How long does your battery remain charged?

[dark_stranger]

Guy, out of interest, how long can you not drive your car before the battery doesnt hold enough charge to start the car? I am finding about 1 1/2weeks and then I have issues starting the car. I have a new alternator and a new Bosch S5 battery, but still find if i dont drive the car for a while, it wont start.

[X5Sport]

If it helps, BMW Dealers are supposed to recharge 'display' cars every three weeks to one month.

I found that my E53 could be left for about three weeks before it got a little 'sluggish' on a one year old S5 battery.  It was not able to be left for longer than about two weeks on the OEM battery, especially as the car got older.  A right pain to fly back from abroad and find the car wouldn't start in the CP it was left at.  That car also had a tracker which drew tiny current to keep its internal/backup power up to date.

Our E46 needs to be condition charged at least monthly or it may not crank enough to start.  Colder weather brings that time down to about three weeks.  The car is garaged but not used.

Richard

[jaynana]

if you leave it the car unattended on a full charge maybe it will last 3 to 4 weeks. in my case it never gets there so my safe bet is 2 weeks.

issue is that my battery rarely gets a chance to get to full charge because the usual runs are like 3 miles each, 4 days a week! that's hardly enough to even give it back teh power it lost during the start-up... + the weekend bit of running.

battery never goes low enough not to start but i know its low when webo fails to fire plus if i test with a voltmeter its around 11.8v

as a result, if i don't do the weekend running, during teh week i hook up the CTEK for about a day. that keeps teh battery a happy bunny.

[briankerrys47]

Twice my 4.4i left on 10days had to charge from normal charger over night in month of May,had batt tested found OK,next failure Sept/Oct 60 days no luck by charging overnight hardly cranked over OBC said requires 'Code' my local Indy came up (FOC) with his BMW Estate Heavy Duty leads 10mins later all ok,then found out about CTEK chargers.

[surveysteve]

I've had my one standing for about 5 weeks and started first time. No idea how old the battery is to be honest.

[jaynana]

I think the E53 drains about 60 to 100ma when on standby.

doesn't help that i have fitted a gsm remote for the webo which drains an additional 60ma current!

j

[X5Sport]

Should be <100mA when 'asleep'.  Some are as low as 50mA but it depends upon the options fitted apparently.

Richard

[dark_stranger]

[quote="X5Sport"]
Should be <100mA when 'asleep'.  Some are as low as 50mA but it depends upon the options fitted apparently.

Richard
[/quote]

What device do I need to tell me what's being pulled from the battery? As if more, I guess something is draining it.

[X5Sport]

Reply #2 in this thread covers how you can do it in some detail.

Basically you need an ammeter/multimeter capable of reading around 20A down to a 50-100mA, start high and work down.

BMW and most indy's will be able to do the same.  If you need to go to much higher current then unless you have a current clamp, best leave to a specialist.

Richard

[dark_stranger]

Think I might have identified the battery drain cause. Whilst trying to figure out why the SatNav and MultiDisc Changer were not working and possibly identified that the after market DVD player was constantly drawing power. Unplugged last Sunday, and car was last driven Monday, so this morning, expecting the car to be dead, it turned over first time )  won't get to excited, but should know by next weekend.

[jaynana]

The worst of 'battery hell' is over - spring is finally here.. Or so I hope )

[Rusty]

[quote="jaynana"]
The worst of 'battery hell' is over - spring is finally here.. Or so I hope )
[/quote]
Ha a ha )


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