Battery Going Dead.

[Gamoto]

My 08 M3 only has 16,500 miles on it. A couple of weeks ago I went to start it after it sat for a couple of days and it wouldn't start. I put my BMW charger on it and drove my other car to work. The next day I droped it of at the dealer figuring they would put a new battery in it.

My service guy tells me that before they can give me a new battery and charge it to BMW they have to make sure it is fully charged. They then have to hook it up to some testing device to prove to BMW that the battery is no good.....Well they said the battery checked good. Since then the car started each day although it still seemed a bit sluggish instead of the normal instant crank. After coming home Friday afternoon the car sat till Sunday morning and when I tried to start it .....Dead!

It's back at the dealer. Has anyone else had similar issues

[KGB7]

You need a new battery, its that simple.

[ajvee]

How often and how long do you drive your car when you take it out?

I've had this issue in the winter when I haven't driven my car for 2 weeks and the battery completely died. My SA said that he sees this issue in cars that are either not driven often or are only driven for short distances, which dooesnt allow the battery to charge up.

I presume that you don't drive your car often since you have only 16.5k miles on your car?

[GT3 Tim]

My battery will die in about 2 weeks too.

I bought a floating charger (battery tender) from Sear's and that's the ticket. If I am ever going to be away for more than 5-6 days, I slap that puppy in there and it's all good.

If your car sits a lot, you may want to consider one.

This one will float charge, so it won't overcharge/harm the battery.
Link

[Gamoto]

Originally Posted by ajvee

How often and how long do you drive your car when you take it out?

I've had this issue in the winter when I haven't driven my car for 2 weeks and the battery completely died. My SA said that he sees this issue in cars that are either not driven often or are only driven for short distances, which dooesnt allow the battery to charge up.

I presume that you don't drive your car often since you have only 16.5k miles on your car?

I bought it used with 12,500 miles in October 2010 and put about 1700 on it then garaged it for the winter. I put a Drip charger that is OEM from BMW and left it hooked to the battery all thru the winter. I drove a couple times during the winter. It started fine each time. The M is mainly my daily driver unless there is going to be heavy rains from spring thru fall I commute 56 miles a day back and forth to work. I put 400 to 600 a week now that I'm driving it. Obviously it's not holding a charge unless it's driven each day. At least I hope it's just the battery. Thanks

[Hawk Lax]

Its the battery. Do not be surprised if its not covered by the warranty due to poor driving profile ie short trips

[kmarei]

i leave my car parked for 3 weeks every summer
starts right up when i get back
so it should hold a charge for that long at least
and i have the alarm too, so that's an extra drain on the car when parked

[LateBraking]

Originally Posted by GT3 Tim

My battery will die in about 2 weeks too.

I bought a floating charger (battery tender) from Sear's and that's the ticket. If I am ever going to be away for more than 5-6 days, I slap that puppy in there and it's all good.

If your car sits a lot, you may want to consider one.

This one will float charge, so it won't overcharge/harm the battery.
Link

I only drive my M3 once every two weeks, and only for either short, local distances or for a trip to a track, so this'll be good for me to get. Thank you sir. No problems using this?

[Raustin]

You have a BMW battery charger?

[badbimmer]

The battery should hold a charge, regardless if it's sitting for 2-3 weeks. I have never had a car battery die b/c the car was not driven. My M3 also sat in my garage for 2-3 weeks in the winter and the battery started the car up like new. Take it to the dealer and demand a new battery, or have them check your charging system. Something is wrong.

[mdosu]

Originally Posted by ajvee

How often and how long do you drive your car when you take it out?

I've had this issue in the winter when I haven't driven my car for 2 weeks and the battery completely died. My SA said that he sees this issue in cars that are either not driven often or are only driven for short distances, which dooesnt allow the battery to charge up.

I presume that you don't drive your car often since you have only 16.5k miles on your car?

it's more of a battery thing, I have 15k on my 08 and my battery works like a champ.

[Gamoto]

Originally Posted by GT3 Tim

My battery will die in about 2 weeks too.

I bought a floating charger (battery tender) from Sear's and that's the ticket. If I am ever going to be away for more than 5-6 days, I slap that puppy in there and it's all good.

If your car sits a lot, you may want to consider one.

This one will float charge, so it won't overcharge/harm the battery.
Link

It's the same as the BMW charger. Now my dealer says my battery is bad...I think they just charged my battery 2 weeks ago and didn't check it.

[Gamoto]

Originally Posted by Raustin

You have a BMW battery charger?

Yep it's the same as the one GT3 Tim shows, but has the BMW logo on it. Bought it from the dealer when I asked them what steps I should take to safely store it for the winter.

[Gamoto]

Originally Posted by Hawk Lax

Its the battery. Do not be surprised if its not covered by the warranty due to poor driving profile ie short trips

If a car is under warranty the battery will be covered regardless how little miles one drives.

[GT3 Tim]

Originally Posted by Gamoto

Yep it's the same as the one GT3 Tim shows, but has the BMW logo on it. Bought it from the dealer when I asked them what steps I should take to safely store it for the winter.

How much is it at the dealer? Prolly 3x as much. lol

[Hawk Lax]

Originally Posted by Gamoto

If a car is under warranty the battery will be covered regardless how little miles one drives.

Not true, do a

[Prince_of_Persia]

Originally Posted by Hawk Lax

Not true, do a

They replaced my battery under warranty, even though they mentioned it was due to low mileage driven.

[Gamoto]

Originally Posted by GT3 Tim

How much is it at the dealer? Prolly 3x as much. lol

Yeah I'm sure I did......paid $69.00 for it. Never shopped around I was there, they had one, and I bought it.

[Gamoto]

Originally Posted by Hawk Lax

Not true, do a

Picked my car up today they put a new battery in no charge. I asked how it could check good 2 weeks ago and now it's toast. SA said the batteries in these cars are funny. " You can put one on the machine one day and it checks fine, a couple days later it gives out a negative reading " Bottom line is it has to show a negative reading when they test it or BMW will not pay them for a new one.

I asked him if they question how many miles the car has, and if there is a ratio of miles driven vs the age of the car that would effect a free replacment. With a puzzled look he said No

[KGB7]

Originally Posted by Hawk Lax

Not true, do a

You right, all warranty work should be refused to you if you dont drive enough miles. I just heard that if you dont drive at least 10 miles a month, you void your warranty.

[GT3 Tim]

Originally Posted by Gamoto

Yeah I'm sure I did......paid $69.00 for it. Never shopped around I was there, they had one, and I bought it.

That's not bad at all. I am shocked they didn't mark it up more for the BMW logo on it.

That's only $10 or so more than "brand-x". I think you did well!

[Gamoto]

Originally Posted by Hawk Lax

Its the battery. Do not be surprised if its not covered by the warranty due to poor driving profile ie short trips

Besides how can you call a 56 mile round trip to work a short trip.....and that doen't count any other driving. That alone x 48 weeks is 13,500 a year just back and forth to work. That statement also deserves a