Battery discharged, battery low, restart engine a nerd's diagnosis

Wires · 02-06-2018, 07:38 PM

Batteries need to be brought up to full charge at least once a month, otherwise the plates inside sulphate. Even when they sit idle on a store shelf.

It's best to keep it on a battery maintainer if you aren't planning on driving it for long period of time. Letting it discharge, and then having it charge back up isn't the best for AGM or lead acid batteries. Destroys capacity over time.

bimmer456 · 02-07-2018, 05:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wires

Batteries need to be brought up to full charge at least once a month, otherwise the plates inside sulphate. Even when they sit idle on a store shelf.

It's best to keep it on a battery maintainer if you aren't planning on driving it for long period of time. Letting it discharge, and then having it charge back up isn't the best for AGM or lead acid batteries. Destroys capacity over time.

My current flooded cell type battery in my other car has outlasted the other previous 2 using a battery maintainer. Still like it's brand new.

Wires · 02-07-2018, 07:00 PM

That's the key.

When you buy a new battery, they have a sticker indicating month/year of mfr. Always pick the "freshest" ones.

If the store is doing their job, they get pulled from the shelf once a month and charged up. If they don't, you get a unit that slowly "rots" just sitting there.

turbo4 · 02-08-2018, 07:04 PM

I had all these problems. After charging the battery I would drive to work ~ 20km and I would get the discharge message. Sometimes, I would not but after car was parked in a non heated parking during work I would get the same message. I did not know what to make of it and dealer was not helpful at all telling me the same story - this is the way to is .... Well, I decided to buy a new battery from the BMW dealer, it is different - new type - 92amh, 850 CCA. My old battery was 90amh and 900CAA. Since I did the replacement - no coding - I have no issues. With the last 3 weeks the temps here up north in Canada would be steady around -20C.
The issue WAS the BATTERY. Now, I am happy and can drive and not worry if the car will start or not.

02-06-2018, 07:38 PM	#111
Wires Brigadier General 1646 Rep 4,877 Posts Drives: 2016 340i xDrive Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Calgary iTrader: (0)	Batteries need to be brought up to full charge at least once a month, otherwise the plates inside sulphate. Even when they sit idle on a store shelf. It's best to keep it on a battery maintainer if you aren't planning on driving it for long period of time. Letting it discharge, and then having it charge back up isn't the best for AGM or lead acid batteries. Destroys capacity over time.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

02-07-2018, 07:00 PM	#113
Wires Brigadier General 1646 Rep 4,877 Posts Drives: 2016 340i xDrive Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Calgary iTrader: (0)	That's the key. When you buy a new battery, they have a sticker indicating month/year of mfr. Always pick the "freshest" ones. If the store is doing their job, they get pulled from the shelf once a month and charged up. If they don't, you get a unit that slowly "rots" just sitting there.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

02-08-2018, 07:04 PM	#114
turbo4 markster 7 Rep 54 Posts Drives: 2016 X3 xdrive28d Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Edmonton iTrader: (0)	Fixed battery issues I had all these problems. After charging the battery I would drive to work ~ 20km and I would get the discharge message. Sometimes, I would not but after car was parked in a non heated parking during work I would get the same message. I did not know what to make of it and dealer was not helpful at all telling me the same story - this is the way to is .... Well, I decided to buy a new battery from the BMW dealer, it is different - new type - 92amh, 850 CCA. My old battery was 90amh and 900CAA. Since I did the replacement - no coding - I have no issues. With the last 3 weeks the temps here up north in Canada would be steady around -20C. The issue WAS the BATTERY. Now, I am happy and can drive and not worry if the car will start or not.
	Appreciate 0 Quote