Battery Problems
Printed From: BMW Car Club Forum
Category: Cars & Registers
Forum Name: General
Forum Description: Discussion forum for general topics
URL: https://www.bmwccgbforum.co.uk/forum_posts.asp?TID=8212
Printed Date: 27 Mar 2026 at 4:25am
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 12.03 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Battery Problems
Posted By: Andy McClay
Subject: Battery Problems
Date Posted: 21 Sep 2012 at 9:43am
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Hi. I am new to BMW so would welcome any advice. I bought a new 520d M Sport in May this year. In that time the battery has totally discharged 3 times. My dealer tells me it is my driving profile i.e. too many short journeys. My driving profile has not changed in the last 5 years during which time I had a Land Rover and a Lexus with no such problems. I would have thought that the battery could cope with all driving conditions these days. Any thoughts would be appreciated. Thanks. ------------- Andy |
Replies:
Posted By: AShah
Date Posted: 21 Sep 2012 at 12:14pm
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More likely to be an earth fault. Its worth checking that with an auto electirican. Have you got anyhting aftermarket fitted like an imobiliser that could cause it. ------------- E36 home of South Wales! '96 Alpina B3 3.2 Touring '91 325iSEA 4 Door Old: '93 325 Coupe '96 318is Coupe '92 320 Coupe '96 318is Coupe '97 328 Cabriolet '95 M3 4 Door '99 323 Sport Tourer |
Posted By: DJ Syxx
Date Posted: 21 Sep 2012 at 7:01pm
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Or could be your final stage resistor going faulty as this causes battery drain, failing that maybe the alternator is not properly charging the battery either. As above the earth connection easy to check if there's any corrosion. ------------- 
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Posted By: Andy McClay
Date Posted: 22 Sep 2012 at 8:03am
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Thanks folks. This is getting very annoying as the battery has discharged yet again overnight. Dealer taking it back in for another look next week. I will post the result for information. ------------- Andy |
Posted By: Andy McClay
Date Posted: 22 Sep 2012 at 8:07am
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No after mqrket kit fitted. Brand new in May. ------------- Andy |
Posted By: Mike Fishwick
Date Posted: 22 Sep 2012 at 8:29am
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Sounds like the dealer is trying to fob you off - so much for BMW technicians! If the alternator voltage and normal drain current are OK, the battery could be the problem. |
Posted By: Cambell
Date Posted: 23 Sep 2012 at 7:16am
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DJ Syxx wrote:Posted By: Andy McClay
Date Posted: 01 Oct 2012 at 8:33pm
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Surprise. Battery charged overnight Thursday by Dealer and dead tonight. Will see what they say tomorrow. ------------- Andy |
Posted By: Cabrio
Date Posted: 01 Oct 2012 at 11:41pm
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Old fashioned way was always to check voltage and any drop due to circuits and reduce circuits that are live ...in the past woud be done by pulling fuses but can't do the on man new cars as would need resetting some units so need to be careful In the past hve found items like heated door locks, tracker unit, interior light eg boot etc If overcharging overnight then has to be something carrying a decent voltage - if it's a boot light can remove bulb etc Also in past found loose battery connections can then create a flat battery when checked at alternator etc Need a bit more info really but it is fixable ------------- E30 Register joint coordinator - Competition Secretary - Contact name Neil for PM and Email - cabrio_e30@yahoo.co.uk - be aware addicted to E numbers |
Posted By: Andy McClay
Date Posted: 04 Oct 2012 at 11:25am
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Thanks all. Dealer picked up car on Wednesday for "testing". Will post results for info in due course. P.S. Although I have requested emails for replies I do not get any so apologies if I do not respond quickly. ------------- Andy |
Posted By: Andy McClay
Date Posted: 05 Oct 2012 at 8:44pm
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Update. Just for info Dealer could not get to the bottom of the problem and had to send reports to a BMW tech dept. BMW have instructed that a new "intelligent battery sensor" is fitted and a new battery. Dealer keeping car overnight to check problem of battery drain resolved. Fingers crossed. ------------- Andy |
Posted By: Norrie
Date Posted: 18 Oct 2012 at 1:36pm
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My son had a similiar battery problem in his 325i E92. BMW seem to have different duty batteries? I am sorry I dont have the specific details but when we compared his battery with mine in the E92 335d his was of a lower specification. We changed the battery to the highest spec that BMW did for the 3 series E92 and problem cured. If you have an i pod for example, disconnect it or anything that might drain the battery. Also make sure that no interior lights have blown as we found that one of the map reading lights blew it seem to still draw current. I assume the altenator is charging the battery ok? It may very well be anything those previous mails have suggested. ------------- n |
Posted By: Andy McClay
Date Posted: 18 Oct 2012 at 10:46pm
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So far no further problems Norrie. ------------- Andy |
Posted By: Norrie
Date Posted: 18 Oct 2012 at 11:01pm
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Andy, great enjoy motoring ------------- n |
Posted By: davebrindlee36m3
Date Posted: 05 Nov 2013 at 3:13am
| Lack of use, alarm and maybe if a tracker is fitted, or just battery needs changing ? |
Posted By: PaulW
Date Posted: 23 Jan 2014 at 5:58pm
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I have a 2003 m3 and the battery on mine has drained a number of times for no apparent reason. I phoned Tracker regarding an unrelated issue and they informed me that the backup battery for the tracker was showing low and needed replacing. It is the rechargeable type! Job done, so will wait and see if this was the culprit for my irregular drain. ------------- Paul 2003 E46 M3 Titanium Silver 'Drive with Passion' |
