A nice surprise: battery charger installed

tom2021 · 10-09-2021, 10:48 AM

I bought a 2017 F25 in March.
I worried about the battery over the winter and prepared to buy a battery tender/charger.
I noticed a plug at the front of the car.
I asked the dealer in town about it.
To my surprise it is the battery charger.
They suggested to plug in when temperature is below -10C (14 F).

DenverSteve · 10-09-2021, 04:45 PM

Did you buy it used or did it take 4 years to find it?

383vett · 10-09-2021, 05:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DenverSteve

Did you buy it used or did it take 4 years to find it?

Quote:

Originally Posted by tom2021

I bought a 2017 F25 in March.

DenverSteve · 10-09-2021, 05:19 PM

Well, congratulations.

pokerface · 10-09-2021, 09:04 PM

Battery charger or block heater?

najnad · 10-09-2021, 09:12 PM

Yeah, sounds like a block heater or battery heater....pics?

tom2021 · 10-10-2021, 07:10 AM

The dealer verified is not block heater, but battery charger to maintain the voltage during winter.

A photo of the plug attached. It is located below and to the right side of the license plate.

I read in other sub forums, many people use battery charger/tender attached to it, in their garage. So, I thought installed charger/tender is not an option.

spudslatte · 10-10-2021, 08:06 AM

Awesome for you! I wish mine had this feature as part of my cold weather package, but not so...very cool that you have that nicety!

DenverSteve · 10-10-2021, 09:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tom2021

The dealer verified is not block heater, but battery charger to maintain the voltage during winter.....

I read in other sub forums, many people use battery charger/tender attached to it, in their garage.

Hmmmm. It would have to be either/or. You wouldn't attach a tender/charger to a charger. If it's a "battery charger to maintain the voltage..." It would attach to an extension cord. See if you can get the BMW part number so others can benefit from the information please.

tom2021 · 10-10-2021, 12:01 PM

Extension cord was provided when I bought the car, please refer to the photo attached.
I checked the battery in the trunk. It seems to me another red cable, not the + battery cable is connected to the battery.

I measure the voltage and it read 11 V.
I will plug over night and measure the voltage again tomorrow.
I guest it will be higher than 11V tomorrow.

pungo · 10-10-2021, 06:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tom2021

Extension cord was provided when I bought the car, please refer to the photo attached.
I checked the battery in the trunk. It seems to me another red cable, not the + battery cable is connected to the battery.

I measure the voltage and it read 11 V.
I will plug over night and measure the voltage again tomorrow.
I guest it will be higher than 11V tomorrow.

11V is less than 10% state of charge, should be upper 12V.
Provide a pic of the charger so we know what it looks like and the location. I hardwired a power tap and located the the plug behind the grill so I don't have to open the hood to connect my charger.

Opie55 · 10-11-2021, 08:21 AM

11v is a bad battery. A good, charged battery should be about 12.7v at rest. Although it is a 12v system, a battery at 12v is not in good shape. You need to follow the plug wire and let us know where it goes.

tom2021 · 10-11-2021, 11:13 AM

The enigma device is a DEFA. https://www.defa.com/ca/
Please refer to a photo attached.
I suppose my 3 decades old, analog, volt/ohm/ampere meter requires "calibration".
11 V could be closer to 12V.
I will watch out for the battery for coming months since winter is approaching.
The good thing is my bimmer is not the daily commute car.
Thanks to everybody for your interest and attention to my post.

Opie55 · 10-11-2021, 04:09 PM

Never heard of one but looked at that link. They seem to sell several products you can buy alone or in combination. It's one of those maddening web sites that very carefully tells you nothing. Even has a "how it works" video that does not say how it works at all.

slowblackx3f25 · 10-11-2021, 08:20 PM

Where is the battery located in the 2017 x3's? I know it's in the rear trunk somewhere, but where exactly?

tom2021 · 10-11-2021, 08:33 PM

The battery is underneath and in the trunk, at the very back. You have to open up a cover on the floor.

tom2021 · 10-17-2021, 03:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Opie55

11v is a bad battery. A good, charged battery should be about 12.7v at rest. Although it is a 12v system, a battery at 12v is not in good shape. You need to follow the plug wire and let us know where it goes.

My GMC Terrain shows battery voltage on the dashboard. The reading on the dashboard is 13.5 V and the needle on my dinosaur voltmeter shows less than 12V.

I suppose the battery on my bimmer is fine for now.
I wish BMW provides battery reading on the dashboard.

