[andas]

Have been getting low battery warning if I left my ignition for couple minutes.

Charged my battery up with an automatic charger. And the issue still remained.. Can this mean battery is old and needs to be replaced?

[GoRomeo]

really??

[AM330i]

Yes, most likely you need a new battery. Get it tested first to make sure.

[Bluewater328iT]

It is at least a 10 year old car and likely on its second battery. Yes, the battery is old and get it tested before you get stranded.

[feuer]

Originally Posted by Bluewater328iT

It is at least a 10 year old car and likely on its second battery. Yes, the battery is old and get it tested before you get stranded.

Last one lasted almost 10 years and current is 8 years and 8 monts old. Age is definitely a factor but not the most prevalent factor. I park outside and don't use charger.

[tlow98]

Isn't this normally an indication the alternator has stopped working?

[Wilt]

Put a voltmeter on the battery terminals with the engine off...should be 12.4-12.6V with a fully charged battery, 12.0-12.2V for a battery in need of a charge. If the battery is <12V, it is probable indication of a dead cell.

Put a voltmeter on the battery terminals with the engine running and idling fast, and you should see >13V (typically a charge voltage is 13.5-14.5V) to indicate the batttery is receiving a charge voltage from the alternator+voltage regulator.

[Bluewater328iT]

Originally Posted by feuer

Last one lasted almost 10 years and current is 8 years and 8 monts old. Age is definitely a factor but not the most prevalent factor. I park outside and don't use charger.

That is why you get it tested before buying a new battery. However, batteries that last 8 to 10 years are not the norm. My 6 year old battery was working, but not at top performance. I just prefer to replace it at my convenience rather than risk going out someday and it is dead. Others might be more comfortable with that risk.

[andas]

Originally Posted by Bluewater328iT

That is why you get it tested before buying a new battery. However, batteries that last 8 to 10 years are not the norm. My 6 year old battery was working, but not at top performance. I just prefer to replace it at my convenience rather than risk going out someday and it is dead. Others might be more comfortable with that risk.

Exactly, it might be I still have the first battery the car came with... Because it gets charged, starts the car, keeps the charge overnight, just that it can't stay for too long with ignition on. Probably the charge that the battery can take is limited by age.
Will get it checked and probably change to a new one.

[feuer]

Originally Posted by andas

Exactly, it might be I still have the first battery the car came with... Because it gets charged, starts the car, keeps the charge overnight, just that it can't stay for too long with ignition on. Probably the charge that the battery can take is limited by age.
Will get it checked and probably change to a new one.

No battery in BMW can stay too long with ignition on. BMW is the worse about this. Absolutely the worse. Try other makes....

[John 070]

Originally Posted by AM330i

Get it tested first to make sure.

I didn't test it and simply replaced. Even the dealer who charged me $280, asked me why I felt I needed a battery (car was 5 yrs. old). I actually just wanted to do it, since I felt $280 was a good price (seen on the forum some paid over $400).

Anyway, they did it and I got the old battery back. They told me the old battery was fine. That was 5 years ago, and the old battery still passes a load test today.

And yes, I got the warning too.

Just trying to emphasize the importance of a load test.

[AM330i]

Originally Posted by feuer

No battery in BMW can stay too long with ignition on. BMW is the worse about this. Absolutely the worse. Try other makes....

It's not exactly that the battery can not handle it, Unless the battery is a few years old not holding as much charge. The car will start shutting things down after a period of time to protect the battery from draining. It is to keep you from being stranded somewhere. Doesn't make the car bad. Switching to an AGM battery will help with this.

[John 070]

Originally Posted by AM330i

It's not exactly that the battery can not handle it, Unless the battery is a few years old not holding as much charge. The car will start shutting things down after a period of time to protect the battery from draining. It is to keep you from being stranded somewhere. Doesn't make the car bad. Switching to an AGM battery will help with this.

I honestly believe it has to do with charging habits. My car was not a DD, however, I drove it a few days in a row to work incl. highway. I got the symbol when it was in the 20'sF outside. Radio/bluetooth turned off in like 10 min. I simply said car is 5 y.o., replace battery. That's really not the way to think, although I was satisfied with the $280 dealer price. Wife's aunt has a 2006 330i, now 11 y.o., with the original battery. maybe it is time to replace it, but it shows how long the factory battery can last...

[Josh_G]

my 335i starts first time every time, have had it about a year now and never missed a beat, only once went flat when i was doing some coding when i thought it was om charge when it wasnt. its just got cold here in endgland (minus tempratures) and still start perfectly fine.

now when im sat in a car park or parked up anywhere i get the low battery warning with in like 2 min with the radio on!!! is this normal or is my battery bad?

i feel like if i had a bad battery the car wouldnt turn over or have a struggle when started. i have had a number of cars with dodgy batteries and you can tell they are on the way out. other than the low battery warning i have no other tell tell signs.

Thoughts?

[feuer]

Originally Posted by AM330i

It's not exactly that the battery can not handle it, Unless the battery is a few years old not holding as much charge. The car will start shutting things down after a period of time to protect the battery from draining. It is to keep you from being stranded somewhere. Doesn't make the car bad. Switching to an AGM battery will help with this.

Exactly, isn't the battery is the car but isn't because the car is designed so great and does this to prevent the battery from completely draining. BMW simply requires much more of the battery when the ignition is on. Other makes do not.