Charging Battery - BMW 3-Series (E90 E92) Forum

davyk31 · 12-17-2012, 05:27 AM

My car has been doing a lot of relatively short runs recently, 10 mins each time and I reckon the battery is taking a bit of a battering especially with the cold weather.

I have an old battey charger at home, thinking of sticking it on for a night to give it a little boost. I assume this would be long enough? Do I just connect under the bonnet to the red terminal and then a nearby earth point.

I had a post recently about my autolevelling not working on my Xenons but noticed recently it does seem to work sometimes and especially not first thing in the morning. Kinda wondering could a lowish battery charge be to blame - what you reckon as sometimes the seat belt butler doesn't work in the mornings but then is fine at other times. I know low battery can cause all sorts of strange electrical warnings and malfunctions.

Hotcoupe · 12-17-2012, 06:03 AM

On the E92 there is a designated charge point with a black plastic cover under the bonnet,it's to the left as you face the car.
To the side of this on the wing there is also an earthing point.

An overnight charge should be sufficient.

A flat/on the way to flat battery can display itself in all manner of ways,so your problems could well be associated with the battery.

davyk31 · 12-17-2012, 06:48 AM

Cheers for that, think I will run an overnight charge before letting my dealer loose with trying to sort the lights. The fact they have started to work some of the time makes it a bit strange but as you say low battery has all sorts of wierd consequences.

insane79 · 01-16-2013, 05:02 PM

after charging did it solve the problems?

Thanks..

davyk31 · 01-17-2013, 03:58 AM

Yes seemed to solve any issues, I just let it charge for a night and now its all good again. It does run down a little over time especially in winter when doing short trips so a little boost now and again is good.

mistryn · 01-17-2013, 07:29 AM

can anyone reccomed a charger/trickle charger?

davyk31 · 01-17-2013, 09:55 AM

I'm sure someone will be along soon that has one, the Ctek ones seem to be mentioned here before. I'm just using a very old charger I've had for year, a Sealey one.

ed330D · 01-17-2013, 12:14 PM

Just purchased a CTEK CTE-MXS5.0 5A 12V Car Battery Charger from Amazon for £51.

Haven't tried it myself yet (awaiting delivery), but plenty of very positive reviews. Very similar in spec. to the BMW badged CTEK that sells for mega bucks.

wallsmk2 · 01-17-2013, 12:23 PM

Just bought the one above, only just unpacked it so yet to try but looks good quality. Looks very simple to use, instructions very simple. The ctek chargers seem to top reviews and come with a 5 year warranty.

insane79 · 01-17-2013, 12:45 PM

isn't the MXS5.0 overkill? its for batteries upto 160ah, i think the e90 battery is 80ah.

wallsmk2 · 01-17-2013, 01:55 PM

but on amazon I think there was about £5 in it and the 5.0 has a recondition option as well as progress LEDs.

insane79 · 01-17-2013, 01:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wallsmk2

but on amazon I think there was about £5 in it and the 5.0 has a recondition option as well as progress LEDs.

so it can tell you a battery is bad by voltage or something?

Thanks.

seanblee · 01-17-2013, 03:40 PM

I've got the 5.0 and it's great - definitely recommended.

mistryn · 01-17-2013, 03:58 PM

Thanks guys will look into ordering one soon

insane79 · 01-17-2013, 04:26 PM

guys today was trying to see if my cigi lighter was live with the car in accessory mode & it is live phew but my idrive rebooted by itself dunno why, i got no low battery warning sign also, any idea why it rebooted by itself?

Thanks..

Mustard3 · 01-19-2013, 11:38 AM

Similar thing here, lots of very short journeys and had the I drive re-boot a couple of times, as well as satnav freeze.

I wasn't sure that you could connect a charger to the under bonnet charging point. Does't the circuit get cut off when the car goes into sleep mode after 15 minutes?

You can (if you haven't already) check your battery's voltage through the 'hidden menu', with engine off and engine running, to check it's charging okay from the altinator.

John320d · 01-19-2013, 01:51 PM

Under bonnet battery charging can be done anytime.

IanS100 · 01-19-2013, 02:16 PM

Is charging directly on the battery terminal in the boot strictly "verboten" for some reason or are the under bonnet charge points just a matter of convenience?

insane79 · 01-19-2013, 02:57 PM

i just bought the bmw battery conditioner today from the dealer, will let you know how it is once i open it up..
told them to check my battery & all they did is toke the key & then gave me a printout about the car, it said battery voltage 13.8v
They said anything above 12.5v is enough so i guess my battery is fine?

Thanks.
Thanks..

12-17-2012, 05:27 AM	#1
davyk31 Brigadier General Drives: BMW 335d SE Coupe Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Northern Ireland Posts: 3,280 iTrader: (0)	Charging Battery My car has been doing a lot of relatively short runs recently, 10 mins each time and I reckon the battery is taking a bit of a battering especially with the cold weather. I have an old battey charger at home, thinking of sticking it on for a night to give it a little boost. I assume this would be long enough? Do I just connect under the bonnet to the red terminal and then a nearby earth point. I had a post recently about my autolevelling not working on my Xenons but noticed recently it does seem to work sometimes and especially not first thing in the morning. Kinda wondering could a lowish battery charge be to blame - what you reckon as sometimes the seat belt butler doesn't work in the mornings but then is fine at other times. I know low battery can cause all sorts of strange electrical warnings and malfunctions.
	Tweet

12-17-2012, 06:03 AM	#2
Hotcoupe Major General Drives: Don't know yet! Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: UK Posts: 5,904 iTrader: (2) Garage List November 2008 335D ... [4.17] 2007 335D [0.00]	On the E92 there is a designated charge point with a black plastic cover under the bonnet,it's to the left as you face the car. To the side of this on the wing there is also an earthing point. An overnight charge should be sufficient. A flat/on the way to flat battery can display itself in all manner of ways,so your problems could well be associated with the battery. __________________ ================================= Never argue with an idiot on the internet. He will drag you down to his level and beat you with experience.