Wgosma · 10-17-2021, 04:42 PM

You can use the 'hidden menu' in the On Board Computer to read system/battery voltage, tho it's not as convenient to use as a dedicated gauge

10-09-2021, 10:48 AM	#1
tom2021 Private First Class 221 Rep 131 Posts Drives: 2017 BMW X3 xDrive28i Join Date: Feb 2021 Location: Canada iTrader: (0)	A nice surprise: battery charger installed I bought a 2017 F25 in March. I worried about the battery over the winter and prepared to buy a battery tender/charger. I noticed a plug at the front of the car. I asked the dealer in town about it. To my surprise it is the battery charger. They suggested to plug in when temperature is below -10C (14 F).
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10-09-2021, 04:45 PM	#2
DenverSteve Lieutenant 969 Rep 537 Posts Drives: 2021 BMW Join Date: Jul 2021 Location: Denver / L.A. iTrader: (0)	Did you buy it used or did it take 4 years to find it?
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10-09-2021, 05:19 PM	#4
DenverSteve Lieutenant 969 Rep 537 Posts Drives: 2021 BMW Join Date: Jul 2021 Location: Denver / L.A. iTrader: (0)	Well, congratulations.
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10-09-2021, 09:04 PM	#5
pokerface Colonel 433 Rep 2,527 Posts Drives: F25 X3 N20 / F80 ZCP Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Toronto iTrader: (1)	Battery charger or block heater?
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10-09-2021, 09:12 PM	#6
najnad General of the Space Forces 171 Rep 722 Posts Drives: 11 X3 35i M-sport Join Date: May 2012 Location: Elkridge, MD iTrader: (0) Garage List 2020 BMW X3 x40i [0.00] 2011 BMW X3 35i M-s ... [0.00] 2017 BMW 330 GT (Wi ... [0.00]	Yeah, sounds like a block heater or battery heater....pics?
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10-10-2021, 07:10 AM	#7
tom2021 Private First Class 221 Rep 131 Posts Drives: 2017 BMW X3 xDrive28i Join Date: Feb 2021 Location: Canada iTrader: (0)	The dealer verified is not block heater, but battery charger to maintain the voltage during winter. A photo of the plug attached. It is located below and to the right side of the license plate. I read in other sub forums, many people use battery charger/tender attached to it, in their garage. So, I thought installed charger/tender is not an option. Attached Images
	Appreciate 0 Quote

10-10-2021, 08:06 AM	#8
spudslatte Private 10 Rep 84 Posts Drives: 2016 X3 x28i F25 70k mi Join Date: Nov 2019 Location: East Coast iTrader: (0)	Awesome for you! I wish mine had this feature as part of my cold weather package, but not so...very cool that you have that nicety!
	Appreciate 0 Quote

10-10-2021, 12:01 PM	#10
tom2021 Private First Class 221 Rep 131 Posts Drives: 2017 BMW X3 xDrive28i Join Date: Feb 2021 Location: Canada iTrader: (0)	Extension cord was provided when I bought the car, please refer to the photo attached. I checked the battery in the trunk. It seems to me another red cable, not the + battery cable is connected to the battery. I measure the voltage and it read 11 V. I will plug over night and measure the voltage again tomorrow. I guest it will be higher than 11V tomorrow. Attached Images
	Appreciate 0 Quote

10-11-2021, 08:21 AM	#12
Opie55 Colonel 1205 Rep 2,916 Posts Drives: '15 650i Convertible Join Date: Apr 2018 Location: US iTrader: (0)	11v is a bad battery. A good, charged battery should be about 12.7v at rest. Although it is a 12v system, a battery at 12v is not in good shape. You need to follow the plug wire and let us know where it goes.
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10-11-2021, 11:13 AM	#13
tom2021 Private First Class 221 Rep 131 Posts Drives: 2017 BMW X3 xDrive28i Join Date: Feb 2021 Location: Canada iTrader: (0)	The enigma device is a DEFA. https://www.defa.com/ca/ Please refer to a photo attached. I suppose my 3 decades old, analog, volt/ohm/ampere meter requires "calibration". 11 V could be closer to 12V. I will watch out for the battery for coming months since winter is approaching. The good thing is my bimmer is not the daily commute car. Thanks to everybody for your interest and attention to my post. Attached Images
	Appreciate 1 tracer bullet2487.50 Quote

10-11-2021, 04:09 PM	#14
Opie55 Colonel 1205 Rep 2,916 Posts Drives: '15 650i Convertible Join Date: Apr 2018 Location: US iTrader: (0)	Never heard of one but looked at that link. They seem to sell several products you can buy alone or in combination. It's one of those maddening web sites that very carefully tells you nothing. Even has a "how it works" video that does not say how it works at all.
	Appreciate 1 pokerface432.50 Quote

10-11-2021, 08:20 PM	#15
slowblackx3f25 xdriv33 73 Rep 224 Posts Drives: 17' BMW x3 F25 xDrive28i xLine Join Date: Aug 2019 Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada iTrader: (0) Garage List 2017 BMW x3 [9.50]	Where is the battery located in the 2017 x3's? I know it's in the rear trunk somewhere, but where exactly?
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10-11-2021, 08:33 PM	#16
tom2021 Private First Class 221 Rep 131 Posts Drives: 2017 BMW X3 xDrive28i Join Date: Feb 2021 Location: Canada iTrader: (0)	The battery is underneath and in the trunk, at the very back. You have to open up a cover on the floor.
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10-17-2021, 04:42 PM	#18
Wgosma Lieutenant Colonel 809 Rep 1,911 Posts Drives: 2012 F25 X3 28i (N52) Join Date: Sep 2018 Location: Northern Nevada iTrader: (0)	You can use the 'hidden menu' in the On Board Computer to read system/battery voltage, tho it's not as convenient to use as a dedicated gauge
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