[hcap]

Hi there,
We have a April 2006 320i which has just started to display the yellow battery warning light on the dash this morning on starting the vehicle.
It is still the original battery
I am assuming the battey is starting to give up the ghost??
What is the best course of action and where is best to get this checked out in Brissy
Kind Regards

Adam

[VGR00]

Most likely it will be your battery. 4 years is about the end of it's life and anything over that is bonus. Just call out Marshal or RACQ batteries and they will test and replace.

[samchuang33]

Usually BMW batteries last quite long. Mine 2004 X5 is still going strong and showing green. Plus i have a upgraded stero which tends to kill batteries faster.

I think if ppl get in the habbit of turning everything off (ie air con, lights, stero) before turning ignition off it, it will always help battery life.

[E92325i]

I actually got this battery warning light every time i had the key inserted in the ignition with the radio on for 2-3 seconds. The car did this every single time for 4-5 weeks straight. I booked it in and of course my dealer told me it's "normal" due to the battery regeneration charging of efficient dynamics. I told them thats bs as the car should (and presumably) will charge when battery levels are that low using the alternator and not charge only when i brake. He said BMW aus won't let them change the battery until they charge it fully once (overnight) and if the problem reoccurs they will replace it under warranty (the car wasn't even 2 years old at the time).

I had them charge it overnight and when i picked it up the issue was still there (after i left the dealership of course), however it has fixed itself somehow and i don't get the warning no more

[jpsum]

are you sure that is not the key fob's battery light? do you have lazy access?

[E92325i]

Nah i don't have comfort access. The dealer confirmed that the battery charge was very low when i dropped it off hence the recharge of the battery.

[hcap]

Mr Racq came out and his test instrument said to replace the battery something he seemed quite reluctant to do as the car was still starting and charging at 13.9v. I told him for piece of mind please change it. Which he did.
That was Friday....yesterday the battery light came on again .....sigh
I rang motorline at springwood and explained we were heading off to sydney for pre xmas trip and they said bring it in and leave it with them for a day.
In the mean while a patient came in and told me that his daughters 320i same model had the battery and the alternator replaced and the light still comes on.
I can see this as one of these interesting journeys

[E92325i]

Hmm very interesting, i would have thought a new battery would cure it (in my case as well). As i said, mine went away on it's own but despite me getting the low battery warning around 4-5 times per day, it never failed to start or hesitated to start so you should be fine for any driving you want to do over the holidays

Let us know if you find the cause/fix

[s4008616]

Just to let you all know that I have been having the same problem for the last two months. I never have time to get it checked coz of my interstate move and work. However I do find it happens more when I do short trips and happens less (or fix itself - temporarily) when I do long trip.

[hcap]

No faults were found at the dealership. When they checked the battery it had full charge. We have driven to Brisbane to Sydney and back over a 7 day period and the warning light has not come on since. Odd...

[David328M-Sport]

I just had my factory battery replaced by Stillwell BMW with a deep cycle battery after 4 and a bit years. Short trips tend to use up battery power quickly as the alternator doesn't get terribly much charging time in. That was the biggest part of my car's battery drain.

Much brighter idrive screen than before.