sixcard

Good informational comments xi. Thanks.

But Damnit why can't BMW design a work around this issue? If the system uses more juice than the battery can supply, why not provide bigger battery?

Why should I have to f**k with a plug in devise to do what an engineer could design around? Does Benz have this issue? RR? Datsun? Maserati? JagUAre for cripe?s sakes? How about Boeing?

In fact why don't I just mount an additional battery in the trunk and connect in parallel to the existing battery?

I?ll try that and it doesn?t work I?ll give up and just make two weekly trips to the liquor store or find a liquor store the other side of town!

Actually I do have a trickle charger on the way. That will tide me over until I can afford an extra battery!

sixcard January 01, 2009

CWS530

I hear you six. I had a dead battery when my car was only 8-9 months old in April of '08. I'd been on several business trips in a row and had not had a chance to drive much in between, so I ended up with a dead battery. The dealership said I had an "unfavorable driving record" due to the fact that I had, and I quote, "not driven the car at highway speeds for at least 30 minutes three times per week." Like Big Brother, they checked and knew exactly when the car had been driven, the speed, distance, everything. I had the same response as you--are you freaking kidding me? They finally caved and replaced the battery at no charge. I ordered a BMW trickle charger from Garry the next day. It's BS, but whatcha gonna do?

ramtip

Hey guys, for those of you using battery tenders: Do you open the trunk for battery ventilation?

CWS530

Mine attaches to the terminals under the hood with clips. BTW: Don't get the kind that plugs into the cigarette lighter--they aren't compatible with the 5 series.

ramtip

Yes, I'm attaching a Deltran Battery Tender Plus to the jump terminal under the hood, but the battery in the trunk is getting the charge -- just wondering if we need to vent for any gases coming off the battery???

CWS530

Oh, I thought you were going directly to the source in the trunk somehow. My bad. There wasn't anything in the instructions nor did my SA mention anything about ventilation. I haven't had any issues yet. Never thought about it since the battery must be vented somehow by design. Hmmm. Since it's just trickling in to top off as needed and not constantly sending a charge, I wouldn't imagine there would be any gases beyond what is normal in a fully charged battery, however.

Funny thing: I saw a Deltran at Autozone and second guessed on buying it, opting instead to order a "BMW" one from Garry. So I open the box and the instructions are from Deltran and their logo is printed on the back of the unit!

fujim3

ATTENTION BMW NA REP.....

PLEASE TELL ALL DEALERSHIPS STOP USING" THE UNFAVORABLE DRIVING RECORD" AS AN EXCUSE AND TREAT YOUR CUSTOMERS THE RIGHT WAY AND REPLACE THE BATTERY IF THERE IS AN ISSUE..... I had the same problem and had to deal with using a battery charger to charge it completely full once in a while.

luigi524td

Very good point since hydrogen gas is created when a conventional battery is under charge. However, the batteries on BMW have vent tubes that exit the body.

I have not found it necessary to open the trunk for ventilation.

ramtip

Excellent info. Thanks!

panaguy

A few more words on this subject...

While I agree with ALL of you that a modern properly designed car should be able to stay ahead of their battery's charge, the sad fact is NONE of them do if left undriven given the electrical demands of the systems, options and other gizmos we crave on these cars and battery technology. Not Mercedes, not Audi, not Rolls (now a BMW ), Chevy, Ford, Jaguar, Opel, Citreon, Ferrari, Lamborghini, Skoda- you name it! Auto batteries are designed for a specific purpose and actually modern BMW's use the latest AGM (Asorbed Glass Mat) sealed battery technologyproviding deep discharge cycles and good raw cold cranking power on demand. Rechargeble battery technology DEPENDS on discharge and charge cycles to stay at peak efficiency. No battery will hold a charge indefinetely due to internal leakage and other parasitic losses. Another words like an athlete they do need to be exercised. Where BMW is wrong is to point a finger to the owner and say they haven't driven their car enough to keep the battery charged. If that happens well they have to suck it up and chalk it up to warranty cost as part of customer satisfaction for these exquisite and expensive cars. You can't fight the laws of chemistry and physics and BMW shouldn't be arrogant about this issue.

Sixcard, yes these other manufacturers you mentoned do have this problem to some degree or another depending on many, many factors. I noticed you have a VERY NICE fully optioned 550. Even a Boeing (or Airbus) either run on their own auxillary power packs (generators) on the ground when parked and/or are plugged in to airport power. (ever notice when you land and are stopped at the gate, the cabin lights go out and then come back on? That's the switchover from internal power to ground power after the gate crew plugs in this humugous power cord to the plane)

I know this vexes you and many other owners but any car collector will tell you a trickle charger is absolutely essential to keep batteries fully charged to thwart what amounts to nothing more than the laws of chemistry and physics with modern cars that have more technology than what put men on the moon (I'm not kidding) which over time can and will discharge the battery. (And BMW's attitude dosn't help either).

A nuclear battery is the answer- LOL!