06-13-2019, 06:32 AM | #1 |
寶馬車主
7
Rep 10
Posts |
My F30 320d is 1.5 years old and recently I've notived that the battery voltage is always around 12.3+V.
One is measured by a multimeter before my vacation and the other one is measured by Battery-Guard the nextday after 500km drive home. BTW, I rarely drive in ECO mode and always turn Auto-Start-Stop off. I've also measured a few times in between, always around 12.3+V. Also, when measuring the voltage using Battery Guard APP, I do that before start-up and without unlocking the car. The third graph is from the Internet for references. What is the case with you guys, is my battery voltage normal? |
06-13-2019, 06:55 AM | #2 |
Banned
221
Rep 529
Posts |
You're fine.
You run in eco mode so you can save gas but have your starter motor suck your battery and wear itself out at every traffic stop. For your own curiosity, measure battery voltage while the car is running. If you see readings around 14 volts it means your charging system is working properly. |
Appreciate
0
|
06-13-2019, 08:47 AM | #3 | |
寶馬車主
7
Rep 10
Posts |
Quote:
|
|
Appreciate
0
|
10-22-2019, 12:18 PM | #4 |
Private
15
Rep 59
Posts
Drives: F30 320d xDrive M-Sport
Join Date: Apr 2019
Location: Serbia
|
Having similar issue, 12.2V after few hours from turning car off, car is just 2 years old. Doing regular daily commute of totally ~1-1.5hr of suburban/urban driving to work and back. Always comfort mode, start-stop deactivated.
No any issues so far, but wondering when temps go into -10C or lower in month or two, will the car start with such low SoC. During drive, voltage is between 14.7 and 14.9V, so alternator seems to be working OK, however not sure with how much current is it charging... And if all working correctly, why so low battery voltage and SoC? |
Appreciate
0
|
10-22-2019, 12:53 PM | #5 |
Lieutenant Colonel
806
Rep 1,906
Posts |
You can use the 'hidden menu' in the cars OBC/instrument cluster to look at battery/charging system values, no need for multi meter. Search on YouTube for F30/F-Series hidden menu, see link. . Unlock and you can scroll thru and read system voltage, coolant temp and various parameters. Very convenient tool.
|
Appreciate
1
floridaorange10136.50 |
10-22-2019, 02:57 PM | #6 |
Lieutenant General
6659
Rep 15,858
Posts |
Interesting topic, I assume we all know that the SoC with BMW's energy management and intelligent alternator control, is not targeted at 100%, even after a long run. Typically we run in the 70 - 80% range, allowance for 'over-run' regeneration. Not much over-run harvesting, SoC stays at a lower state. In fact we may drop out of that level, if using too many ancillaries and energy demands are not replenished within the alternator control. Then we go to a conventional charging phase, to get back to the 70 - 80% state.
If we run with a voltmeter active, we may notice the 14.4V steady state increases to 14.7V on the over-run, this is a sign we are in the 70 - 80% SoC range (or above) and the battery is charging in the over-run state. If we charge the battery, SoC soon reduces, no alternator charging as such, (balance of battery use and alternator support) to allow battery capacity for the over-run charging. I'm monitoring my battery at the present time, and seeing how the SoC is influenced by daily and less frequent use. I've done this before, and typically the voltage settles to ~12.3 - 12.4 Volts, when in the sleep mode after use. Same last winter, mid summer and at the present time. I charged my battery last Tuesday and then used my car every day, 25 - 30 miles, including a couple of starts along the way. Sunday after use, the battery was reading 12.4 Volts in sleep mode. I've also been driving slightly different to get maximum energy harvesting on the over-run. To see if this will keep the SoC in a higher state. Even after two long runs, (both over 60 miles) the battery wasn't "charged up", still reading similar voltage to what I typically see. That's energy management for you! |
Appreciate
0
|
10-22-2019, 04:13 PM | #7 |
Enlisted Member
21
Rep 49
Posts |
I generally dont drive mine on the weekend as its a work car. I put it on a battery tender on Friday and it usually takes about 12 to 24 hours for it to cycle to float. Makes me think that the charging system never really brings battery to 100%.
