Battery Terminal Melted

Desertshark43 · 04-06-2017, 06:26 PM

So, Im still fairly new to the forum, and do apologize for such a long thread. I bought my 2011 E92 M3 with 22,896 miles on it in Nov 16, from a Toyota Dealership. For the most part the car has run great since I bought it. There has been an ABS Light, DSC Traction Control, and BRAKE All in yellow that would come on every now and then, in the past and now always on. I am pretty sure it's one or both throttle actuators, but again will have to wait till I take it to my guy in Nashville tomorrow. I was planning on big things with the car in the form of bolt on mods, but right now the maintenance requirements are most important on the car.. Which brings me to the scary part. So yesterday, as I was driving to my girlfriends house, I realized that there was absolutely no sound coming from the speakers. Not even any sound from the dash, not even the seat belt warning sound. I asked a friend and he said it could be too much stuff in the trunk. I did have alot stowed back there. So I removed all but two gym bags from the trunk, and checked the amp, which was a bit warm cuz of the stuff back there, but not unusual. Then I checked the battery, and the plastic cover housing the battery AND the red distribution power box, directly over the battery was melted to the terminal. I have no idea how long the distribution box has been melted, but I do smell burnt plastic now, everytime I check and the terminal gets hot when I run the car doing things throughout the day. I spoke with an Indy Shop owner yesterday and showed him pictures. He said that it looks like a cable is loose. Upon investigation, it's a Duralast battery, and im also unaware if it was even coded to the vehicle or if it's the right battery. He did say that whoever installed the battery, that it was most likely their fault when installing. I'm just 600 miles under 30k, it's disheartening that I am having these problems with a car with such low miles. This is also my daily driver and only car at this current time. I really wish there was a Hanes or Bentley manual, but I already know they don't make such guides. I called the Dealership today, and of course I knew I'd get raped. They quoted me at around $1100 for battery replacement and distribution box, minus labor. I sourced a replacement bmw battery for 3-400 bucks myself, AND 52 bucks for a distribution box on ECS. NOW, I would live to order the parts and just wait and do myself but I don't have weeks to wait on parts, I have to take it to my guy tomorrow. I also just received a message on my dash today saying "Vehicle Battery. Battery Discharging While Stopped" with the picture of car on a lift bay. My guy told me that the worst case is that the car battery could catch fire and eventually the car, but then looked at a forum and it said theres an explosive discharge that happens in event of failure and disconnects the positive or negative cables, to deter from accidental fire from happening. I have no idea what to think about any of it, as I have no experience with this whatsoever. It's stressful, especially when I feel as If I may have a ticking time bomb in my car. Does anyone have any experience, or advice on this matter at all? Any feedback is greatly appreciated. I believe the guy I'm taking my car to is trustworthy. Alot of my friends have spoken highly about his shop, and I've met him personally, and he's a good guy. I'd much rather take my business to him then have the dealership rape me. Dude knows BMWs. I just need whatever advice or guidance or tips anyone can give at this point, or maybe to do something else. Again, any and all advice is greatly appreciated.

monterey · 04-07-2017, 01:20 AM

Can you post pics of the burnt area. Sounds like your amp maybe shorted to ground.

Mvy · 04-07-2017, 05:59 AM

Hey there. Welcome to the forum and sorry for your troubles. There was a battery cable recall that was related to the cable and the fuse box. This does not sound the same, but you might be able to get the battery cable replaced. Post some pics and folks will help out. Im sure once you get this figured out you will be back to enjoying your car. Dont worry too much, these things can be fixed. Start by getting a proper battery and having it registered after you dig into the cable issue.

http://www.m3post.com/forums/showthr...=battery+cable

monterey · 04-07-2017, 11:55 AM

Disconnect the red leads from the battery and test to see if any are shorted to ground by using a multimeter.

Desertshark43 · 04-07-2017, 05:46 PM

I was actually trying to upload pics last night but it said they can only be a certain file size, although I've seen people post high res photos here before. Just not sure how they do it. Once I'm done here at work, I will take lower res pics with my phone and try that way. Thank you for the responses.

Desertshark43 · 04-07-2017, 05:56 PM

I was actually trying to upload pics last night but it said they can only be a certain file size, although I've seen people post high res photos here before. Just not sure how they do it. Once I'm done here at work, I will take lower res pics with my phone and try that way. Thank you for the responses.

