Battery Life While Parked

[bmw1racer]

Originally Posted by mr.fabulous

This is some fascinating shit. Seems a bit Fritz over-engineered?

Totally over-engineered... Once again, the oil dipstick comes to mind.

[mr.fabulous]

Originally Posted by bmw1racer

Totally over-engineered... Once again, the oil dipstick comes to mind.

Do other auto makers do this kind of thing? As emissions and fleet mileage requirements continue to rise, I kind of wouldn't be surprised (perhaps hopeful).

[bmw1racer]

Originally Posted by mr.fabulous

Do other auto makers do this kind of thing? As emissions and fleet mileage requirements continue to rise, I kind of wouldn't be surprised (perhaps hopeful).

Don't know about other automakers, but they're probably all heading in that direction. This is my sixth BMW in 30 years and the most Rube Goldberg-ian of them all.

[str8shot]

Originally Posted by mr.fabulous

This is some fascinating shit. Seems a bit Fritz over-engineered? But still fascinating. Skimmed both docs, and the one thing I'm not sure I've read is exactly *how* they unload the alternator (it's not mechanical).

My guess is the ECU commands zero volts by interrupting the current across the field winding.

That would result in zero load.

[MightyMouseTech]

Honda has been doing this for a while as well. They are finally starting to get it right.

SOOOOOOOOO many dead batteries on 1-2 year old cars.

One thing I like that they have started to do is to install one way clutches on the alternator pulley. Alternator keeps spinning at a higher speed after you let off the gas. Allows the engine to be more responsive as an added bonus.

[AForceNinja]

guys you dont need to lay flat your rear seats. you do know there are battery posts under the hood right?

[Silenus]

Originally Posted by bmw1racer

Then how do you explain why my battery died in about three years time?

And as I've mentioned in other threads, the E36 that I owned for 18 years only had to have the battery replaced once.

Is that how you come to a scientific conclusion? Use ONE example and then draw your conclusion? Doesn't sound like a good idea to me. My battery is from 2007. I tested it the other day with the BMW approved Midtronics Battery Tester. It is at greater than 50% life. 8 years, 83,000 miles.

My dad's 2012 135i needed a battery at 7,000 miles. A cell went bad. Battery cells go bad, parts go bad, and guess what? BMW doesn't manufacture the battery.

Unlike your incredibly small sample size, I see 10 BMWs a day, every day. Lots of cars built in the mid-2000s still have their original batteries in them. This is because the power management system is superior and it works.

[Silenus]

Originally Posted by mr.fabulous

Yes, actually... very serious. And quite far from ignorant. My issue is not with the car's power management, but rather with BMW's expectation that I visit my dealer and pay $600 and lose a day of my life for the privilege. I should be able to register a new battery easily and without additional expense (put this on the stalk).

$600 for a battery in a 1er? Your dealer is bad, or you're exaggerating.

If you think you can register a battery with the stalk, you are ignorant of the power management system and do not understand how it works. There is more to battery registration than pressing a reset button. New battery details must be taught-in as factory components have changed. Without an appropriate baseline, the system cannot work properly.

[bmw1racer]

Originally Posted by Silenus

$600 for a battery in a 1er?

If you want to see my $636.73 bill from the stealership, I'll scan a copy for you to see.

My brother suggested that I should declare this on my 2015 income taxes as a loss from theft...

[methodz]

I don't know what the battery for the 1er costs but my E90 M3 battery was $600 from the dealer so it wouldn't be beyond the realm of belief that it is a similar cost for the 1er. I ended up going to an indie shop for $325 installed and coded. I think the cost of the battery alone is like $275. If you wanted to go real cheap I think you can pick up any old auto zone battery that fits for like $125. I know of others who've done that though I don't know if that's a good idea. Maybe someone can chime in.

I do notice when I am standing near my car for a car wash or smoking a cigarette that I hear the car making noises like it's doing something. So when I park my car I try to keep the keys as far away as possible.

[bmw1racer]

Originally Posted by methodz

I don't know what the battery for the 1er costs but my E90 M3 battery was $600 from the dealer so it wouldn't be beyond the realm of belief that it is a similar cost for the 1er. I ended up going to an indie shop for $325 installed and coded. I think the cost of the battery alone is like $275. If you wanted to go real cheap I think you can pick up any old auto zone battery that fits for like $125. I know of others who've done that though I don't know if that's a good idea. Maybe someone can chime in.

I do notice when I am standing near my car for a car wash or smoking a cigarette that I hear the car making noises like it's doing something. So when I park my car I try to keep the keys as far away as possible.

From what I gather, you should lock the car once you've exited, else the battery continues to get drained, because it expects that you're going to start it up again. That's not mentioned anywhere in the owners manual.

[CAVU]

Originally Posted by bmw1racer

From what I gather, you should lock the car once you've exited, else the battery continues to get drained, because it expects that you're going to start it up again. That's not mentioned anywhere in the owners manual.

In early March when I realized my battery wasn't going to live past 18 months, I started locking the doors even though the car overnights in my garage. Locking the doors seems to cut power to the radar detector immediately, which suggests other loads or potential drains may also be eliminated. Not sure that simply taking the key fob out of range of the car is telling the car to go to sleep... as you mention, it seems to remain in a dormant yet ready mode unless you lock the doors.

