Battery tender placement?

RE36TRO · 12-04-2019, 07:20 PM

Random question, are there any downfalls to utilizing the positive terminal point in the engine bay for the battery tender connection vs directly to the battery in the trunk? The negative would be placed on the engine block hook.

SAMM3Y · 12-04-2019, 07:28 PM

The engine block hook is painted, find something bare metal. Plus it might look ugly if it gets scratched up over time. I use one of the ground terminals around there somewhere the lower one Is bare.

RE36TRO · 12-04-2019, 07:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SAMM3Y

The engine block hook is painted, find something bare metal. Plus it might look ugly if it gets scratched up over time. I use one of the ground terminals around there somewhere the lower one Is bare.

There is a bare one there somewhere, I may have mis-spoken w/ location.

SAMM3Y · 12-04-2019, 07:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RE36TRO

Quote:

Originally Posted by SAMM3Y

The engine block hook is painted, find something bare metal. Plus it might look ugly if it gets scratched up over time. I use one of the ground terminals around there somewhere the lower one Is bare.

There is a bare one there somewhere, I may have mis-spoken w/ location.

Then coo, I've always Hooked mine up there for the last 4 years and haven't had any issues

RE36TRO · 12-04-2019, 07:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SAMM3Y

Then coo, I've always Hooked mine up there for the last 4 years and haven't had any issues

Same...for some reason I've been seeing more photos lately of ppl running extension cords from the front of the car to the rear. Just got me thinking, why go through that trouble?...or maybe it's me that's wrong lol

bmwfst1 · 12-05-2019, 09:52 AM

Why not just hook it up to the battery in the trunk?

Johal E32 · 12-05-2019, 09:55 AM

When I park my E90 for more than a few days, I will place a battery tender on the car under the hood. I use the strut tower nut as my grounding point.

ItsGary · 12-05-2019, 10:13 AM

I have a CTEK 8 Step one, I have the comfort connect installed on the battery itself, I put a microfiber cloth on the bumper and rest the wire on there, then close the trunk. Its a pretty thick wire so you won't damage it.

RE36TRO · 12-05-2019, 10:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bmwfst1

Why not just hook it up to the battery in the trunk?

My only outlet is in the front of the garage/car so:

Battery connection:
Back in car to garage or
Run extension
Open trunk
Lift up battery tray lid
Connect

Engine connection:
Open hood
Connect

RedScytheM3 · 12-05-2019, 10:32 AM

To answer your question, there are no downfalls as long as your polarity matches. Just hook it up, the current will reach your battery

SAMM3Y · 12-05-2019, 11:40 AM

For me the hood is way more convenient, plus having a gander when you're out in the garage is always nice

Frozen · 12-05-2019, 12:29 PM

The owners manual for the car says to charge the battery using the dedicated charging points under the hood.

BeaterM3 · 12-05-2019, 01:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RE36TRO

Random question, are there any downfalls to utilizing the positive terminal point in the engine bay for the battery tender connection vs directly to the battery in the trunk? The negative would be placed on the engine block hook.

The Ctek I got came with separate attachment that connects straight to the battery and has a plug for the Ctek. I find using it this way is very handy in my car parking situation.

///M Power-Belgium · 12-05-2019, 01:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by revengeismine

The Ctek I got came with separate attachment that connects straight to the battery and has a plug for the Ctek. I find using it this way is very handy in my car parking situation.

My Post # 26 on this page

=> https://www.m3post.com/forums/showth...1#post15488771

roastbeef · 12-05-2019, 09:29 PM

Put the ground on this little nub.

jayzbird · 12-05-2019, 11:42 PM

On my old e46 there was an easy way to switch the cigarette lighter to constant power, which would allow just plugging the tender in there. Can this be done on e9x?

Kamen · 12-06-2019, 10:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jayzbird

On my old e46 there was an easy way to switch the cigarette lighter to constant power, which would allow just plugging the tender in there. Can this be done on e9x?

That'd be nice to know. I wanna keep the dash cams constantly on, when parked out of my garage

MahiC · 12-06-2019, 12:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RE36TRO

Quote:

Originally Posted by bmwfst1

Why not just hook it up to the battery in the trunk?

My only outlet is in the front of the garage/car so:

Battery connection:
Back in car to garage or
Run extension
Open trunk
Lift up battery tray lid
Connect

Engine connection:
Open hood
Connect

Or reverse park the beam? I always reverse park makes the garage look better.

JPWEraser · 12-06-2019, 05:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ItsGary

I have a CTEK 8 Step one, I have the comfort connect installed on the battery itself, I put a microfiber cloth on the bumper and rest the wire on there, then close the trunk. Its a pretty thick wire so you won't damage it.

