2015 F32 Electronics Stutter on Startup

wespiard · 12-03-2020, 10:30 PM

I have a 2015 428i that I got about a year and a half ago.

Starting maybe a month ago, when I start the car I hear a stutter in the startup chime. It happens basically every time.

My first thought would be the battery. It's about 5 years old now, and from what I can tell online that seems to be about their expected lifetime.

The car has never failed to start, but could this be an early symptom of it going out? I'd like some opinions before I go out and replace the battery.

It also hasn't gotten as many long trips since I've been home for CoVID most of this year.

davidr3 · 12-03-2020, 11:23 PM

Get the bimmerlink app and check your battery %, try plugging it into a trickle charger and see if it removes your problems.
I will say that on my e93, on startup I would have shutters first before it ever would fail to start. Eventually it just wouldn't start. I'm gonna assume this is your battery.

wespiard · 12-04-2020, 12:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by davidr3

Get the bimmerlink app and check your battery %, try plugging it into a trickle charger and see if it removes your problems.
I will say that on my e93, on startup I would have shutters first before it ever would fail to start. Eventually it just wouldn't start. I'm gonna assume this is your battery.

I have the app, I'll go check it out. Thanks!

wespiard · 12-04-2020, 12:57 AM

Bimmerlink read 91 Ah capacity, with 58% state of charge.

davidr3 · 12-04-2020, 01:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wespiard

Bimmerlink read 91 Ah capacity, with 58% state of charge.

Sounds oddly low to me, but wait for someone else like Billfitz to put in his .02 he's probably more knowledgeable then I am.

Billfitz · 12-04-2020, 07:57 AM

I don't have Bimmerlink, so I don't know what it's measuring to come up with that figure. I have one of these in my console, so I can plug it in whenever I want to see the state of charge and alternator output:
https://www.amazon.com/Battery-Charg..._t1_B000EVWDU0

With the engine running you should read around 14v.
When you shut the car off the voltage should read around 13v. If it doesn't the cause could be the battery, or your driving distance since the last start up was too short to fully charge the battery. If that happens often because of your driving habits you can use a battery tender to top off the charge overnight.

After sitting overnight it should read at least 12v. If it doesn't either the battery is on its way out or or there's a parasitic drain when the car is turned off. You can test for that by disconnecting the negative terminal overnight. If the battery still reads down the next morning you know the fault lies in the battery.

Astone22 · 12-05-2020, 10:08 PM

My 428 did the same thing I ended up changing the battery and no issues ever again

tardboi · 12-05-2020, 11:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wespiard

Bimmerlink read 91 Ah capacity, with 58% state of charge.

I'm down to 46% and while the car doesnt seem too happy about it, the chimes are all normal.

wespiard · 12-05-2020, 11:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Billfitz

I don't have Bimmerlink, so I don't know what it's measuring to come up with that figure. I have one of these in my console, so I can plug it in whenever I want to see the state of charge and alternator output:
https://www.amazon.com/Battery-Charg..._t1_B000EVWDU0

With the engine running you should read around 14v.
When you shut the car off the voltage should read around 13v. If it doesn't the cause could be the battery, or your driving distance since the last start up was too short to fully charge the battery. If that happens often because of your driving habits you can use a battery tender to top off the charge overnight.

After sitting overnight it should read at least 12v. If it doesn't either the battery is on its way out or or there's a parasitic drain when the car is turned off. You can test for that by disconnecting the negative terminal overnight. If the battery still reads down the next morning you know the fault lies in the battery.

Can I achieve the same measurements with a multimeter directly at the battery terminals?

Quote:

Originally Posted by tardboi

I'm down to 46% and while the car doesnt seem too happy about it, the chimes are all normal.

What are your symptoms? Hesitation to start, other electrical glitches?

Billfitz · 12-06-2020, 08:33 AM

You can use a DMM, but it's not as convenient as plugging a tester into the outlet right next to your seat.

I've never concerned myself about the state of charge, if the voltage is sufficient it's sufficient. According to this, and other sources, 50% is over 12 volts, and you have to get to below 40% before the voltage is low enough to be of concern.

12-03-2020, 10:30 PM	#1
wespiard New Member 11 Rep 25 Posts Drives: 2015 BMW 428i Join Date: Aug 2019 Location: Gainesville, FL iTrader: (0)	2015 F32 Electronics Stutter on Startup I have a 2015 428i that I got about a year and a half ago. Starting maybe a month ago, when I start the car I hear a stutter in the startup chime. It happens basically every time. My first thought would be the battery. It's about 5 years old now, and from what I can tell online that seems to be about their expected lifetime. The car has never failed to start, but could this be an early symptom of it going out? I'd like some opinions before I go out and replace the battery. It also hasn't gotten as many long trips since I've been home for CoVID most of this year.
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12-03-2020, 11:23 PM	#2
davidr3 Captain 448 Rep 909 Posts Drives: 335i Join Date: May 2019 Location: Riverside iTrader: (1)	Get the bimmerlink app and check your battery %, try plugging it into a trickle charger and see if it removes your problems. I will say that on my e93, on startup I would have shutters first before it ever would fail to start. Eventually it just wouldn't start. I'm gonna assume this is your battery.
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12-04-2020, 12:57 AM	#4
wespiard New Member 11 Rep 25 Posts Drives: 2015 BMW 428i Join Date: Aug 2019 Location: Gainesville, FL iTrader: (0)	Bimmerlink read 91 Ah capacity, with 58% state of charge.
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12-04-2020, 07:57 AM	#6
Billfitz Lieutenant General 8221 Rep 16,054 Posts Drives: '15 328iX GT Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: New Hampshire iTrader: (0)	I don't have Bimmerlink, so I don't know what it's measuring to come up with that figure. I have one of these in my console, so I can plug it in whenever I want to see the state of charge and alternator output: https://www.amazon.com/Battery-Charg..._t1_B000EVWDU0 With the engine running you should read around 14v. When you shut the car off the voltage should read around 13v. If it doesn't the cause could be the battery, or your driving distance since the last start up was too short to fully charge the battery. If that happens often because of your driving habits you can use a battery tender to top off the charge overnight. After sitting overnight it should read at least 12v. If it doesn't either the battery is on its way out or or there's a parasitic drain when the car is turned off. You can test for that by disconnecting the negative terminal overnight. If the battery still reads down the next morning you know the fault lies in the battery.
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12-05-2020, 10:08 PM	#7
Astone22 First Lieutenant 78 Rep 388 Posts Drives: F30 320 xdrive, f32 428 Join Date: Mar 2017 Location: Stl iTrader: (1)	My 428 did the same thing I ended up changing the battery and no issues ever again
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12-06-2020, 08:33 AM	#10
Billfitz Lieutenant General 8221 Rep 16,054 Posts Drives: '15 328iX GT Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: New Hampshire iTrader: (0)	You can use a DMM, but it's not as convenient as plugging a tester into the outlet right next to your seat. I've never concerned myself about the state of charge, if the voltage is sufficient it's sufficient. According to this, and other sources, 50% is over 12 volts, and you have to get to below 40% before the voltage is low enough to be of concern.
	Appreciate 0 Quote