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      06-12-2011, 08:11 PM   #1
flash3
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Question iDrive Warning - Help

I got back from my trip and received this message upon starting up my X3.

What and why?
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      06-12-2011, 08:23 PM   #2
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I got this warning in the X5 once, after spending several hours cleaning it. I had opened and closed the rear hatch several times and the interior lights were on for a long time. Just take it for a decent length drive and it will charge back up. If it happens frequently or without any apparent cause, you might want to contact the service department.
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      06-12-2011, 08:29 PM   #3
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Is it normal though? I was out of town for a week and received this message when I started the car
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      06-12-2011, 08:35 PM   #4
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We were gone for 12 days and never received that message.

BTW Flash3,did you order the paint (from whom) and have you tried touching it up yet?
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      06-12-2011, 08:42 PM   #5
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Brutus1 View Post
We were gone for 12 days and never received that message.

BTW Flash3,did you order the paint (from whom) and have you tried touching it up yet?
I was gone for 2+ weeks -- I am going to contact the Service Dept tomm for sure. UGH! -- Brand new car too

Yes I did and from the same link in the thread I started. - I haven't received it yet though...
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      06-12-2011, 08:52 PM   #6
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Is there a reason why I received this message and why it happens/happened? Is it something to schedule an appointment at the service dept for?

Is there a device I can purchase from either BMW or somewhere else that will allow the battery to keep its charge, even when it's not used for a few days at a time?

I will be traveling again for work in a few weeks, and the car will remain unused for 2 weeks and want to take care of the battery to avoid issues.
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      06-12-2011, 09:01 PM   #7
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Some BMWs (and other makes) will discharge if left sitting for extended periods of time (but one week is pretty short). If you are away for weeks, a very wise investment would be a battery trickle charger. Cost is in the $100 range but solves that entire problem, and is easy to connect. My '08 535xi was bad for that, and that's when I bought the trickle charger and never had that problem again.
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      06-12-2011, 09:03 PM   #8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by tuco44 View Post
Some BMWs (and other makes) will discharge if left sitting for extended periods of time (but one week is pretty short). If you are away for weeks, a very wise investment would be a battery trickle charger. Cost is in the $100 range but solves that entire problem, and is easy to connect. My '08 535xi was bad for that, and that's when I bought the trickle charger and never had that problem again.
I was out for 18 days, give or take.

What's the best place to purchase a trickle charger and is does BMWNA sell them specifically for the X3? Or can I get one from Advanced Auto Parts and places like this?

How does it work?

/noob
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      06-12-2011, 09:04 PM   #9
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Also, what do I need to do right now to make sure the car is in working order, or w/ever is wrong with the battery? Any specific tips??
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      06-12-2011, 09:25 PM   #10
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flash3, remember the thread you started before you left for your trip? It is here: http://x3.xbimmers.com/forums/showth...rickle+charger

Gives you all the info you need
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      06-12-2011, 09:29 PM   #11
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Originally Posted by Want the thrill View Post
flash3, remember the thread you started before you left for your trip? It is here: http://x3.xbimmers.com/forums/showth...rickle+charger

Gives you all the info you need
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      06-12-2011, 10:44 PM   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by flash3 View Post
I was out for 18 days, give or take.

What's the best place to purchase a trickle charger and is does BMWNA sell them specifically for the X3? Or can I get one from Advanced Auto Parts and places like this?

How does it work?

/noob
You can get it from BMW or maybe a auto parts store. A trickle charger is not specific to any car. Works on them all. Attach it to the battery post and ground under the hood (manual shows where, IIRC), and plug it in. That's it. I left mine on for 9 weeks once, no problems.
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      06-12-2011, 11:42 PM   #13
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See the previous thread you started. There are several good "smart" chargers listed there.

With the standby current load on a new X3, the battery might last as long as 21 days or even more depending on the temperature and the specific set of options on your car. BUT, and it's a big but, it all depends on the state of the battery charge when you park it. The Brake Energy Recovery System allows the battery to sometimes drop down to a 50 to 60 % charge instead of the typical 90 -95% charge that "older" cars (who's alternators run all the time unlike the X3's) are kept at.

If you park the car when the battery is "low" you could be almost fully discharged in 10 days. If you travel often, a good "smart" charger is an excellent investment. I use the Battery Tenders and have always had good results with them.

Remember: On a X3, all of the 12V. accessory outlets are switched off after a short time delay, so can't be used to charge the battery. You must connect directly to the charging posts under the hood.

