Battery Discharge problem

mtlcruisin · 12-27-2017, 08:48 PM

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.

02420X3 · 12-27-2017, 10:45 PM

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.

Merlin82 · 12-28-2017, 08:02 AM

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%.

pokerface · 12-28-2017, 08:15 AM

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.

mtlcruisin · 12-28-2017, 09:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Merlin82

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%.

Ok, thanks for the advice. It might save me a new batt if I can extend this one a bit longer. I have a B&D charger but it was reading about 12.4 volts and it said fully charged, but I pressed charge again and now it's charging at 2.9a (is that too high)?

Anyways, I appreciate all the feedback!

Tjalle · 12-28-2017, 10:20 AM

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.

doru · 12-28-2017, 11:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Merlin82

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%.

This.
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

mtlcruisin · 12-29-2017, 08:34 AM

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.

Peter_R · 12-29-2017, 08:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mtlcruisin

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.

The alternator can supply what is needed and a lot more! The car's electronics are designed such that when the car is being driven under normal driving conditions the alternator will only charge the battery to 80% of its capacity. This allows for Brake Force Regeneration to supply the other 20%.

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.

xDRAN0x · 12-30-2017, 06:43 PM

same for my 35i , same happend on my 335i. BMW's battery / whatever sucks hard for cold weather. Drive it for ~30-45min you'll be fine

Peter_R · 12-30-2017, 06:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xDRAN0x

same for my 35i , same happend on my 335i. BMW's battery / whatever sucks hard for cold weather. Drive it for ~30-45min you'll be fine

All car manufactures batteries have a problem in cold weather. Not just BMW....

https://www.thoughtco.com/why-batter...weather-607889

BIG_KID · 12-31-2017, 04:09 PM

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.

xDRAN0x · 12-31-2017, 09:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Peter_R

All car manufactures batteries have a problem in cold weather. Not just BMW....

https://www.thoughtco.com/why-batter...weather-607889

My subies don't and aren't used as much

kevink1 · 01-01-2018, 01:02 PM

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.

BIG_KID · 01-01-2018, 01:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kevink1

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.

Did you use an old school charger or a smart charger for AGM

jimmydick · 01-01-2018, 01:25 PM

There's a tsb for this

xDRAN0x · 01-01-2018, 08:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BIG_KID

Did you use an old school charger or a smart charger for AGM

wondering the same but it seems like we need a specific BMW charger?

Merlin82 · 01-02-2018, 03:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xDRAN0x

wondering the same but it seems like we need a specific BMW charger?

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.

BIG_KID · 01-02-2018, 04:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Merlin82

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.

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....

Hornet_Rider · 01-02-2018, 05:00 PM

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.

Hornet_Rider · 01-02-2018, 05:02 PM

By the way, a new battery will not fix the problem... Don't waste your money.

kevink1 · 01-02-2018, 06:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BIG_KID

Did you use an old school charger or a smart charger for AGM

It is a smart charger that has settings for AGM, STD, and I think GEL.

12-27-2017, 08:48 PM	#1
mtlcruisin Private First Class 45 Rep 187 Posts Drives: 2018 X3 M40i Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: montreal iTrader: (0)	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.
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12-27-2017, 10:45 PM	#2
02420X3 Captain 63 Rep 983 Posts Drives: 2011 X3 35i Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Boston iTrader: (0)	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
Merlin82 Private First Class 44 Rep 191 Posts Drives: 2011 BMW X3 Xdrive35i Join Date: Feb 2017 Location: Edmonton, Alberta iTrader: (0)	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%.
	Appreciate 1 Can Pharaoh6.00 Quote

12-28-2017, 08:15 AM	#4
pokerface Colonel 432 Rep 2,527 Posts Drives: F25 X3 N20 / F80 ZCP Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Toronto iTrader: (1)	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, 10:20 AM	#6
Tjalle Major 183 Rep 1,259 Posts Drives: X4 35i Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Sweden iTrader: (0)	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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12-29-2017, 08:34 AM	#8
mtlcruisin Private First Class 45 Rep 187 Posts Drives: 2018 X3 M40i Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: montreal iTrader: (0)	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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12-30-2017, 06:43 PM	#10
xDRAN0x Private 0 Rep 71 Posts Drives: 2013 X3 35i M-Sport Join Date: May 2013 Location: Montreal iTrader: (0)	same for my 35i , same happend on my 335i. BMW's battery / whatever sucks hard for cold weather. Drive it for ~30-45min you'll be fine
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12-31-2017, 04:09 PM	#12
BIG_KID Second Lieutenant 68 Rep 290 Posts Drives: 2011 X3 28i Join Date: Dec 2017 Location: Northern indiana iTrader: (0)	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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01-01-2018, 01:02 PM	#14
kevink1 Second Lieutenant 23 Rep 253 Posts Drives: 2015 X3 xDrive28d Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: Oklahoma iTrader: (0)	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, 01:25 PM	#16
jimmydick Boner 89 Rep 249 Posts Drives: 18 AW ZCP Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Sumter SC iTrader: (1)	There's a tsb for this
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01-02-2018, 05:00 PM	#20
Hornet_Rider Private 3 Rep 50 Posts Drives: X3 35i 2011 M-Sport Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Moose Jaw, SK iTrader: (0)	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, 05:02 PM	#21
Hornet_Rider Private 3 Rep 50 Posts Drives: X3 35i 2011 M-Sport Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Moose Jaw, SK iTrader: (0)	By the way, a new battery will not fix the problem... Don't waste your money.
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