Non BMW replacement battery for E53 - Check vent holes.

AW8 · Post by **AW8** » Sat Apr 09, 2011 12:40 am

X5 has been doing fewer average miles & been left parked/resting for longer periods than it has been used to & the battery has been pushed somewhat. Battery was a Bosch silver unit with 4 yr warranty as bought & fitted by me 3 yrs ago. New one fitted today by me on warranty exchange from local supplier after they checked same. Glad I bought locally, checked warranty & keep receipt.

On removing failed battery I noticed slight mositure on top of spare wheel. Vent pipe on the positive side undamaged. I have since noticed these Bosch batteries have a vent hole at either end - I believe one should be plugged. Bosch leaflet with battery states vent plug(s) should not be fitted both ends but no mention of a plug being supplied for end absent of vent pipe being attached. I found plug for negative side molded into one of the battery storage terminal covers & which I nearly threw away - now fitted into non tube attached vent hole. Leaflet suggests spares can be sourced from Bosch. Cunning improvisation (duct tape ?) might suffice in interim if your plug has been accidentally disposed of.

Worth checking vent plug situation on non BMW batteries so as to avoid moisture build up under boot floor.

X5Sport · Post by **X5Sport** » Sat Apr 09, 2011 3:21 am

Good catch. I was careful to look for the vent plugs when I changed ours this Winter. I kept the terminal covers 'just in case', although now I think about I'm not sure of what...

It is also worth noting that if you are not buying an OEM battery, that not all replacements are vented, or have vents in the correct place. I have seen batteries with the vent on top as well as those where it is at the other end, and no plugs at all. Some of the 'Halfords' badged batteries were like this a while back but may have changed since.

ITBarbie · Post by **ITBarbie** » Sat Apr 09, 2011 7:44 am

Hi

I've never heard of this before and was of the impression I just fitted it and that was that! I put in my Bosch about 2 months ago and not kept terminal covers. Should I now go back in and investigate as I don't want moisture build up?

Penny

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x555 · Post by **x555** » Sat Apr 09, 2011 7:50 am

Good call AW8

I will check mine aswell as i put the vent pipe back on to the new battery (positive side) but never even thought to check the other side.

X5Sport · Post by **X5Sport** » Sat Apr 09, 2011 9:31 am

[quote=""ITBarbie""]Hi

I've never heard of this before and was of the impression I just fitted it and that was that! I put in my Bosch about 2 months ago and not kept terminal covers. Should I now go back in and investigate.....[/quote]

Yes is the short answer. Probably little chance of much buildup in the warm temps the UK is having, but worth checking that there is a bung in the other hole. You can always batt your eyelids a Halfrauds oik and play the 'dumb blonde' asking if there is supposed to be something in the hole?

AW8 · Post by **AW8** » Sat Apr 09, 2011 12:54 pm

Definitely worth checking. My spare had significant mositure on same and we have had milder weather in recent days too.........I suspect me charging in recent weeks may have cooked things up a little.

For those who have fitted a Bosch it's fair to expect abscence of plug/bung to negative side if you don't recall fitting aforemetioned plug/bung. Maybe worth sourcing same before removing wheel & compressor- try battery supplier 1st or or maybe Bosh UK Switchboard: 01895 834 466. Make sure you have correct battery details.

Ideally if being really efficent I would have also performed a simple vent pipe flow test, perhaps when battery out causing water to be squirted down pipe & getting another to look underside for signs of water exit so as to ensure nothing is blocked etc. No idea where exit is exactly albeit pipe being on nearside of spare wheel well indicates probable exit.Bosch dramatically claim risk of explosion if both vent holes to battery bunged/blocked thus it would make sense for any sole functioning vent pipe to be doing it's job properly.

N.B. This for benefit of those who havent removed battery before. >>>> Only remove compressor by unbolting the 4 nuts on the surrounding triangular frame. Be careful not to stretch/damage connectors & cables. Use a helper if easier. Wheel removal far easier if you properly connect the spare cradle strap fitting handle into lower tailgate recess and opening same ,(assuming it's not tangled badly routed from twisting or jack storeage). Also wise to remove floor or attach raised same using clip to attach floor to top of upper taIlgate rubber, (opposite the top nearside hinge).