[mr.fabulous]

Originally Posted by Silenus

$600 for a battery in a 1er? Your dealer is bad, or you're exaggerating.

If you think you can register a battery with the stalk, you are ignorant of the power management system and do not understand how it works. There is more to battery registration than pressing a reset button. New battery details must be taught-in as factory components have changed. Without an appropriate baseline, the system cannot work properly.

Two posts from you in this thread and very condescending. Don't be that guy. And, actually, I can register the same battery simply by pressing a button... on my little AutoEnginuity Service Reset Tool ($145 shipped, and still a hell of a lot less expense than paying a dealer to do it). Change battery types, and more programming is needed... we all understand that.

[mr.fabulous]

Originally Posted by bmw1racer

From what I gather, you should lock the car once you've exited, else the battery continues to get drained, because it expects that you're going to start it up again. That's not mentioned anywhere in the owners manual.

Originally Posted by CAVU

In early March when I realized my battery wasn't going to live past 18 months, I started locking the doors even though the car overnights in my garage. Locking the doors seems to cut power to the radar detector immediately, which suggests other loads or potential drains may also be eliminated. Not sure that simply taking the key fob out of range of the car is telling the car to go to sleep... as you mention, it seems to remain in a dormant yet ready mode unless you lock the doors.

That's interesting! And that might actually mirror my experiences with the car (just never really gave it a lot of thought). Headed to my garage now to lock it

[bmw1racer]

Originally Posted by CAVU

In early March when I realized my battery wasn't going to live past 18 months, I started locking the doors even though the car overnights in my garage. Locking the doors seems to cut power to the radar detector immediately, which suggests other loads or potential drains may also be eliminated. Not sure that simply taking the key fob out of range of the car is telling the car to go to sleep... as you mention, it seems to remain in a dormant yet ready mode unless you lock the doors.

That's been my point of contention with the stealership, but they refuse to consider it a warranty issue... There's someone in new Jersey with a similar battery issue who's trying to get a class action lawsuit started against BMWNA...I'm keeping my eye on that.

[Esteban]

I always lock my car when leaving it. In or out of the garage. Just habit.

[Silenus]

Originally Posted by mr.fabulous

Two posts from you in this thread and very condescending. Don't be that guy. And, actually, I can register the same battery simply by pressing a button... on my little AutoEnginuity Service Reset Tool ($145 shipped, and still a hell of a lot less expense than paying a dealer to do it). Change battery types, and more programming is needed... we all understand that.

Dealing with people that think the power-management system and lack of a dip-stick are "over-engineering" is very frustrating. People that do not understand these cars are ok, but those that stubbornly choose not to are just annoying. You also stated at the start of this thread that the car "never really goes to sleep". I posted actual test data from a parasitic draw test I did on a 1 series that contradicts your claim. I'm not condescending, I'm an excellent source of information.

You may know the car needs more data for different batteries, but does the average consumer? Joe 328i buys an Interstate 1200CCA 120 AH battery for his base 328i, jams it in, and hits the "battery reset button". Now you have a pretty dangerous situation, a variable alternator charging an overpowered battery. This will lead to shortened battery life and the potential of the battery boiling/blowing up. Dangerous situation. You cannot have a "battery reset" button on these cars.

My dealer does not charge $600 for an E82 battery. They are non-agm and easy to access. Should land around $400-500.

[Silenus]

Originally Posted by CAVU

In early March when I realized my battery wasn't going to live past 18 months, I started locking the doors even though the car overnights in my garage. Locking the doors seems to cut power to the radar detector immediately, which suggests other loads or potential drains may also be eliminated. Not sure that simply taking the key fob out of range of the car is telling the car to go to sleep... as you mention, it seems to remain in a dormant yet ready mode unless you lock the doors.

The car will go to sleep as long as all doors, the hood, and trunk are closed. Locking has nothing to do with it. Keep the key fob away from the car if you have comfort access.

[mr.fabulous]

Originally Posted by Silenus

You may know the car needs more data for different batteries, but does the average consumer? Joe 328i buys an Interstate 1200CCA 120 AH battery for his base 328i, jams it in, and hits the "battery reset button". Now you have a pretty dangerous situation, a variable alternator charging an overpowered battery. This will lead to shortened battery life and the potential of the battery boiling/blowing up. Dangerous situation. You cannot have a "battery reset" button on these cars.

My dealer does not charge $600 for an E82 battery. They are non-agm and easy to access. Should land around $400-500.

All BMW batteries are AGM. And you are right about putting it on the stalk, I just miss my timing light and dwell-tach

[Silenus]

Originally Posted by mr.fabulous

All BMW batteries are AGM. And you are right about putting it on the stalk, I just miss my timing light and dwell-tach

All BMW batteries are not AGM. Some E82 batteries even have a "magic eye" because they are lead-acid.

[mr.fabulous]

Any BMW with intelligent alternator control has an AGM battery.

[bmw1racer]

Originally Posted by Silenus

The car will go to sleep as long as all doors, the hood, and trunk are closed.

Where is the switch/sensor that knows that the hood is open? I don't think there is one.

Locking has nothing to do with it.

That's not what the service advisor told me.