[philtrick123]

Hi,

I'm sure this must have been covered in a previous thread but can't find it.
Are there any issues with Jump Starting an X3 via booster cables to another car? I understand that Stop/Start cars uses dealer only replace batteries.

I'm paranoid about having a flat battery, after having a stressful 2 hours trying to get my last car (non BMW (as a result of knocking the trunk light switch during unloading)) jump started in an unhelpful French Ski resort.

Fortunately I had backed into the parking spot, otherwise a jump start would have been very difficult with cars parked either side of me.

I presume with the X3 I'm better going nose first into a parking bay, because the battery is in the boot (trunk).

Comments Please

[noka]

Originally Posted by philtrick123

Hi,
I presume with the X3 I'm better going nose first into a parking bay, because the battery is in the boot (trunk)...

I believe battery is in the (boot) trunk but jumper post is under the (bonnet) hood.

[boogysbmw]

^ he's right. Jump post are located in the engine bay

[02420X3]

Noka is correct. There are terminals under the hood for the specific purpose of jumpstarting your X3. In the US '13 owner's manual the location is described on page 245 in the section called Engine Compartment. In the attached photo, copied from the manual, #3 is the Negative Terminal and #4 is the Positive Terminal. Again, this is from the 2013 US manual. The location of the jumpstarting terminals may be different for other model years and/or in other countries.

[plymjack]

Originally Posted by philtrick123

Hi,

I understand that Stop/Start cars uses dealer only replace batteries.

Can anyone explain this please?

[02420X3]

I was curious about that statement also.

What I do know is that all F25s, including those built before Auto Stop/Start was added, use an Absorbed Glass Mat (AGM) battery technology, rather than the more familiar Flooded Lead Acid technology. AGM batteries are available after-market, and I'm sure it's possible to find one with the right specifications. However, there's more to replacing the battery in an X3 than just replacing the battery. There's is also software that needs to be set up, including registering the new battery and resetting battery information in the X3, work that is best done by a BMW dealer.

[philtrick123]

Originally Posted by 02420X3

I was curious about that statement also.

What I do know is that all F25s, including those built before Auto Stop/Start was added, use an Absorbed Glass Mat (AGM) battery technology, rather than the more familiar Flooded Lead Acid technology. AGM batteries are available after-market, and I'm sure it's possible to find one with the right specifications. However, there's more to replacing the battery in an X3 than just replacing the battery. There's is also software that needs to be set up, including registering the new battery and resetting battery information in the X3, work that is best done by a BMW dealer.

Thanks for the explanation- so the x3 batteries are available after market, but I presume the process to reset the X3 is not freely documented so an end user cannot replace the battery.

[3Bimmer]

The X3, like all BMWs, has a battery rundown protection feature. If you leave a light or plugged in device on, the car will shut the power off after about 20 minutes. This prevents the battery from being completely depleted. Unless you have a more serious electrical failure, you should not be in danger of running the battery flat.

Having said that, it is always a good idea to know how to jump start your car and where the cable connection points are. A battery booster is also a good idea, especially when traveling.

[02420X3]

Originally Posted by philtrick123

Thanks for the explanation- so the x3 batteries are available after market, but I presume the process to reset the X3 is not freely documented so an end user cannot replace the battery.

There's also the matter of installing the battery so that it is properly vented.

The software changes/reset are made using BMW's ISTA diagnostic software.