BMW Battery Code Question ?

[macabethiel]

Not getting informed replies on BMW websites so I thought I would ask the question here as there might be someone with the knowledge.

I have just changed the battery on my BMW 325 SE Petrol from the fitted BMW 70 Ah 570cca unit of unknown age for a Chrysler Daimler 85 Ah 800 cca unit that I had as a slave in my Garage that is in good condition so it was a no cost upgrade. Luckily the battery tray in the boot had four different threaded clamp points to enable different batteries for bigger engines to be fitted.

I changed the battery to try and avoid it going flat through lack of use as it is only being used between once a week or once a fortnight on mainly short journeys.

I do not have the IBS so called Inteligent Battery Sensor on my vehicle and there are no errors showing on the dashboard of any sort since connecting up and starting the engine. All I had to re-set was the clock, Radio Stations etc were all retained and working.

Some websites say you need to re-code the vehicle for a new battery or change of battery specification and wonder if that is just if you have the so called IBS fitted ?

 

[emjaybee]

I believe to get the correct code on a BMW battery, you have to take it to the top of a steep hill, point it downhill and release the handbrake. Works even better off a cliff.

Just kiddin', been working too hard.

:freak3:

 

[macabethiel]

BMW growing the required Horns on my head little by little.

I believe to get the correct code on a BMW battery, you have to take it to the top of a steep hill, point it downhill and release the handbrake. Works even better off a cliff.

Just kiddin', been working too hard.

:freak3:

I know BMW's invoke a lot of hatred due in no small part to the bad drivers that seem to prevail. I bought mine as I did not know what to buy at the time and needed a car that the wife was also happy to drive and it had to have 4 doors a Petrol engine and some get up and go.

I have done 870 miles in 5 months a good portion of that distance was taking it back to the Dealer to have it fixed. (Split in fuel tank & ignition key ejection! ) I have come to realise that what one of the guys at work said when he saw it is true. They are a High Performance Chassis with a body attached as an after thought.

To date the wife has not driven it and clearly has little inclination to do so unless forced by the Jeep breaking down.

I meanwhile started off with good intentions of being courtesy personified when driving the BMW. Now I have started to become infected with the BMW Brain Virus that makes you want to drive faster on each bend you know to see where it's limit is.

 

[emjaybee]

I'm a subscriber to the theory that you "become" the vehicle.

We had a V8 Jeep Grand Cherokee, the feeling of superiority was amazing. You cruised everywhere until someone tried to overtake and then you just floored it and left them in your wake. I even did it with a horse trailer with 1tonne of haylage in the back.

I drive a Mercedes Sprinter for my business and I find myself forcing my way through gaps where I don't have right of way.

 

[macabethiel]

Battery Code ??

I'm a subscriber to the theory that you "become" the vehicle.

We had a V8 Jeep Grand Cherokee, the feeling of superiority was amazing. You cruised everywhere until someone tried to overtake and then you just floored it and left them in your wake. I even did it with a horse trailer with 1tonne of haylage in the back.

I drive a Mercedes Sprinter for my business and I find myself forcing my way through gaps where I don't have right of way.

Those Sprinters are fast it was always a Sprinter often pulling a Concrete Mixer that would push me on the A38 when I had my W124 260 E.

Anyway back to the original question does anyone know anything about Battery Codes on Beamers or is it as I hope just those fitted with IBS ?

 

[Banshee]

Those Sprinters are fast it was always a Sprinter often pulling a Concrete Mixer that would push me on the A38 when I had my W124 260 E.

Anyway back to the original question does anyone know anything about Battery Codes on Beamers or is it as I hope just those fitted with IBS ?

If it's any help I'm currently looking at getting new motor for my Grandad hence my search for a SWB Terrano of late.

He currently has a 97' 528i BMW that is plagued with eletrical issues and even though he's slapped 4 different batteries on it, it will deplete the charge in them overnight, he's fitted a solar trickle charge jobbie on it which has made little difference.

If there's anything you'd like me to check on it or take pics etc etc let me know :thumb2 Couldn't tell you if this one has the IBS system you're talking about though :nenau

 

[solarman216]

I have no first hand knowlege of BMW other than my daughter has one and it does seem to spend a lot of time off road, no not in mud, just not going anywhere, any way back to your question, yes with my knowledge of batteries if you have a battery management system on your car it would most likely need to be input with the new battery details, as it is unlikely that it will be like one of my units that can work out the capacity etc on the first couple of charge cycles but as you do not have such a device then the alternator just sees voltage and limits charge to 14,8, (which is not a full charge but is near enough) 15.2 is full depending on the lead composition but as most car batteries live in a hot place with the engine this is not good, Rick

 

[macabethiel]

Deffinitely no IBS on mine !

Out of interest this is the IBS system for BMW 's and they can cause problems but mine does not have one. Mine is a plain brown lead between negative terminal and the boot floor dead eye type ground.

http://i263.photobucket.com/albums/ii146/largeproject/accu_zps942c90dc.jpg

I will just see how it goes the standard battery was dropping down to around 12.04 volts over three weeks after a full charge. Might just put a propper connection on the battery for my C-Tek charger if the bigger battery does not sort it.

I know AGM batteries hold charge for quite a bit longer but the price still seems a bit steep for what you get.

 

[solarman216]

Most modern motors have a parsitic drain that will drop the voltage over 3 weeks or so, even the flashing red led of the NATs system will pul it down, I have the biggest battery that fits without the engine hitting it on my off road motor but if I do not start it once a month and run it for an hour it is out with the charger/starter to get it going, Rick

 

[macabethiel]

Most modern motors have a parsitic drain that will drop the voltage over 3 weeks or so, even the flashing red led of the NATs system will pul it down, I have the biggest battery that fits without the engine hitting it on my off road motor but if I do not start it once a month and run it for an hour it is out with the charger/starter to get it going, Rick

Yes that why when you buy a new Aston Martin you get the C-Tec Charger with it !