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Warning! Battery not under warranty-BS!
- Flycaster
- Member
- Posts: 206
- Joined: Mon Jun 18, 2007 10:41 pm
- Location: Boynton Beach, FL
Warning! Battery not under warranty-BS!
I'm writing this to alert you guys with new cars that aren't driven that much. Also, I'd like to have your opions as to what I should do,
My Z4 has 9400 miles after 18 months use. Car didn't start the other day and AAA jump charged the battery. AAA said I should replace the battery. Also had another tech check battery and he said that it seemed OK and needs to be recharged. The indicator eye on the battery is a black color, indicating that the battery needs recharging, but it isn't yellow=replace battery. Anyway, I called my friendly SA at BMW and he told me that the battery wasn't under warranty because I didn't drive the car enough to keep the battery properly recharged. He said that I had to do over 10k miles/yr for the warranty to be in effect. Called BMWNA, and they verified.
My Z4 has 9400 miles after 18 months use. Car didn't start the other day and AAA jump charged the battery. AAA said I should replace the battery. Also had another tech check battery and he said that it seemed OK and needs to be recharged. The indicator eye on the battery is a black color, indicating that the battery needs recharging, but it isn't yellow=replace battery. Anyway, I called my friendly SA at BMW and he told me that the battery wasn't under warranty because I didn't drive the car enough to keep the battery properly recharged. He said that I had to do over 10k miles/yr for the warranty to be in effect. Called BMWNA, and they verified.
2002 TiSil 325i, Step, SP; 2005 Merlot/Tan Z4, 2.5i, Step
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- IMZ4N
- Senior Member
- Posts: 1906
- Joined: Mon Jun 18, 2007 6:55 pm
- Location: Orange County CA
I don't know if what I'm about to say is true with the newer batteries and cars.
I was always told that when a battery goes flat ( not charged ), the car alternator does not have the ability to charge the battery in full.( black indication ) I was told to charge the battery and the car would then be able to keep the battery charged at that point, assuming the car is driven. The car alternator just does not generate enough amperage to charge the battery completely. I'm really surprised that BMW would not charge the battery correctly for you or even to tell you to charge the battery completely.
With the battery showing black there is most likely nothing wrong with the battery other than it needs a complete charge.
IMHO
I was always told that when a battery goes flat ( not charged ), the car alternator does not have the ability to charge the battery in full.( black indication ) I was told to charge the battery and the car would then be able to keep the battery charged at that point, assuming the car is driven. The car alternator just does not generate enough amperage to charge the battery completely. I'm really surprised that BMW would not charge the battery correctly for you or even to tell you to charge the battery completely.
With the battery showing black there is most likely nothing wrong with the battery other than it needs a complete charge.
IMHO
- Flycaster
- Member
- Posts: 206
- Joined: Mon Jun 18, 2007 10:41 pm
- Location: Boynton Beach, FL
- Flycaster
- Member
- Posts: 206
- Joined: Mon Jun 18, 2007 10:41 pm
- Location: Boynton Beach, FL
Reasonable information, agrees with what others have told me. I now have the Battery Tender Plus on order.IMZ4N wrote:I don't know if what I'm about to say is true with the newer batteries and cars.
I was always told that when a battery goes flat ( not charged ), the car alternator does not have the ability to charge the battery in full.( black indication ) I was told to charge the battery and the car would then be able to keep the battery charged at that point, assuming the car is driven. The car alternator just does not generate enough amperage to charge the battery completely. I'm really surprised that BMW would not charge the battery correctly for you or even to tell you to charge the battery completely.
With the battery showing black there is most likely nothing wrong with the battery other than it needs a complete charge.
IMHO
2002 TiSil 325i, Step, SP; 2005 Merlot/Tan Z4, 2.5i, Step
- Kdawg
- Member
- Posts: 172
- Joined: Sun Jun 17, 2007 6:32 pm
- Location: Upstate, NY
I have a 2005, and during a major cold spell this past winter the battery lost enough juice to keep it from turning over, although the dome/dash lights still worked.
I bought a new battery tender on eBay for around 55 shipped. It's convenient, you just plug it into the DC outlet, instead of having to clamp it onto a terminal lead. It did the job over the winter, and I haven't needed it in the spring/summer, even when the car hasn't been driven for a week or two.
I would also agree with IMZ4N. Even after a long drive the alternator does not charge the battery 100%. Afterwards, If I hook up the tender, it will still show it's charging for 8-10 hours after I plugged it in.
I bought a new battery tender on eBay for around 55 shipped. It's convenient, you just plug it into the DC outlet, instead of having to clamp it onto a terminal lead. It did the job over the winter, and I haven't needed it in the spring/summer, even when the car hasn't been driven for a week or two.
I would also agree with IMZ4N. Even after a long drive the alternator does not charge the battery 100%. Afterwards, If I hook up the tender, it will still show it's charging for 8-10 hours after I plugged it in.
Past: 1999 z3 2.8 - Arctic Silver Metallic
Present: 2005 z4 3.0i - Titanium Silver
Present: 2005 z4 3.0i - Titanium Silver
- MoneyFor
- Newbie
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- GaryD
- Member
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- Joined: Mon Jul 16, 2007 4:55 pm
- Location: Shelton, CT
Not true. The alternator has plenty amperage to charge a fully discharged battery. The problem is that when a battery discharges too much it produces sulfate crystals which adhere to the lead plates and reduces the available power that the battery can produce. This basically kills the battery.IMZ4N wrote: . . . I was always told that when a battery goes flat ( not charged ), the car alternator does not have the ability to charge the battery in full. . . . The car alternator just does not generate enough amperage to charge the battery completely.
- WLH
- Lifer
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Useful bit of info about batteries...
http://www.edmunds.com/ownership/techce ... ticle.html
http://www.edmunds.com/ownership/techce ... ticle.html