, just codes via a BMW scanner...ibs fault and ibs comm error.

[@tdrane_E90]

I’m getting charging malfunction codes…. Did u ever figure out the culprit

[@OGPedXing]

Not 100% but between replacing the alternator that was over charging to 16 or 17 volts plus the IBS, I haven't had any more issues.

[@tdrane_E90]

@@OGPedXing gotcha my alternator isn’t charging it seems like I put the volt meter on it and it drops as the car is idling and then when I turn the car off that battery voltage starts to rise 🤷🏼‍♂️ I’m lost I replaced my alternator probably three months ago and this is happening again

[@Cdswjp]

@@tdrane_E90 I changed my alternator and everything was find afterward

[@dduktube]

What error codes did you get? I'm having problem 2E83 and 2E85 codes. These 2 codes intermittently come up after the voltage regulator died. I replaced it but the 2 codes keeps on coming up. 335i. What's bad is that I just replaced the water pump + thermostat and 2 codes still persist.

[@OGPedXing]

I had a similar situation. I think I had the 2e81 as well. If the pump and tstat are new Google this service bulletin: bmw SI B12 04 05. There may be electrical issues remaining. After replacing the battery as well, the codes water pump related codes stayed off for longer but would come back in a month or so. I could never replicate the issue in test mode with ista+ software. It would run all the pump tests with no problem, cold or warm, high power or low. Since it never caused a problem with the actual engine temps (I logged them off and on for weeks) I stopped worrying about it. It may be a slightly defective pump but I didn't want to swap it out for no reason. I cleaned the connector really well also which may have also caused the incidence to go down.

[@dduktube]

@@OGPedXing So what you're saying is that after replacing the IBS sensor cable and it didn't completely rid of the pump related codes? Yeah initially VR killed new battery and windshield wiper auto come on, bunch of dash lights etc. Replacing VR fixed the issues and new battery again it's working normally, EXCEPT the 2 codes randomly come on. I tested pump with INPA laptop running at 5% 50% 95% duty and they work fine. I've never had the 2 codes before the VR failure. No change with new pump stuff replaced the other day. So IBS sensor cable didn't fix it altogether?

[@OGPedXing]

@@dduktube correct, I think I had other issues. I had the codes after the ibs sensor replacement although the new one got rid of the ibs specific codes. My water pump failed completely though, it was like 85k miles and replacing the pump fixed it functionally but still got the codes returning. I think the issue is canbus related, noise on the same comm line will cause intermittent comm errors. So the VR failure likely caused something else to also get damaged at least slightly. I don't have the equipment to scope the lines unfortunately.

[@159PhAnToM159]

@@dduktube did you figure out what caused it? getting the same issue right now got the same vr issues as well after replacing it i got those two codes

[@dduktube]

@@159PhAnToM159 no not yet. It runs fine so I ignore the codes.

[@DariusUK]

Hi. Can you tell me what the fault code is related to ibs failure? I have a code 4A66.thanks

[@OGPedXing]

Normally you get one or more of 2E8B,C,D, and E. I think I got B and E, one was for communication and the other was for function.

[@DariusUK]

OGPedXing Thanks

[@angusmacdonald1575]

I am getting the Auto start stop alarm that the start stop function dosent work, see the bmw dealer, can the fault be in the battery sensor

[@OGPedXing]

I think it may be something else, possibly the switch itself, but it won't hurt to try unplugging the blue connector from the ibs and trying. This can sometimes solve other no start problems.

[@angusmacdonald1575]

@@OGPedXing Thanks, but I have tried that with no result, also there are no problems with the charge in the battery, I will look further but as its attached to many sensors, clutch,gear position,rolling sensor, its a mystery

[@angelmedina541]

Hello friend, sorry AMI I got this error code p2e7c. My car turned off and it no longer wanted to start, not even the gear works. Do you think that changing that cable will work again?

[@OGPedXing]

Unfortunately this can be caused by several things, the code is a communication fault. You can try just unplugging the blue connector from the ibs cable and see if that allows the car to start.

[@angelmedina541]

@@OGPedXing If you unplugged it and it still didn't boot. what other causes can be to try to solve it friend thank you very much.

[@OGPedXing]

It could be another device causing the comm problems, I had that code with my water pump but it didn't stop me from starting the car. It can also be caused by the DME or a corroded connection.

[@ScoopRolla]

Do I have to code anything or register my battery if I’m just changing the ibs ?

[@OGPedXing]

Nope! Just plug and play

[@tym340i3]

Do you have to drive to clear the code? Still come back after replacing and clearing code. 2E8E

[@snypassasin]

where did you purchase the IBS

[@OGPedXing]

I got a used but good unit from eBay with the same part number as on the original.

[@snypassasin]

Thanks for speedy reply

[@freshmanleagueENT]

Can that faulty wire overcharge the alternator?

[@OGPedXing]

Usually not. The ibs can tell the alternator to charge the battery higher which is good with an older battery, but the alternator will only go so high...like 14.8 volts output max. Unless the regulator on the alternator goes out. If that happens you may see 15-17 volts to The battery while running...turn it off if you see that or other electrical damage can occur. You can replace the regulator pretty cheap compared to the whole alternator if this happens.

[@reza_dc2]

The faulty IBS can turn your electrical systems on and off during the time your car sits for long periods of time, like over night etc. I just disconnected my ibs and will be watching the volts tonight every three hours or so..

[@roundsquash6392]

I unplugged the IBS and car I running fine? Do I need IBS? What will happen if I just leave it unplugged?