|
Appreciate
0
|
10-22-2019, 04:50 PM | #8 | |||
Lieutenant General
6659
Rep 15,858
Posts |
Quote:
Intelligent alternator control (IGR), isn't designed to keep a battery at 100%. The following from BMW data: Quote:
Quote:
|
|||
Appreciate
0
|
10-27-2019, 03:23 AM | #9 |
Private
15
Rep 59
Posts
Drives: F30 320d xDrive M-Sport
Join Date: Apr 2019
Location: Serbia
|
Issue is that battery is not kept at 70-80%, but 12.3V is ~50% SoC... And sometimes is just 12.2AV. All that now at +20C outside temp. In month or two it shall be -10C, sometimes even -15C in the morning, will the car start if such low SoC is kept by "inteligent battery management"?
"The intelligent alternator control is suppressed cyclically in order to allow 100% battery charge to maintain the full capacity of the battery over time (regeneration)."??? I have never seen above 12.4V (after night sleep) even after 800km day trip. Does anyone ever get more? By contast, my wife car (not BMW), is typically at ~12.7V (similar age battery, also AGM - healthy 100%, measured full rated CCA, similar internalR). My daily trip to work is at least 1hr (~35km round trip through rush hours), and of my wife is even less. BTW this battery tester is fully aware battery is AGM type (selected on battery test start) and not a regular type. Last edited by Sigtran; 10-27-2019 at 03:49 AM.. |
Appreciate
0
|
10-27-2019, 03:47 AM | #10 |
Second Lieutenant
125
Rep 298
Posts |
Here in the north it is common to get your car coded to disable the brake energy regeneration stuff so that battery would be charged to 100% but I am not sure if it truly works like that. In any case during winter I would rather have my battery in top shape than save a drop of fuel. Mine has been coded like that so I will check my voltages.
|
Appreciate
0
|
10-27-2019, 10:26 AM | #11 |
Private
15
Rep 59
Posts
Drives: F30 320d xDrive M-Sport
Join Date: Apr 2019
Location: Serbia
|
I am not aware it is possible to use coding to disable BMW's Brake Energy Regeneration system and to force system to charge battery up to 100%... I've "googled" about this topic and there is no info to be found to support such idea, at least not for BMW brand.
|
Appreciate
0
|
10-27-2019, 12:13 PM | #12 | |
Lieutenant General
6659
Rep 15,858
Posts |
Quote:
Your "???" for the intelligent alternator control comment. Are you questioning the battery must leave charging capacity, as part of the system design? Or are you reading the battery will be cyclically charged to 100%, (within the energy management), to extend the battery life? I'm also interested in what other users find if checking the sleeping voltage. I take my readings from the front jump start terminals. Driving profile may make a difference, particularly if a user does an lot of over-runs, which keep topping up the SoC. |
|
Appreciate
0
|
10-27-2019, 01:49 PM | #13 | |
Second Lieutenant
125
Rep 298
Posts |
Quote:
I can see from my dash that it no longer goes to the blue charge area during engine braking, or in any situation for that matter. Whether it charges the battery to 100% I guess I can just hope it does |
|
Appreciate
0
|
12-19-2019, 03:17 PM | #14 |
Private
15
Rep 59
Posts
Drives: F30 320d xDrive M-Sport
Join Date: Apr 2019
Location: Serbia
|
I still think battery management system on F30 is not so well designed...
