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Old Nov 9, 2010 | 04:03 PM
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Hi,

I just noticed that my battery is not fully charged. The battery indicator is black, not green. I have an old 12V battery charger.
Can I use this charger? Or should I buy the one from BMW?
If I can use it, is there a special procedure to connect it?

Thanks for your advice!
Ben
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Old Nov 9, 2010 | 05:04 PM
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Originally Posted by Ben535xi
Hi,

I just noticed that my battery is not fully charged. The battery indicator is black, not green. I have an old 12V battery charger.
Can I use this charger? Or should I buy the one from BMW?
If I can use it, is there a special procedure to connect it?

Thanks for your advice!
Ben
How old? Most newer battery chargers have special circuitry to adjust the rate of charge based on the condition of the battery. BMW doesn't make chargers but rebrands those from other manufacturers. There are lots of posts about battery tenders - they are suitable to maintain a battery in good condition whereas a battery charger could more be better [more 'powersul'] at bringing a battery back to a useable state from discharged .

Here's a pretty easy to follow "how-to" ... http://www.battery-chargers.com/char...structions.htm
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Old Nov 10, 2010 | 07:17 AM
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I would suggest the Battery Tender brand. The one from BMW is the same one just rebadged and more expensive, as Luigi said. Be sure to get the kind with alligator clips, not the kind that plugs into the lighter plug.
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Old Nov 10, 2010 | 08:38 AM
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I got the Battery Tender, but it will never get the battery indicator to Green. I think you need a full size battery charger for that. I have one coming in today and hope to use it this weekend. My battery is actually new, but always had the black indicator. I have never had any starting or electrical issues, but want it fully charged anyway (I know I should of had it done when I got it new)

The BMW manual says to connect the charger at the points under the hood, but the Bently manual says standard battery chargers do not have "clean" power and that the battery should be disconnected from the car while charging, that's what I will do.
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Old Nov 10, 2010 | 03:25 PM
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Thanks for the info!
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Old Nov 10, 2010 | 11:21 PM
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lol i just bought the battery tender at the dealer for 75 bucks, not bad not bad at all
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Old Nov 11, 2010 | 09:16 AM
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Originally Posted by chalankanoa
I got the Battery Tender, but it will never get the battery indicator to Green. I think you need a full size battery charger for that. I have one coming in today and hope to use it this weekend. My battery is actually new, but always had the black indicator. I have never had any starting or electrical issues, but want it fully charged anyway (I know I should of had it done when I got it new)

The BMW manual says to connect the charger at the points under the hood, but the Bently manual says standard battery chargers do not have "clean" power and that the battery should be disconnected from the car while charging, that's what I will do.
Which Battery tender did you get?
1.25A or smaller one?
If you have a smaller one that's probably the reason that it takes long time to fully charge.

I have this:


I hook it up at the front terminals and it usually takes overnight to see green.

Originally Posted by NguyenAzn
lol i just bought the battery tender at the dealer for 75 bucks, not bad not bad at all
Not bad but the same kind on Ebay is 1/3 cheaper
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/12-VO...ehicleQ5fParts
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Old Nov 11, 2010 | 09:33 AM
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Originally Posted by salaki
Which Battery tender did you get?
1.25A or smaller one?
If you have a smaller one that's probably the reason that it takes long time to fully charge.

I have this:


I hook it up at the front terminals and it usually takes overnight to see green.



Not bad but the same kind on Ebay is 1/3 cheaper
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/12-VO...ehicleQ5fParts
That is the one I have. The light turns green on the battery tender, which means the battery is charged and the charger is in maintenance mode, but the indicator on my battery is not green. Do you see green on the battery?
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Old Nov 11, 2010 | 09:46 AM
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Originally Posted by chalankanoa
That is the one I have. The light turns green on the battery tender, which means the battery is charged and the charger is in maintenance mode, but the indicator on my battery is not green. Do you see green on the battery?
Oh.. I thought you meant on the battery tender.

On the battery itself. I never really check
I'll check it tonight.

Edit:
I just researched around other forums.
The peek hole only shows one cell of the battery. So that cell has probably gone bad.

Or maybe you may need to add distilled water if your battery is not AGM.
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Old Nov 11, 2010 | 01:30 PM
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Originally Posted by salaki
Not bad but the same kind on Ebay is 1/3 cheaper
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/12-VO...ehicleQ5fParts
Or Amazon:

Amazon Amazon
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