[thamcw]

Hi. I have an 08 328xi....and since the battery is in the back, I believe there's + & - terminals near the engine? Can someone give me a quick run through of how to jump start someone else's car (non bmw) with my bmw? Any help will be very much appreciated.

Thanks in advance!
CT

[Tom K.]

You are correct. You connect to the posts in the engine compartment.

The procedure is clearly explained under "Jump Starting" in your owners manual.

(see below)

Tom

Jump starting
If the car's own battery is flat, your BMW's
engine can be started by connecting two
jumper cables to another vehicle's battery. You
can also use the same method to help start
another vehicle. Only use jumper cables with
fully-insulated clamp handles.
Do not touch any electrically live parts
when the engine is running, or a fatal accident
may occur. Carefully adhere to the following
sequence, both to prevent damage to one or
both vehicles, and to guard against possible

personal injuries.

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Preparation
1.

Check whether the battery of the other

vehicle has a voltage of 12 volts and
approximately the same capacitance in Ah.
This information can be found on the battery.

2.

Switch off the engine of the assisting vehicle.

3.

Switch off any consumers in both vehicles.

There must not be any contact between
the bodies of the two vehicles, otherwise
there is a danger of shorting.

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Mobility
231
Reference Communications Entertainment Navigation Driving tips Controls At a glance
Connecting jumper cables
Connect the jumper cables in the correct
order, so that no sparks which could
cause injury occur.

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Your BMW has a jump-starting connection in
the engine compartment which acts as the battery's
positive terminal, refer also to the Engine
compartment overview on page

215. The cap is

marked with +.

1.

Pull the cap of the BMW jump-starting connection

up to remove.

2.

Attach one terminal clamp of the plus/+

jumper cable to the positive terminal of the
battery or a starting-aid terminal of the vehicle
providing assistance.

3.

Attach the second terminal clamp of the

plus/+ jumper cable to the positive terminal
of the battery or a starting-aid terminal of
the vehicle to be started.

4.

Attach one terminal clamp of the minus/–

jumper cable to the negative terminal of the
battery or to an engine or body ground of
the assisting vehicle.
Your BMW has a special nut as body ground
or negative pole.

5.

Attach the second terminal clamp of the

minus/– jumper cable to the negative terminal
of the battery or to the engine or body
ground of the vehicle to be started.

Starting the engine
1.

Start the engine of the donor vehicle and

allow it to run for a few minutes at slightly
increased idle speed.

2.

Start the engine on the other vehicle in the

usual way.
If the first start attempt is not successful,
wait a few minutes before another attempt
in order to allow the discharged battery to
recharge.

3.

Let the engines run for a few minutes.

4.

Disconnect the jumper cables by reversing

the above connecting sequence.
If necessary, have the battery checked and
recharged.
Never use spray fluids to start the
engine.

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