02-28-2015, 07:32 PM | #1 |
Alphanumeric
Join Date: Aug 2005
Carmudgeonly Ride: 981S, 340i
Posts: 9,584
|
Dead battery on the e46 m3
The weeks of snow/ice/salt enforced parking took its toll on the m3. Car didn't start on Thursday evening. I jumped it, drove it for 45 minutes.
It started on Friday evening, but this morning I took it Advanced Auto Parts. They measured 12.2V, 600CCA@26F. So that's 45 minutes of town but a bit revvy driving a day before and 8-10 minutes just before the measurement. Battery is a Bosch 48-690B, rated 850CCA@32F, 690@0F. Interpolation gives me 820CCA@26F, so it was slightly below 75%. Since there is no plug/outlet that I can use in my condo garage, I pulled it from my car, brought it home and plugged it to my delran motorcycle tender/trickle charger. It might take a whole night or even longer for it to properly charge. 1. Will this battery fully recover? 2. If not, any recommendations on what to put in? This was about a $145 battery that the previous owner installed in 5/2012, so it has not even been 3 years. Since then, car has done about 8-9k miles (almost all with me). The bosch weighed in at 38lbs, I wouldn't want to go heavier, though I have no use for a light/racey battery. |
02-28-2015, 07:59 PM | #2 |
lawn boy
Join Date: Oct 2003
Carmudgeonly Ride: e46m3, f25x3,C5 Z06, C4 Vette, 06 CTD Ram, and a trailer
Location: Maryland
Posts: 14,029
|
I've always had hit, or (mostly) miss luck recovering dead batteries.
I picked up a battery from Walmart for mine earlier this winter after the original battery finally succumbed to age and the cold. |
02-28-2015, 08:51 PM | #3 |
•••••••
Join Date: Oct 2003
Carmudgeonly Ride: '11 1M
Location: Churzee
Posts: 17,741
|
I think three years for a battery in a modern BMW is a clear win. Cut the loss and buy a new one. (Sorry, no knowledgable recommendation from me)
__________________
2011 1M |
02-28-2015, 09:27 PM | #4 | |
Relic
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Bethesda, MD
Posts: 12,458
|
Quote:
I'd be concerned about whether the alternator is starting to go.
__________________
2011 M3 2006 Sierra 2500HD 4WD LBZ/Allison 2004 X5 3.0i 6MT 1995 M3 S50B32 1990 325is 1989 M3 S54B32 Hers: 1989 325iX 1996 911 Turbo |
|
02-28-2015, 11:31 PM | #5 |
Alphanumeric
Join Date: Aug 2005
Carmudgeonly Ride: 981S, 340i
Posts: 9,584
|
My 00 528 had only one battery replacement, at 7 years and at 14 years the second battery was going strong. So I do think 3 is a bit short, though the year before I bought it the car only did 1k miles, so that may have done some damage. I probably should have someone check the alternator before I put in a new one... Thanks, Nick!
|
03-01-2015, 08:05 AM | #6 | |
dogged
Join Date: Dec 2003
Carmudgeonly Ride: '22 M440 xDrive GC
Posts: 13,294
|
Quote:
|
|
03-01-2015, 09:06 AM | #7 |
Alphanumeric
Join Date: Aug 2005
Carmudgeonly Ride: 981S, 340i
Posts: 9,584
|
Ah, well some kind of parasitic drain is another possibility. I do have a clutch stop but more importantly the rather wonky Dice mediabridge Ipod player is wired in. That would be my prime suspect.
Last edited by equ; 03-01-2015 at 10:13 AM. |
03-01-2015, 09:36 AM | #8 |
swinging for the fences
Join Date: Oct 2003
Carmudgeonly Ride: 987, X7 M60i, e36 M3
Location: Boston, MA
Posts: 5,036
|
|
03-01-2015, 10:02 AM | #9 |
Vicarious Twitterer
Join Date: May 2005
Carmudgeonly Ride: 06 330 cic ZHP
Location: CT
Posts: 7,566
|
I replaced my original battery last May in my 06 ZHP. I sprang for the OEM BMW setup - I thought 8 years was pretty good.
|
03-01-2015, 06:30 PM | #10 |
There and back again
Join Date: Oct 2003
Carmudgeonly Ride: 2003 BMW 325xiT; looking for a new fun car
Location: New York
Posts: 2,939
|
Back in the day, the theory being advanced on the old forum was that US BMW batteries aren't as good as the ones installed by the factory in Germany. The German ones were [then?] made by Varta, and the Interstate replacement I've posted about here some years back was also Varta. I think Interstate switched to their in-house MegaWhatever now, though.
|
Bookmarks |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
P-car battery dead, what a PITA | FC | Car Talk | 10 | 01-16-2013 12:14 PM |
Dead battery in the E46 M3 | TD | Technical Superiority | 25 | 01-23-2012 02:40 PM |
BMW 330i Battery Warning Light? ZHP dead. | lupinsea | Technical Superiority | 16 | 03-08-2008 12:16 AM |
Now my battery is dead in the M3 | TD | Car Talk | 119 | 01-26-2004 10:34 AM |