The CTEC chargers are also excellent and are sometimes re-branded and sold by BMW, Mercedes and even Ferrari as their own parts.

see: http://www.ctek.com/EN-GB/corporate/news.aspx?id=52
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      06-13-2011, 06:59 AM   #14
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Ah, sorry - I didn't make the connection of you being away for a couple of weeks. Lotus7 has provided the tech info on the charging system, so if this is something that you're likely to do once in awhile then a smart charger would be a good investment.
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      06-13-2011, 07:25 AM   #15
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Lotus - you are the man! Thanks for the details, and plenty of it.

So I am assuming this was normal and bound to happen, given the situation? Anything to worry about or talk to the dealer about?

LEDZEP - thanks for the info, as well!
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      06-13-2011, 07:31 AM   #16
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Flash, I use this one on both my bmw's, especially my z which gets stored for roughly 5 months every year. Use to get similar issues like yours until I started using the trickle charger.

http://cgi.ebay.ca/BMW-ADVANCED-BATT...item3cb8e300f8

As Lotus noted however, the chargers that plug into the lighter socket won't work....you need to get the type that connects directly to the ground/red connectors located in the engine bay.

Dave
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      06-13-2011, 08:08 AM   #17
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Dave Marien View Post
Flash, I use this one on both my bmw's, especially my z which gets stored for roughly 5 months every year. Use to get similar issues like yours until I started using the trickle charger.

http://cgi.ebay.ca/BMW-ADVANCED-BATT...item3cb8e300f8

As Lotus noted however, the chargers that plug into the lighter socket won't work....you need to get the type that connects directly to the ground/red connectors located in the engine bay.

Dave
Thanks.

What did you do to remedy the issue when it happened? Do I need to do anything specific or take it to the dealer?
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      06-13-2011, 08:16 AM   #18
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Hi Flash, no I didn't swing by the dealer. I assumed that was the issue the first couple of times it happened (also happened on an '09 Lexus I owned a couple of years ago). Once I started using the charger on the cars (not driven for say 10 days or more), the issue never popped up again.

Given the number of "things" that continue to operate on most cars these days, even when you think everything has been powered off / shutdown, and given the number of days you'll be leaving your x3 unattended, it's pretty likely you're in the clear, insofar as any electrical or some software issue.

Dave

EDIT: Sorry, missed a line in your previous post. No, didn't do anything specific to remedy the situation at the time, simply drove around for a 1/2 hour or thereabouts to get it charged up again.
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      06-13-2011, 08:27 AM   #19
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Quote:
Originally Posted by flash3 View Post
Lotus - you are the man! Thanks for the details, and plenty of it.

So I am assuming this was normal and bound to happen, given the situation? Anything to worry about or talk to the dealer about?

LEDZEP - thanks for the info, as well!
If there was enough power in the battery to start the car you're OK. The warning you had probably triggers at about 20% charge remaining. A nice 15 or 20 mile drive should bring that up to 30 or 40%. A Battery Tender will bring it up to 100% in 24 hours or a CTEK US7002 will bring it up to "full" in about 10-12 hours. As long as it started, and as long as your radio and seat position presets were not lost, there is no need to visit your dealer.

Another charger choice that I like is the Black & Decker BCS10B. It's one of the few Black & Decker chargers that works well. I have one and use it for quick charges. It works fine on the X3 and will charge the battery fully in less than 5 hours. I like the fact that it has a digital display that tells you what's happening (i.e. the charging voltage and if the connections are correct, as well as a analog meter that displays the total charge in the battery. The meter is accurate on the X3 "SM" battery only after it's been connected and charging for at least 1/2 hour.

see:http://www.target.com/gp/detail.html/184-7892956-1667451?asin=B0024GJ4IM&AFID=[DESTINATION]_df&LNM=|B0024GJ4IM&CPNG=electronics&ref=tgt_adv_[XSVALUE]

There are several other B & D chargers, but the BCS10B is the only one I'd recommend for a X3. The downside (compared to the CTEK) is that it has a variable speed fan that makes some noise when the charger is working at full power.
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      06-13-2011, 08:37 AM   #20
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Lotus - you are the man, once again!

It's in the garage right now but later this afternoon, I am going to take it on a drive and then this weekend, I will take it to the dealer for a check up.
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      06-13-2011, 09:10 AM   #21
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Quote:
Originally Posted by flash3 View Post
Lotus - you are the man, once again!

It's in the garage right now but later this afternoon, I am going to take it on a drive and then this weekend, I will take it to the dealer for a check up.
If your dealer has one in stock, I'll bet he tries to sell you the BMW charger (a re-branded Battery Tender).
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