Sanj · Post by **Sanj** » Sat Apr 09, 2011 3:16 pm

Got me a teeny weeny bit worried so I checked wife's 1er (as that's easier to access).

I'm guessing this is the vent hole (thin red arrow there somewhere):

If that's correct (AW8 or X5Sport should be able to confirm - I'm just guessing), then this is it in situ (again circle shows where it's connected and the arrow where the grey vent pipe disappears to the outside of the car).

Hope it helps and isn't duff info! If it is, please feel free to remove.

AW8 · Post by **AW8** » Sat Apr 09, 2011 5:52 pm

Yes that's correct Sanj...........useful pics- thanks for sharing

The image with arrow is the one I plugged up( negative side). I am assuming that there is free passage across top of battery thus allowing either end to be used for venting in boot floor instalations with vent pipework.

The vent pipe being in situ in our cars suggests mositure or damp vapour should escape via same & not into cabin thus by default the opoosite end should be blocked. Abscence of a second pipe further points to this. I am assuming prescence of hole on either end is to allow battery to be used for other vehicles where vent pipe on negative side or maybe on older cars of other makes where battery vents into engine bay.

I still have my old BMW X5 battery (that I removed in 2008). I have just checked it........I can confirm it has 2 vent holes. The vent hole on negative side is definitely blocked by a plug/bung.

Folk who have not bought their cars new should not assume that any car has original battery so this is worth checking.

x555 · Post by **x555** » Sat Apr 09, 2011 7:53 pm

Just to add ....i havent checked in the boot yet but i am now sure that i need to bung the new battery as whilst waiting for mrs x555 to get ready to go out (as always

) i remembered that the original bmw battery was still in the garage so thought i would check it.
And yes it was bunged on the negative side....i than ralized that the new battery terminal caps were next to the old battery ready to dispose off

so i now have the bung aswell to sort the new battery out

here are the terminal caps with the bung/plug attached

and on the new battery without me even noticing

you can just make out the black plug in this pic

HTH

Typical she is now ready and complaining that i am making us late

yes darling coming

AW8 · Post by **AW8** » Sat Apr 09, 2011 9:05 pm

[quote=""x555""].........the new battery terminal caps were next to the old battery ready to dispose off [/quote]

My post & timing hopefully of some use to you.

Thanks for sharing pics & info for others

centurion · Post by **centurion** » Mon Jan 05, 2015 12:51 pm

cheers for the info... as for last couple pics (green/yeallow/black) where would you get an indicator that battery needs replacing on the actual battery [apart from obvious one that vehicle is slow to crank and such like]?

535dboy · Post by **535dboy** » Mon Jan 05, 2015 5:11 pm

Wow holly thread revival !

Even includes a pic of IT !

What ever happened to my old mucker X555?

X5Sport · Post by **X5Sport** » Mon Jan 05, 2015 6:04 pm

He got older. Now X666.........

)

X5-D-Sport · Post by **X5-D-Sport** » Mon Jan 05, 2015 11:35 pm

Another issue. . . .
Don't so much worry about the moisture issue being wet . . .

More like - what is the moisture ?

It is Sulphuric acid !

This moisture will EAT electronics - namely circuit boards, electrical connectors, the copper tracking, strip off coatings of spade connectors and corrode terminal blocks etc etc...

Basically, the boot of our beloved vehicles is stuffed with electronic / electrical junk !
Ensure the battery is vented to atmosphere, as all sorts of gremlins will creep in as a result, as the acid vapour eats away at all the delicate stuff !

Smeeagain · Post by **Smeeagain** » Wed Jan 07, 2015 4:04 pm

[quote="Sanj"]
Got me a teeny weeny bit worried so I checked wife's 1er (as that's easier to access).

I'm guessing this is the vent hole (thin red arrow there somewhere):

If that's correct (AW8 or X5Sport should be able to confirm - I'm just guessing), then this is it in situ (again circle shows where it's connected and the arrow where the grey vent pipe disappears to the outside of the car).

Hope it helps and isn't duff info! If it is, please feel free to remove.
[/quote]

How come there are so many cables in/out of the battery?

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