01-17-2013, 03:40 PM	#13
seanblee Captain Drives: E92 335i SE Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Enfield, UK Posts: 665 iTrader: (2)	I've got the 5.0 and it's great - definitely recommended. __________________ 2007 E92 335i SE auto \| Quaife LSD \| Birds B3 ARBs \| Evolve Stage 1 \| CIC retrofit \| Morel Hybrid 402 \| Rainbow IL-W8F \| Alpine PDX-V9

01-19-2013, 02:57 PM	#19
insane79 Captain Drives: E90 lci Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Earth Posts: 610 iTrader: (0)	i just bought the bmw battery conditioner today from the dealer, will let you know how it is once i open it up.. told them to check my battery & all they did is toke the key & then gave me a printout about the car, it said battery voltage 13.8v They said anything above 12.5v is enough so i guess my battery is fine? Thanks. Thanks.. Last edited by insane79; 01-19-2013 at 03:02 PM.

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search

12-17-2012, 06:48 AM	#3
davyk31 Brigadier General Drives: BMW 335d SE Coupe Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Northern Ireland Posts: 3,280 iTrader: (0)	Cheers for that, think I will run an overnight charge before letting my dealer loose with trying to sort the lights. The fact they have started to work some of the time makes it a bit strange but as you say low battery has all sorts of wierd consequences.

01-16-2013, 05:02 PM	#4
insane79 Captain Drives: E90 lci Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Earth Posts: 610 iTrader: (0)	after charging did it solve the problems? Thanks..

01-17-2013, 03:58 AM	#5
davyk31 Brigadier General Drives: BMW 335d SE Coupe Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Northern Ireland Posts: 3,280 iTrader: (0)	Yes seemed to solve any issues, I just let it charge for a night and now its all good again. It does run down a little over time especially in winter when doing short trips so a little boost now and again is good.

01-17-2013, 07:29 AM	#6
mistryn Lieutenant Colonel Drives: BMW 335D Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Mids Posts: 1,655 iTrader: (7)	can anyone reccomed a charger/trickle charger?

01-17-2013, 09:55 AM	#7
davyk31 Brigadier General Drives: BMW 335d SE Coupe Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Northern Ireland Posts: 3,280 iTrader: (0)	I'm sure someone will be along soon that has one, the Ctek ones seem to be mentioned here before. I'm just using a very old charger I've had for year, a Sealey one.

01-17-2013, 12:14 PM	#8
ed330D New Member Drives: E92 330D Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: SW France Posts: 27 iTrader: (0)	Just purchased a CTEK CTE-MXS5.0 5A 12V Car Battery Charger from Amazon for £51. Haven't tried it myself yet (awaiting delivery), but plenty of very positive reviews. Very similar in spec. to the BMW badged CTEK that sells for mega bucks.

01-17-2013, 12:23 PM	#9
wallsmk2 Private First Class Drives: e91 325i Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: exeter Posts: 131 iTrader: (0)	Just bought the one above, only just unpacked it so yet to try but looks good quality. Looks very simple to use, instructions very simple. The ctek chargers seem to top reviews and come with a 5 year warranty.

01-17-2013, 12:45 PM	#10
insane79 Captain Drives: E90 lci Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Earth Posts: 610 iTrader: (0)	isn't the MXS5.0 overkill? its for batteries upto 160ah, i think the e90 battery is 80ah.

01-17-2013, 01:55 PM	#11
wallsmk2 Private First Class Drives: e91 325i Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: exeter Posts: 131 iTrader: (0)	but on amazon I think there was about £5 in it and the 5.0 has a recondition option as well as progress LEDs.

01-17-2013, 03:58 PM	#14
mistryn Lieutenant Colonel Drives: BMW 335D Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Mids Posts: 1,655 iTrader: (7)	Thanks guys will look into ordering one soon

01-17-2013, 04:26 PM	#15
insane79 Captain Drives: E90 lci Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Earth Posts: 610 iTrader: (0)	guys today was trying to see if my cigi lighter was live with the car in accessory mode & it is live phew but my idrive rebooted by itself dunno why, i got no low battery warning sign also, any idea why it rebooted by itself? Thanks..

01-19-2013, 11:38 AM	#16
Mustard3 Private First Class Drives: 335d M sport coupe Evolved Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Essex, England Posts: 122 iTrader: (1)	Similar thing here, lots of very short journeys and had the I drive re-boot a couple of times, as well as satnav freeze. I wasn't sure that you could connect a charger to the under bonnet charging point. Does't the circuit get cut off when the car goes into sleep mode after 15 minutes? You can (if you haven't already) check your battery's voltage through the 'hidden menu', with engine off and engine running, to check it's charging okay from the altinator.

01-19-2013, 01:51 PM	#17
John320d Private First Class Drives: BMW 320d E93 Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Manchester UK Posts: 111 iTrader: (0)	Under bonnet battery charging can be done anytime.

01-19-2013, 02:16 PM	#18
IanS100 Lieutenant Colonel Drives: 320d LCI M Sport Plus Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Southport UK Posts: 1,749 iTrader: (0)	Is charging directly on the battery terminal in the boot strictly "verboten" for some reason or are the under bonnet charge points just a matter of convenience?