This morning, before starting a car after not being driven for 5 days (I was on business trip), battery voltage was only 11.96V (outside temp ~+10C). Just two years old OEM battery. No chance battery is bad, actually it has decent (low) internal resistance of 4mOhm and good CCA, it just isn't charged. No any faults reported by car also. It doesn't make sense that while doing enough driving, BMW recommend external charging - this really is not a premium experience! I owned AUDI for 5 years, doing same daily trips as now with F30 and never charged battery - and it was always well charged (typically between 12.4-12.5V), so not pushed to 100% charge but always kept above 50% charge level by its battery management system. F30 on other hand seems to keep below 12.3V, which is IMHO a bit to low to guarantee reliability when for example car is not being driven for a week or so and night temperature drops to -10C or lower... What is the point having 95Ah battery that is typically restrained to 25-30% charge level just to save some milliliter of fuel while risking reliability? |
Appreciate
0
|
12-30-2019, 07:45 AM | #15 |
Major General
2959
Rep 5,990
Posts |
Have you had the system checked to see if it's working properly? My 2016 is still on the original battery which is pretty good considering other conventional charging system cars I've owned and daily driven and the battery was dead after 2 years. I live in SoCal so it never drops much below 40 degrees F. I have a battery tender but haven't used it consistently.
|
Appreciate
0
|
12-30-2019, 12:31 PM | #16 | |
Private
15
Rep 59
Posts
Drives: F30 320d xDrive M-Sport
Join Date: Apr 2019
Location: Serbia
|
Quote:
Anyhow, on BMW car diagnostic (Carly) it does not throw any errors. If I ask dealer he would ask me if I had problems starting the car, and I didn't have any problems (yet), and then he would put car on diagnostic, all would probably be ok. To me it just look that SW is setup to charge battery as minimally as needed while saving as much fuel as possible. And stupidly, as I know, there is no any option that behavior can be adjusted in any way. |
|
Appreciate
0
|
12-30-2019, 12:40 PM | #17 | ||
Major General
2959
Rep 5,990
Posts |
Quote:
|
||
Appreciate
0
|
12-30-2019, 12:51 PM | #18 | |
Private
15
Rep 59
Posts
Drives: F30 320d xDrive M-Sport
Join Date: Apr 2019
Location: Serbia
|
Quote:
IMHO, BMW should have given some choice of limited adjustment possibility through some hidden menus to adjust between "more fuel saving" or "more battery charge", within allowed safe limits of course. |
|
Appreciate
0
|
12-30-2019, 12:55 PM | #19 | ||
Major General
2959
Rep 5,990
Posts |
Quote:
|
||
Appreciate
0
|
12-31-2019, 06:36 PM | #20 | |
Brigadier General
1646
Rep 4,876
Posts |
Quote:
I get the conservation of fuel, but if the battery is hitting a level that prompts the car to tell you that you're screwed, why isn't it charging more? Only thoughts is the alternator at low RPM's isn't putting out enough juice to do the job on a depleted battery. |
|
Appreciate
0
|
01-01-2020, 06:14 AM | #21 | |
Lieutenant General
6659
Rep 15,858
Posts |
Quote:
My understanding, the intelligent alternator control changes to conventional charging mode at a defined low SOC, and/or when the temperature is too low. Some of our driving profiles mean, even when conventionally charging, the battery doesn't recover the SOC by very much, if at all, without plugging in a battery maintainer. BMW's "certain level" for conventional charging to take over, isn't specified in any material I've access to. Say it is 60% SOC, that may well be too low for many users with more 'challenging' driving profiles. Plus we must consider the electrical consumers we choose to use, can limit the alternator's ability to add charge to the battery. Alternator can be at full capacity (for the revs) and still make no real headway in charging the battery. Then this is really no different than years ago, when winter energy demands could limit battery charging on our vehicles. I recall vehicles with ammeters, switch everything on and the gauge would swing to the negative side. You'd have to switch off consumers, to get some positive charge to the battery. |
|
Appreciate
0
|
01-01-2020, 08:16 AM | #22 |
Brigadier General
1646
Rep 4,876
Posts |
My case was most likely the cold temperature. You just cannot charge a cold battery as fast, but at the same token, I've never seen this with any other vehicle. Is it because it didn't happen, or just the vehicle didn't toss the ominous "you are going to be stranded soon!" message. Could be the latter, with BMW being more proactive with warning you.
|
Appreciate
0
|
Post Reply |
Bookmarks |
|
|