[DOCTOR.Y]

Hi everyone,

I need to get a battery charger for the car in order to flash PPK. I have no knowledge on battery charger so I got confused after some research. Some products are labelled for a certain voltage; while others are for a certain (maybe range) ampere. Which factor should I look at when sorting a proper battery charger? Voltage, current or power?

Anyone knows any local product for 335i?

Thanks a lot guys

[vtl]

Just get this, will be more than enough for any type of flashing you need

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/12V-240V-...UAAOSwMHdXR66x

Make sure you connect it up to the terminals in the engine bay and not across the battery:



The negative terminal must be attached to the shiny hex stud. If you clamp on something like the strut tower bolts they are galvanised and give you poor electrical contact.

[DOCTOR.Y]

Originally Posted by vtl

Just get this, will be more than enough for any type of flashing you need

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/12V-240V-...UAAOSwMHdXR66x

Make sure you connect it up to the terminals in the engine bay and not across the battery:



The negative terminal must be attached to the shiny hex stud. If you clamp on something like the strut tower bolts they are galvanised and give you poor electrical contact.

Thanks so much vtl a lot cheaper than those I saw on supercheap website. I thought it should be connected to the battery in the trunk.

[Grohouse]

I recently bought a CTEK MXS 5.0 - very popular and BMW actually re-badge these as their own and sell them for double the price. Scored mine off ebay for $100

[DOCTOR.Y]

MXS5.0 on eBay shows 5amp. Coder told me no less than 12amp for the car

[vtl]

Forget the CTEK, its not powerful enough. The one I linked is 20 amp, plenty powerful enough to charge the battery even if you leave the headlights on.

[CYL]

Originally Posted by vtl

Forget the CTEK, its not powerful enough. The one I linked is 20 amp, plenty powerful enough to charge the battery even if you leave the headlights on.

I have got the same charger from vtl linked too.
Just want to check, connect the cables to + & - terminal prior switching on the battery charger?

one more thing, is it ok to help people jump starting their car?
I read somewhere before saying that the European car electrical system is so complicated that better not jump starting which may damage the car electrical system?

[Grohouse]

Originally Posted by CYL

I have got the same charger from vtl linked too.
Just want to check, connect the cables to + & - terminal prior switching on the battery charger?

one more thing, is it ok to help people jump starting their car?
I read somewhere before saying that the European car electrical system is so complicated that better not jump starting which may damage the car electrical system?

My bad guys - I have the MXS 10 (typo), seems like you need some extra juice for this application. I do a lot of short trips and recently been getting start up issues which this charger has been able to rectify.

[david in germany]

I think Bmw recommends a minimum of 50 amps for coding.

[EB89]

Why cant you connect directly to the battery to charge

[DOCTOR.Y]

Originally Posted by vtl

Forget the CTEK, its not powerful enough. The one I linked is 20 amp, plenty powerful enough to charge the battery even if you leave the headlights on.

what is the 'fuse' button used for on the one you linked?

[e36mmm]

I bought ctek mxs 5 from repco with 5 year warranty and im sure its 12 volt, 5 amp.. have not tried it out yet.. bmw sells the same one but not sure if coding requires higher amp..

[DOCTOR.Y]

Originally Posted by e36mmm

I bought ctek mxs 5 from repco with 5 year warranty and im sure its 12 volt, 5 amp.. have not tried it out yet.. bmw sells the same one but not sure if coding requires higher amp..

to be honest, I don`t know this yet. My coder told me to get a charger which has 12+ amp.

[EB89]

I used a 5 amp ctek to flash the ppk on a flat battery and it worked, I now own a 15 amp ctek.

They are great chargers.

[EB89]

Originally Posted by Eric_Y

to be honest, I don`t know this yet. My coder told me to get a charger which has 12+ amp.

Yeah I was told it needs to be like 50, 60, 70 amp something like that.

[DOCTOR.Y]

Originally Posted by EB89

Yeah I was told it needs to be like 50, 60, 70 amp something like that.

I`m going to flash it today whatsoever it is, I just used the one vol linked as I already got it.

[titium]

Originally Posted by EB89

Yeah I was told it needs to be like 50, 60, 70 amp something like that.

if you're going to use anything less then 10A charger fully charge the battery before hand. pull the lpfp fuse and make sure everything is off (radio, lights interior and exterior ect).

or you could just avoid all that and know you're safe by getting the charger vtl linked.

yer sure you will probably be fine without taking those precautions but the thought of a bricked dme scares me lol

[titium]

also as vince pointed out the charger needs to go as close to the dme as possible under the bonnet in the spots he indicated. it doesn't matter how strong your battery is (or how thick the cable is) any sudden current draw will cause a momentary drop in voltage due to the inductance of the long cable running from the boot to the engine bay. again up to you if you want to risk it but there is a reason bmw put terminals in the engine bay.

[satz]

Does it matter whether your car battery is AGM or non-AGM? i.e. will any charger work regardless of battery type?

[EB89]

Originally Posted by satz

Does it matter whether your car battery is AGM or non-AGM? i.e. will any charger work regardless of battery type?

Not sure, my 5 AMP CTEK charger had an AGM mode, but my 15 AMP CTEK doesn't .

[vtl]

Originally Posted by satz

Does it matter whether your car battery is AGM or non-AGM? i.e. will any charger work regardless of battery type?

As long as you hook up via the terminals in the engine bay it'll be fine.

[twenza]

We sell the Ctek Chargers at $110, use them on Motorcycles and cars.