I do literally the exact same thing. No problems for 3 years with this car and many cars before it.

bmwpower603 · 12-07-2019, 12:00 PM

Battery maintainers are put directly on the battery / distribution box at the BMW dealership.

M4_GTS · 12-07-2019, 02:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bmwpower603

Battery maintainers are put directly on the battery / distribution box at the BMW dealership.

that's because most of the ppl that works in dealerships are stupid or don't give a shit.

JPWEraser · 12-08-2019, 10:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by M4_GTS

Quote:

Originally Posted by bmwpower603

Battery maintainers are put directly on the battery / distribution box at the BMW dealership.

that's because most of the ppl that works in dealerships are stupid or don't give a shit.

Ok...

But for real, the only downfall with connecting a trickle charger directly to the battery is the possibility of bypassing the fuse system in the event of some kind of charger malfunction. Most decent modern chargers (Ctek and Noco have them for sure as they're what I own) have a fuse inline on the positive lead which removes this possibility.

12-04-2019, 07:20 PM	#1
RE36TRO Lieutenant 212 Rep 431 Posts Drives: ///E36,E46,E92,F80 Join Date: Nov 2019 Location: Santa Clara, CA iTrader: (5)	Battery tender placement? Random question, are there any downfalls to utilizing the positive terminal point in the engine bay for the battery tender connection vs directly to the battery in the trunk? The negative would be placed on the engine block hook.
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12-04-2019, 07:28 PM	#2
SAMM3Y Colonel 3085 Rep 2,747 Posts Drives: 2008 m3 Join Date: Feb 2018 Location: NorCal iTrader: (2)	The engine block hook is painted, find something bare metal. Plus it might look ugly if it gets scratched up over time. I use one of the ground terminals around there somewhere the lower one Is bare. __________________ 9ers
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12-05-2019, 09:52 AM	#6
bmwfst1 Pwrdbym 60 Rep 343 Posts Drives: red 2010 bmwm3 Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: maryland iTrader: (0)	Why not just hook it up to the battery in the trunk?
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12-05-2019, 09:55 AM	#7
Johal E32 Private First Class 163 Rep 183 Posts Drives: 91 M5, 98 M3, 08 M3 Join Date: May 2019 Location: Earth iTrader: (3) Garage List 1991 BMW M5 [0.00] 1998 BMW M3 [0.00] 2008 BMW M3 [0.00]	When I park my E90 for more than a few days, I will place a battery tender on the car under the hood. I use the strut tower nut as my grounding point.
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12-05-2019, 10:13 AM	#8
ItsGary Colonel 1458 Rep 2,336 Posts Drives: 2009 E90 M3 Join Date: Oct 2017 Location: Vancouver iTrader: (0)	I have a CTEK 8 Step one, I have the comfort connect installed on the battery itself, I put a microfiber cloth on the bumper and rest the wire on there, then close the trunk. Its a pretty thick wire so you won't damage it. __________________ '09 ///M3 Sedan - Jerez Black/Fox Red Ext. '09 335i Coupe - Alpine White/Black - SOLD
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12-05-2019, 10:32 AM	#10
RedScytheM3 Science stuff and stuff 395 Rep 414 Posts Drives: 2008 E92 ///M3 Join Date: Jun 2018 Location: Houston iTrader: (0)	To answer your question, there are no downfalls as long as your polarity matches. Just hook it up, the current will reach your battery
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12-05-2019, 11:40 AM	#11
SAMM3Y Colonel 3085 Rep 2,747 Posts Drives: 2008 m3 Join Date: Feb 2018 Location: NorCal iTrader: (2)	For me the hood is way more convenient, plus having a gander when you're out in the garage is always nice __________________ 9ers
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12-05-2019, 12:29 PM	#12
Frozen Captain 570 Rep 844 Posts Drives: Frozen Red e92 ZCP Join Date: Dec 2015 Location: SF Bay Area iTrader: (0)	The owners manual for the car says to charge the battery using the dedicated charging points under the hood.
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12-05-2019, 09:29 PM	#15
roastbeef Lieutenant General 11586 Rep 12,726 Posts Drives: E92 M3 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Orange County, CA iTrader: (4)	Put the ground on this little nub. Attached Images __________________ Instagram; @roastbeefmike
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12-05-2019, 11:42 PM	#16
jayzbird Private 35 Rep 58 Posts Drives: E90 M3 Join Date: Sep 2019 Location: Ca iTrader: (0)	On my old e46 there was an easy way to switch the cigarette lighter to constant power, which would allow just plugging the tender in there. Can this be done on e9x?
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12-07-2019, 12:00 PM	#20
bmwpower603 Lieutenant 203 Rep 486 Posts Drives: E36 m3 coupe 08 e90 M3 Join Date: Oct 2018 Location: New Hampshire iTrader: (0)	Battery maintainers are put directly on the battery / distribution box at the BMW dealership.
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