Posted By: Norrie
Date Posted: 23 Jan 2014 at 9:23pm
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That is interesting I have exactly the same problem now, my car is at Sytner Nottingham. I am having battery draining issues. Tracker came out and could not find my tracker, Sytner have located it and isolated it, so waiting to find outcome. ------------- n |
Posted By: PaulW
Date Posted: 23 Jan 2014 at 10:10pm
Hi Norrie, Will be interested to read your outcome. Bizarre that Tracker could not find your tracker! Tracker had the location of mine recorded on their system. The guy that came out to change the battery on mine was a Tracker employee and not contract. I specifically asked for one of Trackers own people! I was very impressed, he was very professional and also importantly used a protective mat when accessing the car. ;) ------------- Paul 2003 E46 M3 Titanium Silver 'Drive with Passion' |
Posted By: davebrindlee36m3
Date Posted: 23 Jan 2014 at 11:24pm
| I was told by tracker that once the tracker battery had drained it was not rechargeable, if the car battery is left to go flat then the tracker battery will just drain until its signal weakens. once this happens its a £95 call out to replace the tracker battery. |
Posted By: PaulW
Date Posted: 24 Jan 2014 at 9:36am
Tracker (guy on the phone) told me the same .... However the Tracker technician told me who I am more likely to believe as he has been with the company more than 10 years, that I have a generation 2 model which is fitted with a rechargeable battery that gets topped up from the main car battery and should last approximately 10 years. Oh the call out is £99, as of last week. ------------- Paul 2003 E46 M3 Titanium Silver 'Drive with Passion' |
Posted By: Norrie
Date Posted: 24 Jan 2014 at 3:45pm
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Tracker call out charge (99) includes labour and replacement battery. However my problem was that the original fitting was done by Sytner Nottingham in 2006. They secreted so well that the tracker guy could not find it. Therefore I felt compelled to return the car to Nottingham. They have now located the tracker and disabled it. This will then tell us if the battery draining problem is caused by a faulty tracker. Tracker charge 60 pounds more for a replacement unit if the original is defective. However, I am hoping the tracker was not the cause of the battery draining and it is some other component, the latter being the case it is probably covered by my extended warranty. If not an it is a defective tracker I am liable for all investigative costs at 100 pounds plus per hour, ouch! ------------- n |
Posted By: davebrindlee36m3
Date Posted: 25 Jan 2014 at 3:40pm
My original Tracker was replaced about 2 years ago due to my car battery draining and the signal given off by my Tracker was weak, would this mean I now have a generation 2 tracker ?. I only spoke to Tracker about 3 months ago and was told all Tracker batteries once drained lose there signal strength and are not rechargeable. Also its worth remembering if your insurance company are informed by you that a Tracker is fitted then no signal means no INSURANCE ! If you ring Tracker they can check your signal strength for you. I was told the Tracker battery feeds off the car battery, therefore if that keeps draining then its only a matter of time before the Tracker is not working. 
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Posted By: davebrindlee36m3
Date Posted: 25 Jan 2014 at 3:45pm
Norrie when your Tracker was fitted in 2006 by Sytner they are supposed to let Tracker know the location on your car, they have codes for different areas were they fit them, when mine was replaced the tech from Tracker knew were mine was. 
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Posted By: PaulW
Date Posted: 25 Jan 2014 at 4:24pm
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My tracker was fitted by the dealership originally. Even the Tracker Technician confirmed that, not only because it was held on record, but by the type of insulation tape used! (He did make the comment that knowing sort of detail was a bit anal!, but hey its all in the detail). He said only Porsche and BMW use this particular tape. Dave, I suspect if your tracker was replaced only a couple of years back then you may well have the later unit which as you have said once the battery does start to drain has no ability to recharge. The technician did tell me that the later units were not fitted with rechargeable batteries, essentially because of cost. A point worth noting. If your tracker battery has drained and the car battery is then subsequently disconnected, the Tracker becomes disabled. Hope you get your issue resolved Norrie. As Dave said the dealer should have notified Tracker of the location. You can't help a miscommunication or none in this case. Locating and disconnecting wouldn't have taken an hour, so I'm sure you'll be ok in any event. ------------- Paul 2003 E46 M3 Titanium Silver 'Drive with Passion' |
Posted By: davebrindlee36m3
Date Posted: 26 Jan 2014 at 1:52pm
My original Tracker was installed by a BMW main dealer in 1997 and due to car battery keep draining the Tracker battery lost its signal ? I was told 2 years ago that none are rechargeable. ? 
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Posted By: Cabrio
Date Posted: 26 Jan 2014 at 3:50pm
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Dave ...all the ones I have seen are small sealed lead acid batteries that are rechargable ...and they are wired into the car so only fail if left flat too long as a norm ------------- E30 Register joint coordinator - Competition Secretary - Contact name Neil for PM and Email - cabrio_e30@yahoo.co.uk - be aware addicted to E numbers |
Posted By: PaulW
Date Posted: 26 Jan 2014 at 5:15pm
It's really frustrating when you speak with people within the same organisation (Tracker I'm referring too here!) and you ask a straight forward question and receive contradictory information  ------------- Paul 2003 E46 M3 Titanium Silver 'Drive with Passion' |