04-06-2017, 06:26 PM	#1
Desertshark43 Private 32 Rep 53 Posts Drives: 2011 BMW M3 Join Date: Nov 2016 Location: Clarksville TN iTrader: (0) Garage List 2011 BMW M3 [9.00]	Battery Terminal Melted So, Im still fairly new to the forum, and do apologize for such a long thread. I bought my 2011 E92 M3 with 22,896 miles on it in Nov 16, from a Toyota Dealership. For the most part the car has run great since I bought it. There has been an ABS Light, DSC Traction Control, and BRAKE All in yellow that would come on every now and then, in the past and now always on. I am pretty sure it's one or both throttle actuators, but again will have to wait till I take it to my guy in Nashville tomorrow. I was planning on big things with the car in the form of bolt on mods, but right now the maintenance requirements are most important on the car.. Which brings me to the scary part. So yesterday, as I was driving to my girlfriends house, I realized that there was absolutely no sound coming from the speakers. Not even any sound from the dash, not even the seat belt warning sound. I asked a friend and he said it could be too much stuff in the trunk. I did have alot stowed back there. So I removed all but two gym bags from the trunk, and checked the amp, which was a bit warm cuz of the stuff back there, but not unusual. Then I checked the battery, and the plastic cover housing the battery AND the red distribution power box, directly over the battery was melted to the terminal. I have no idea how long the distribution box has been melted, but I do smell burnt plastic now, everytime I check and the terminal gets hot when I run the car doing things throughout the day. I spoke with an Indy Shop owner yesterday and showed him pictures. He said that it looks like a cable is loose. Upon investigation, it's a Duralast battery, and im also unaware if it was even coded to the vehicle or if it's the right battery. He did say that whoever installed the battery, that it was most likely their fault when installing. I'm just 600 miles under 30k, it's disheartening that I am having these problems with a car with such low miles. This is also my daily driver and only car at this current time. I really wish there was a Hanes or Bentley manual, but I already know they don't make such guides. I called the Dealership today, and of course I knew I'd get raped. They quoted me at around $1100 for battery replacement and distribution box, minus labor. I sourced a replacement bmw battery for 3-400 bucks myself, AND 52 bucks for a distribution box on ECS. NOW, I would live to order the parts and just wait and do myself but I don't have weeks to wait on parts, I have to take it to my guy tomorrow. I also just received a message on my dash today saying "Vehicle Battery. Battery Discharging While Stopped" with the picture of car on a lift bay. My guy told me that the worst case is that the car battery could catch fire and eventually the car, but then looked at a forum and it said theres an explosive discharge that happens in event of failure and disconnects the positive or negative cables, to deter from accidental fire from happening. I have no idea what to think about any of it, as I have no experience with this whatsoever. It's stressful, especially when I feel as If I may have a ticking time bomb in my car. Does anyone have any experience, or advice on this matter at all? Any feedback is greatly appreciated. I believe the guy I'm taking my car to is trustworthy. Alot of my friends have spoken highly about his shop, and I've met him personally, and he's a good guy. I'd much rather take my business to him then have the dealership rape me. Dude knows BMWs. I just need whatever advice or guidance or tips anyone can give at this point, or maybe to do something else. Again, any and all advice is greatly appreciated. Last edited by Desertshark43; 04-06-2017 at 06:35 PM.. Reason: Adding piece of thread
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04-07-2017, 01:20 AM	#2
monterey Major 371 Rep 1,239 Posts Drives: 2008 M3 Join Date: Mar 2016 Location: United States iTrader: (1)	Can you post pics of the burnt area. Sounds like your amp maybe shorted to ground.
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04-07-2017, 05:59 AM	#3
Mvy Captain 572 Rep 982 Posts Drives: 2008 E93 M3 Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: GA Peach iTrader: (0)	Hey there. Welcome to the forum and sorry for your troubles. There was a battery cable recall that was related to the cable and the fuse box. This does not sound the same, but you might be able to get the battery cable replaced. Post some pics and folks will help out. Im sure once you get this figured out you will be back to enjoying your car. Dont worry too much, these things can be fixed. Start by getting a proper battery and having it registered after you dig into the cable issue. http://www.m3post.com/forums/showthr...=battery+cable __________________ Harrop Supercharger, BPM Tune, K/W Coil over kit, Stoptek BBK, Magnaflow exhaust, ear to ear grin everytime I drive...
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04-07-2017, 11:55 AM	#4
monterey Major 371 Rep 1,239 Posts Drives: 2008 M3 Join Date: Mar 2016 Location: United States iTrader: (1)	Disconnect the red leads from the battery and test to see if any are shorted to ground by using a multimeter. __________________ A job is nothing but work.
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04-07-2017, 05:46 PM	#5
Desertshark43 Private 32 Rep 53 Posts Drives: 2011 BMW M3 Join Date: Nov 2016 Location: Clarksville TN iTrader: (0) Garage List 2011 BMW M3 [9.00]	I was actually trying to upload pics last night but it said they can only be a certain file size, although I've seen people post high res photos here before. Just not sure how they do it. Once I'm done here at work, I will take lower res pics with my phone and try that way. Thank you for the responses.
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04-07-2017, 05:56 PM	#6
Desertshark43 Private 32 Rep 53 Posts Drives: 2011 BMW M3 Join Date: Nov 2016 Location: Clarksville TN iTrader: (0) Garage List 2011 BMW M3 [9.00]	I was actually trying to upload pics last night but it said they can only be a certain file size, although I've seen people post high res photos here before. Just not sure how they do it. Once I'm done here at work, I will take lower res pics with my phone and try that way. Thank you for the responses.
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