Battery Trouble?

BMW JA · 01-31-2023, 06:13 PM

The last week I haven't been driving more than 5 miles at a time. With a drop in temps in the minuses these last couple of days I got this message.

I have the car on a trickle charge. The battery is only 2 years old so we'll see what happens. Anybody else ever have the same issue?

tom2021 · 01-31-2023, 06:54 PM

I have the same issue with my 2017 F25.
I guest the cold whether is the culprit.
I just keep charging the battery with Ctek charger.

tracer bullet · 01-31-2023, 07:02 PM

Yep, every year here as well. I think part of it is (for me at least) leaving a cold but not too cold garage, and then heading out into like 0 degree weather. The car picks up on the battery losing power from the temperature change and freaks out a little about it.

I leave mine on a charger overnight, even in the garage, just to be sure and of course it does work. I'm talking on those stupendously cold days below or even way below 0.

BMW JA · 01-31-2023, 08:23 PM

Thanks! Sounds very reasonable.

tracer bullet · 02-01-2023, 07:17 AM

It's still a little... I wouldn't say scary, but when it's super cold out and you see the message it's always like... OK is it going to start when I get done with work? And yes, it will, it's just either overly sensitive or not factoring in the temperature change, or both.

Opie55 · 02-01-2023, 10:08 AM

Of course you also should know the overall condition of your battery. It may just be holding on and the cold puts it over the edge. You can use a volt meter, or you can download the Bimmerlink app and use a BT dongle. Bimmerlink will give you voltage at rest as well as percent charge. Voltage at rest should be like 12.5 or 12.6 for a healthy battery, and below 12.2 or so is the beginning of the end. Percent charge should be at least 75%, but 80+ is better.

tom2021 · 02-11-2023, 06:26 AM

The weather is not as cold this week, the message didn't show up any longer.
Either a sensor or something worked really hard during very cold weather?

BMW JA · 02-11-2023, 10:24 AM

My 5 mile trip to work at 6:30 am with headlights, heated steering wheel, heated seats and radio/subwoofer on does put a burden on a 3 year old battery. I actually had a message pop up telling me to drive more! No minus temps and all is well.

01-31-2023, 06:13 PM	#1
BMW JA Private 29 Rep 83 Posts Drives: 13 X3, 73 454 Vette, Join Date: Dec 2019 Location: Green Oak Michigan iTrader: (0)	Battery Trouble? The last week I haven't been driving more than 5 miles at a time. With a drop in temps in the minuses these last couple of days I got this message. I have the car on a trickle charge. The battery is only 2 years old so we'll see what happens. Anybody else ever have the same issue? Attached Images
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01-31-2023, 06:54 PM	#2
tom2021 Private First Class 220 Rep 131 Posts Drives: 2017 BMW X3 xDrive28i Join Date: Feb 2021 Location: Canada iTrader: (0)	I have the same issue with my 2017 F25. I guest the cold whether is the culprit. I just keep charging the battery with Ctek charger.
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01-31-2023, 07:02 PM	#3
tracer bullet Brigadier General 2412 Rep 3,549 Posts Drives: '11 135i , '15 X3 35i Join Date: May 2011 Location: Saint Paul, MN iTrader: (1)	Yep, every year here as well. I think part of it is (for me at least) leaving a cold but not too cold garage, and then heading out into like 0 degree weather. The car picks up on the battery losing power from the temperature change and freaks out a little about it. I leave mine on a charger overnight, even in the garage, just to be sure and of course it does work. I'm talking on those stupendously cold days below or even way below 0.
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01-31-2023, 08:23 PM	#4
BMW JA Private 29 Rep 83 Posts Drives: 13 X3, 73 454 Vette, Join Date: Dec 2019 Location: Green Oak Michigan iTrader: (0)	Thanks! Sounds very reasonable.
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02-01-2023, 07:17 AM	#5
tracer bullet Brigadier General 2412 Rep 3,549 Posts Drives: '11 135i , '15 X3 35i Join Date: May 2011 Location: Saint Paul, MN iTrader: (1)	It's still a little... I wouldn't say scary, but when it's super cold out and you see the message it's always like... OK is it going to start when I get done with work? And yes, it will, it's just either overly sensitive or not factoring in the temperature change, or both.
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02-01-2023, 10:08 AM	#6
Opie55 Colonel 1195 Rep 2,907 Posts Drives: '15 650i Convertible Join Date: Apr 2018 Location: US iTrader: (0)	Of course you also should know the overall condition of your battery. It may just be holding on and the cold puts it over the edge. You can use a volt meter, or you can download the Bimmerlink app and use a BT dongle. Bimmerlink will give you voltage at rest as well as percent charge. Voltage at rest should be like 12.5 or 12.6 for a healthy battery, and below 12.2 or so is the beginning of the end. Percent charge should be at least 75%, but 80+ is better.
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02-11-2023, 06:26 AM	#7
tom2021 Private First Class 220 Rep 131 Posts Drives: 2017 BMW X3 xDrive28i Join Date: Feb 2021 Location: Canada iTrader: (0)	The weather is not as cold this week, the message didn't show up any longer. Either a sensor or something worked really hard during very cold weather?
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02-11-2023, 10:24 AM	#8
BMW JA Private 29 Rep 83 Posts Drives: 13 X3, 73 454 Vette, Join Date: Dec 2019 Location: Green Oak Michigan iTrader: (0)	In retrospect! My 5 mile trip to work at 6:30 am with headlights, heated steering wheel, heated seats and radio/subwoofer on does put a burden on a 3 year old battery. I actually had a message pop up telling me to drive more! No minus temps and all is well.
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