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      11-30-2012, 09:19 AM   #18
EricP3
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Drives: '23 X3M Comp
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Cincinnati

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Quote:
Originally Posted by gpb View Post
EricP3: Do you drive your car frequently? Is it still on the original battery? If yes to both, and you've not changed your driving habits lately, then I'd say you're due for a battery. Across several vehicles and a couple decades, I've typically seen batteries die at around the four year mark. I heed the warning signs if any show up, as it's no fun getting stranded when the battery finally goes toes-up.

A trickle charger is good when a vehicle typically sits for multiple days between being driven; i.e. if your BMW was a weekend fun car that you took out on Saturdays, but otherwise it sat in your garage. Also they're good when putting a vehicle up for a while, such as storing a motorcycle for the winter.

Is it worth eking out a few more weeks on this battery, waiting until it fully fails before replacing it? The most recent battery I replaced died with no warning; I ran a couple errands at lunch one day, pulled into a coffee place on the way back to work and when I came back out my car (non-BMW) was 100% completely dead electrically. Thankfully I was in the same plaza as a repair shop and sorted it out easily, it could have been a lot worse. Imagine if it were Saturday evening with your date in the car? (or wife & kids if appropriate).
Thanks for the info. I drive my car everyday, however my commute to work is less than 2 minutes long. I do usually drive on the highway for approximately 45 minutes once or twice a weekend. I am definitely in the short driving distances category.

Sounds like I should replace the battery to be safe. I do not know if it is the original or if the previous owner had it replaced.
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