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      03-27-2020, 01:58 AM   #1
ramparts
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Batteries and Quarantine

Given that we are unlikely to be able to drive anywhere for a while ( or in our house there’s two cars but OH is a key worker so still at work so her car is in use ), what effect does having them idle on the drive do to the battery health ?

Do we need to do anything to stop it going flat ?
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      03-27-2020, 02:57 AM   #2
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https://x3.xbimmers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1705948
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      03-27-2020, 07:42 AM   #3
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Without disconnecting my battery - he very bad experiences of his & being unable to get back into the boot to reconnect
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      03-27-2020, 09:53 AM   #4
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Just make sure you go out every few days and drive it for a few minutes. At the very least you can open your garage and run it without moving it.
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      03-27-2020, 10:27 AM   #5
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Or get a trickle charger. I have one that I use for when I travel for business. Sometimes I'm gone 7 or 8 weeks, so I plug the car in. It's easy, and keeps the battery optimized as well. Trickle chargers are cheap - like $50-$60.
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      03-27-2020, 10:55 AM   #6
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This^
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      03-27-2020, 11:09 AM   #7
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This^
If you are at home and car(s) in your garage, it's no brainer to get a trickle charger. I have it back Stateside.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B000F..._t2_B000FQBWCY

CTEK is a good brand (what bmw use based on past search in other bmw models). Simply make sure the battery charger or tender can give a charge to AGM batteries (which is the battery equipped in our X3 G01s)
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      03-28-2020, 02:40 AM   #8
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just leave it connected. it'll be fine for a month, but if you are really worried, every 2weeks, take a trip for essential shopping!
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      03-28-2020, 09:05 AM   #9
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Use a Trickle Charger

I use the CTEK 40-206 MXS 5.0-12 Volt Battery Charger which works well and is on sale at Amazon and other online retailers for about $70. Works on all battery types.
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      03-28-2020, 06:11 PM   #10
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If you are talking about it sitting for a couple of weeks, it should be no issue. But to ease your mind (1) go for a nice drive until all of your temps (water and oil) are at normal operating temperatures every week or so, or (2) get a well reviewed battery maintainer like a CTEK https://insight.daumphotography.com/...e-out-of-this/. Be sure that the maintainer has an AGM setting, since that cycle is a bit different than standard lead acid car batteries. Our X3s come with a AGM from the factory. Use the positive connector along with the ground stud, under the hood (passenger side of the engine compartment).
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You can safely leave the CTEK maintainer connected for extended periods of time.

FWIW, what I would not do is simply idle the engine. This is really bad for the engine since typically the oil and coolant won't get hot enough, and you will end up with condensate and acids that don't burn off (as they do when you reach operating temperatures) and also remain in your oil and throughout your exhaust system.
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Last edited by JDsX3; 03-28-2020 at 06:17 PM..
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      03-28-2020, 10:47 PM   #11
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I was under the impression AGM batteries do not require a special charger but will benefit from a smart charger.

"Lead-acid batteries that have the electrolyte absorbed into a fiberglass mat (AGM) take generally the same charge voltages and charging schemes as a regular ol' sloshy flooded (FLA) battery."

"HOWEVER - batteries which have the electrolyte gelled with an additive (GEL) usually DO require a special charger, because they A) require a bit lower charge voltage, and B) are much more sensitive to overcharging than FLA or AGM.)"
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      03-29-2020, 03:05 PM   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JDsX3 View Post
If you are talking about it sitting for a couple of weeks, it should be no issue. But to ease your mind (1) go for a nice drive until all of your temps (water and oil) are at normal operating temperatures every week or so, or (2) get a well reviewed battery maintainer like a CTEK https://insight.daumphotography.com/...e-out-of-this/. Be sure that the maintainer has an AGM setting, since that cycle is a bit different than standard lead acid car batteries. Our X3s come with a AGM from the factory. Use the positive connector along with the ground stud, under the hood (passenger side of the engine compartment).
Attachment 2270204
Attachment 2270205

You can safely leave the CTEK maintainer connected for extended periods of time.

FWIW, what I would not do is simply idle the engine. This is really bad for the engine since typically the oil and coolant won't get hot enough, and you will end up with condensate and acids that don't burn off (as they do when you reach operating temperatures) and also remain in your oil and throughout your exhaust system.

Ditto, what's said above...


Since my CTEK is tied up with other car in the garage (i own two chargers, CTEK and BMW to use on other cars that are older),



, and coming from 2003 e39 and 2004 e46, i assumed i can do the same with cigarette socket for battery charging, hooked up the other batter charger to X3,





, and noticed wasn't doing much of anything.

Searched and realized that these newer BMW cars do not have dedicated charging accessory outlets, hence no powered cigarette lighters when the key is out of the car.

DOH...


Looking for second CTEK...
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      03-29-2020, 11:54 PM   #13
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+1 to CTEK as I have one of their chargers for my vehicles as well.
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      03-30-2020, 08:58 AM   #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Oldguysrule View Post
I was under the impression AGM batteries do not require a special charger but will benefit from a smart charger.

"Lead-acid batteries that have the electrolyte absorbed into a fiberglass mat (AGM) take generally the same charge voltages and charging schemes as a regular ol' sloshy flooded (FLA) battery."

"HOWEVER - batteries which have the electrolyte gelled with an additive (GEL) usually DO require a special charger, because they A) require a bit lower charge voltage, and B) are much more sensitive to overcharging than FLA or AGM.)"
While AGMs can charge OK with a standard charger, the CTEK maintainers have for quite a few years, had a AGM dedicated charge program which does a better job.
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      03-30-2020, 09:05 AM   #15
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Im somewhat confused with all these threads, if your car is at home in a garage, open garage door, exit garage to driveway, leave car running until it gets up to temp, reverse back in turn car off, repeat as often as you like. Im sure local rules dont stop you going within 5 paces of your front door? of course if your car is miles away or in a public garage then you have a bigger problem.
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      03-30-2020, 09:17 AM   #16
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Ive used a NOCO 3500 for years on marine, motorcycle and stored car batteries. It does have a "cold AGM" setting. Works great.
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      03-30-2020, 10:14 AM   #17
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Batteries and Quarantine

Quote:
Originally Posted by tonyb15re View Post
Im somewhat confused with all these threads, if your car is at home in a garage, open garage door, exit garage to driveway, leave car running until it gets up to temp, reverse back in turn car off, repeat as often as you like. Im sure local rules dont stop you going within 5 paces of your front door? of course if your car is miles away or in a public garage then you have a bigger problem.
From various reads on other bmw models' forum, it is discouraged to idle our cars as it actually might not recover the electrical output it requires to start off the car to begin with. Now, I don't have the technical knowledge behind it so if anyone knows about voltage consumption and generation with alternators, please feel free to sure. I read a bunch but none that make much sense to me as, again, I don't have a technical background. From common sense, I can see how it can hold true given the so many electrical components our cars have these days, especially our car alarms.
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      03-30-2020, 11:56 AM   #18
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There are numerous AGM chargers on the market. I have 2 Optimas that I have been using for years to keep my cars charged. Never a hitch.
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      03-30-2020, 12:29 PM   #19
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Worked off shore doing 6 weeks on 6 weeks off. Never had an issue with the battery running low. X5 (6yrs) then X4(5yrs) always started without a problem.
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