[@OGPedXing]

Yeah I ran without it for several months. Basically the main thing is it may not charge the battery as perfectly as it did before. My oem battery last 9 years so I guess the optimization is decent. But it's not going to really hurt anything, from what I've been able to research.

[@roundsquash6392]

@@OGPedXing I’ll try without it. Costco battery has 4 years warranty anyways. 😂

[@snoopy81]

@@roundsquash6392 😂

[@bmcallen0513]

Will this effect performance?

[@OGPedXing]

Just by improving the life of the battery. Mine was the original one when I replaced it, nine years old.

[@bmcallen0513]

@@OGPedXing right now i have this code and im wondering if its making me misfire.. ive change coils and plugs

[@StolenWifi]

What is that smaller blue sensor called?

[@OGPedXing]

I'm not sure of the official name but the smaller blue plug is the communication line to the CAN bus. The larger one is simply for power.

[@Linoge279]

BSD

[@syxxwilliams]

Did u have to reprogram the ibs

[@zachneill34]

I also have the same question, did you figure this out?

[@OGPedXing]

Sorry I missed the original question. No it shouldn't need programming if you match the part numbers.

[@ppatelpatel1665]

Not showing how to install it

[@Zalupkin2588]

У кого бывает что при запуске на севшем акб не идёт зарядка ??

[@OGPedXing]

(trying google translate :) ) Если аккумулятор не заряжается, проблема связана с генератором или регулятором напряжения.

[@Zalupkin2588]

@@OGPedXing а почему зарядка не идёт именно в моменты когда акб сильно разряжен ??

[@OGPedXing]

@@Zalupkin2588 Запустите двигатель, а затем с помощью вольтметра измерьте напряжение. Вы должны измерить 13,8 - 14,4 вольт. Если вы этого не сделаете, то необходимо заменить генератор. Если вы измеряете это напряжение, возможно, сама батарея не заряжается или вам необходимо заменить IBS.

[@Zalupkin2588]

@@OGPedXing привет заграничный друг! Тяжело обьяснить суть! Но попробую ещё раз. Генератор - ОК! Акб- ОК! Но когда акб разряжен (авто заводится хорошо при этом) - зарядка не идёт ((.измеряю все мультиметром. Глюк зарядки какой-то,

[@OGPedXing]

Хорошо, сейчас я понимаю. Кажется, что IBS не позволяет ему заряжаться. Еще одна вещь, которую нужно проверить, - правильно ли закодирована батарея для автомобиля. Если емкость аккумулятора в ампер-часах больше, чем думает автомобиль, он также перестанет заряжаться. Вы можете использовать ISTA + для замены батареи.

[@adnabandasha3201]

Bro for what symptoms u changed IBS

[@OGPedXing]

I had a code that it wasn't communicating which means over time it would not charge the battery as well as it could. Originally I thought how much could it matter right? But evidently it helps because my original battery lasted 9 years.

[@adnabandasha3201]

@@OGPedXing does this IBS related to high charging issues ..does IBS failure cause Abs,break light and Aircon lights show up in cluster, does IBS failure cause battery drain. .sry bro for low English ..tks to reply

[@OGPedXing]

@@adnabandasha3201 no worries my friend. No the ibs will affect battery charging but not high voltage...that usually means the regulator (on the alternator) is having a problem. That happened on my car also.

[@adnabandasha3201]

@@OGPedXing bro disconnecting blue ..bus wire to ecm ...will start vehicle ok but does this method solve battery draining issue also ??. Bit confused bro pls dnt mind for my querry... Bmw x6 Iam getting ABS ,park break light on cluster and Ac switch inner lights on every time ..with battery draining issue ..pls advice ..for final ..suggestion ...thanking u for helping in needs.. Allah bless u bro .good job

[@OGPedXing]

@@adnabandasha3201 yes with the blue connector unplugged it should start ok but it may not charge perfectly. But it shouldn't be a big problem, it will just make the battery not last as long but shouldn't cause any lights on the dash. I would check that the battery is still ok (12.5 volts or so when off) and the alternator is good (14.4 or so volts when the engine is running).

[@michaelcoleone9665]

Good video but horrible maaco paint job

[@OGPedXing]

It's a plasti dip peelable coating. The base paint is untouched underneath. I love the color and matte finish but if I get tired of it, it peels right off. Check out some of my other videos on this stuff, it's pretty cool.

[@1slowe60_9]

My bmw doesn’t have that big red part is it because it’s different??

[@OGPedXing]

Yes I think the e9x and e8x models have this but the 5 series e60 does not have it. It is the power distribution box. However I think all of them have an ibs like what I replaced, however the part number will be different for each model so match up the number from the old one you pull off your car.

[@1slowe60_9]

OGPedXing thanks man I appreciate it! Idk why my red connector started melting today when i connected the battery

[@OGPedXing]

@@1slowe60_9 whoa, be careful to connect the red side to positive and not the negative terminal and connect positive (red) first and negative last. This will reduce electrical arcs which can be dangerous and produce a lot of heat. When disconnecting the battery, do the reverse, take off the negative first and positive second.

[@vkeeblerelfv7643]

@@1slowe60_9 see if your car has a recall for it. This red box is a newer part.

[@janlocmel1113]

Could of showed where every bit plugs in. Not much use in this video.

[@OGPedXing]

Once you get in there you'll see it's super simple. Blue power connector to the power block socket with the blue dot, small comm connector goes to the only other one of it's kind and don't forget the ground strap that I show behind the trim. No way to do it wrong really. Main thing for me was the disassembly process.

[@robertionescu3912]

Speak too much and say nothing ...