12-27-2017, 08:48 PM | #1 |
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Battery Discharge problem
I have a '11 X3 35i. I left my car outside the past 2 nights in -20c weather and I started it and got this error. I was able to start the car, and drove it 2 hours, but even when I turn it off/on it still has it.
I bought a trickle charger, and it show as my voltage at 12.4 and that it's fully charged. Anyone have any ideas what I need to do? This error blocks a lot of things from running and I can't find out how to reset it and I am wondering if there's any other issue since the BV is fine. Also, I brought it inside and let it warm for 8 hours, still the same, so I'm not sure what's going on. |
12-27-2017, 10:45 PM | #2 |
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1) It's definitely cold in YUL, -20C, -4F! Batteries don't like cold (or heat). I get those temps tonight and tomorrow. The battery in my other daily driver car, a Suburu Outback, turned up dead tonight, and I plan to have it replaced tomorrow. (Thank you AAA, and your battery replacement service!)
2) Is that the original battery in your X3? If so, 6+ years later, it's probably time to replace it. 3) According to BMW, a new battery must be Registered in your X3 so that it gets charged properly. Some buy a replacement battery from BMW and do so, some buy a replacement battery elsewhere and pay the BMW dealer to do the Registration, some buy the battery elsewhere and do nothing farther, and some buy the battery elsewhere and use coding tools to do the registration. 4) Is that a CTEK or BMW (rebranded) trickle charger? You don't want to overcharge an AGM battery. |
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12-28-2017, 08:02 AM | #3 |
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The other day when it was really f'in cold, my X3 was also saying to charge the battery and "Battery discharging while stopped". I was starting to look into new batteries but a few people said that BMW is just temperamental in the cold and to just charge it overnight. So i put it on my charger (a ctek smart charger) and havent had it come back yet. My understanding is that the vehicle doesnt charge the battery to 100% so every once in a while, and especially when its cold, it helps to put it on the charger and bring it up to 100%.
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12-28-2017, 08:15 AM | #4 |
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Yep. Got this warning yesterday after a week sitting in the garage. Certainly not as cold in Toronto as in Montreal, but we did start to approach -20C yesterday. I hit the BMW with a smart charger (Noco G7200). I used to do it more frequently in the past as a matter of preventative measure.
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12-28-2017, 09:49 AM | #5 | |
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Anyways, I appreciate all the feedback! |
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12-28-2017, 10:20 AM | #6 |
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We see this every year:
-yes, BMW has decided not to fully charge our batteries - to earn some merit points in the US gas guzzler system. -yes, this is stupid -yes, you should trickle charge your battery, to avoid battery problem -yes, Best in Class is CTEK - others might also do the job. |
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12-28-2017, 11:03 AM | #7 | |
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Had the same thing happening to me. If that message with low battery and accessories stopped while vehicle off persists AFTER the battery is charged, it's time for a new battery. Just to be clear: If one charges the battery through charging terminals under the hood (this is the correct way - clamping onto battery is a risk of damaging electrical/electronic components), after charging done, the message will pop up once you start the car. It will go away once you start driving. If the warning triangle doesn't go away after the car has started, or if it still persists after the 2nd start - the battery needs replacing. For people who live in cold climate: do yourself a favor if you have to replace a battery and change it with an AGM (don't forget to program & register it). Talked with my indy quite a while ago about this issue and he confirmed what the stealer told me that the AGM's are preferred in cold climate - more rugged in cold weather, withstands these high temperature swings (summer-winter) and do not discharge as bad. Did this on my e92 and holds true. The other day when it was cold, I had to charge the original battery on the X, and I hooked the trickle charger on my e92, just to be safe. I know a trickle charger takes quite a while to fully charge a 70-80% battery. To my surprise it showed fully charged in less than an hour, meaning that AGM is charging quite well with that IBS if properly programmed & registered. 0.02
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12-29-2017, 08:34 AM | #8 |
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I kept the charge going for about 7 hours, got it to 13V and error message was gone. Thanks for everyone's help! Weird why the alternator doesn't get it that high to get rid of the problem.
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12-29-2017, 08:54 AM | #9 | |
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When you use a battery charger and it is connected to Positive and Negative posts under the bonnet/hood, the electronics allow/control the charger to take it up to 100%. This is why it is best to purchase a battery charger. |
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12-30-2017, 06:48 PM | #11 | |
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https://www.thoughtco.com/why-batter...weather-607889 |
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12-31-2017, 04:09 PM | #12 |
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I now have the low battery warning. The battery has 12.7v with engine off and 14.7v wile engine running. I have a CTEK charger on order. It won't be here for a few more days. Is it ok to charge with a regular charger.
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12-31-2017, 09:27 PM | #13 | |
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01-01-2018, 01:02 PM | #14 |
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I just charged mine today. This last week has been cold, no most trips have been under 9 miles at a time. In the teens and lower 20s. And use of heated seats and heated steering wheel.
Last year I had the battery go completely dead when, for some reason, the car didn't turn off electronics in the car. Battery was low according to the charger. |
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01-01-2018, 01:07 PM | #15 | |
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01-01-2018, 08:23 PM | #17 |
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01-02-2018, 03:51 PM | #18 |
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No, for the most part you just need a smart charger like the CTEK one or something similar. They actually watch the battery a bit more and adjust based on the needs. Old school chargers just dump in however many amps they are made for.
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01-02-2018, 04:16 PM | #19 |
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Ok thanks. Mine should be here in a couple days. I got the old lady driving back up SUV and bimmer in the warm(er) garage. I'm looking for replacement battery also, it's stamped 06-11 so it's original and probably due....
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01-02-2018, 05:00 PM | #20 |
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I have a 2011 X3 and I replied to this post many years ago but here is the solution. It is not a fix, but will sort the problem. I bought a battery blanket (heater) and the main problem is a basic battery concept that a cold battery has a reduced capacity. So when it is very cold, the car thinks the battery is fully charged even if the actual capacity is low.
The location of the battery is the main problem. Because it is in the trunk and other the floor, it never warms up when it is cold, even if you drive the car for a long time. I had a heated garage which I kept at 10C all winter long and when the car is cold soaked for a full day at work, the warmer fixed it right away. As soon as I started warming the battery while working (Saskatchewan, -30C weather), the problem actually went away... until I stopped. No real need for a trickle charger if you get the warmer. The battery will properly recharge as you drive. It is cheap, like 50$, and the install takes a few minutes. Unfortunately the cable will be in the trunk but it still works really well. I would close the hatch on the cable no problem. Good luck. |
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01-02-2018, 06:22 PM | #22 |
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