ANOTHER battery issue

[Aaron_P85]

So I've just bought an E70....its been stood since 15th December until Sunday just gone.... started on the button but the time/date needed reset....completed that and drove an hour home on the A1...

next morning 'BING' time/date need set again, and cranked over a little slower...but started first time...

I've unlocked the hidden menu and checked voltages
Idle: 14.9/15v
switch off: drops under to 12v within 60 seconds - illuminating the battery sign and shutting down near enough everything...
so with everything off I went on a 45 minute, non stop, motorway journey...turned the car off...waited circa 2 minutes with the ignition on but 'everthing' off and BING battery sign again.

no 'high drainage' signs and its an original BMW battery....perhaps the original? before I take it to the local Coopers...does this sound like a dying battery or something else?

I have used the search function, and can find each of my symptoms separately...but not together

[Horizon]

Sound like a failing battery to me. 14+ volts whilst running shows the alternator is charging ok. If the battery is dropping to 12 volts so soon is a sign too.
I would leave it on a trickle charge overnight and re monitor .
You havnt told us the age of the car, if it's got the original battery on it and it's 5 years old I would change it as a matter of preventative maintenance. If it's a BMW battery they are date stamped on the top of rhe terminals.

[Aaron_P85]

Didn't know that about the date, thanks -- That's that then... 05/10 nearly 6 years old 

[celica]

How did you read the volts in hidden menu having issues getting to it?

[Nine468]

It must be winter as there are a lot of dead batteries around.
Mine has just had to be replaced, i got a similar problem, dash reset, high drain messages.
Put on charge for 24hrs, then ok for about a week, but then back to dash reseting, so got a new battery fitted and coded , now all fine, BUT only after charging it up on the trickle charger overnight, It might have been on the shelf for a while...

[celica]

Thanks

What messages did you have or was it just the clocks resetting

What trickle charger have you got, after reading here I'm looking for ctek for AGM

[Aaron_P85]

Been quoted £275 by BM to supply, fit & code... Insane.
Bought Bosch S5 for £105 and Indy to code it in - £155 total.

I'm now looking to have the tarnished aluminium on the side steps painted all with my wheels in anthracite... Is the aluminium part just bonded on and pop the rubber grips out?

[Nine468]

I just had the dash reseting itself, ie clock and trip meter etc, then a low battery warning message.
My battery cost me £185 fully fitted and coded by my indie...
The trickle charger i have is one from Aldi, and it works just great, way cheaper than the Cteck ones...

[celica]

I'm hoping to get ctek one as not sure cheap one from halfords is compatible with AGM

I went for the above route. Standard battery and coded for something like £160-170

Found out my old one was AGM so had it upgraded and paid the difference due to the issues of increased battery discharge message, cost differential £70. So about £240 all in, but still having issues as mentioned

Maybe should have gone to Bmw if it was at £275 and paid the difference as if having the clocks reset and error message would have got BMW to re look

Not sure what Indy can offer next

[Aaron_P85]

NOW I'm getting the dash reset and high drainage message.....battery death iminent haha

[BullyB]

[quote="Aaron_P85"]
I've unlocked the hidden menu and checked voltages
[/quote]

how do you do that?

[celica]

[quote="BullyB"]
[quote="Aaron_P85"]
I've unlocked the hidden menu and checked voltages
[/quote]

how do you do that?
[/quote]

Took me several attempts but this guide describes how

http://www.scoopz.com/m5board/E60_Hidde ... ctions.pdf

[celica]

[quote="Aaron_P85"]
NOW I'm getting the dash reset and high drainage message.....battery death iminent haha
[/quote]

I recommend going for an AGM battery if you have one already
I've been having issues as per my other thread
Hope it fixed itself