Battery when garaged over winter

obelix54 · Post by **obelix54** » Sat May 12, 2018 8:23 am

Hi,

I plan to leave my car in the garage for the winter months and wondered if the battery will be ok over that time or if I need a trickle charger ?

Any info' gratefully received.

Smartbear · Post by **Smartbear** » Sat May 12, 2018 8:55 am

obelix54 wrote: ↑Sat May 12, 2018 8:23 am Hi,

I plan to leave my car in the garage for the winter months and wondered if the battery will be ok over that time or if I need a trickle charger ?

Any info' gratefully received.

I would leave it connected to an intelligent charger, you can leave it switched on permanently without worrying about it

Rob

HillWalker · Post by **HillWalker** » Sat May 12, 2018 9:20 am

A trickle charger and a intelligent charger are different, a trickle charger will just keep going putting in a very low amperage so you could leave it on for 24 hrs or more, a intelligent charger will charge the battery till it's fully charged then stop and if you leave it connected will keep topping up the battery.
The best intelligent chargers are ctek or optimate most people on here go for the ctek which is what I've got and am very pleased with.

step_change · Post by **step_change** » Sat May 12, 2018 10:14 am

Not the cheapest but this is the one you want.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/CTEK-MXS-5-0-R ... ek+mxs+5+0

Scooba_Steve · Post by **Scooba_Steve** » Sat May 12, 2018 10:35 am

Get a CTEK

Busterboo · Post by **Busterboo** » Sat May 12, 2018 10:56 am

CTEK or, better still, drive the car.

TitanTim · Post by **TitanTim** » Sun May 13, 2018 8:10 am

I've used cteks for years and they are good, essential if you plan storing the car for months. The only issue I've had is the mode selector button tends to go dodgy after a few years making it difficult to cycle through the modes but apart from that fit and forget. Only got around to getting the 140i out last week after being stored since September and fired up first time otherwise the battery would have been dead.

Tim.

enzed4 · Post by **enzed4** » Sun May 13, 2018 8:48 am

TitanTim wrote: ↑Sun May 13, 2018 8:10 am The only issue I've had is the mode selector button tends to go dodgy after a few years making it difficult to cycle through the modes but apart from that fit and forget.
Tim.

I thought this was just mine

It's done it since new so I just learned to press the outer edge of the button to stop it jumping across multiple modes.

TitanTim · Post by **TitanTim** » Sun May 13, 2018 9:06 am

enzed4 wrote: ↑Sun May 13, 2018 8:48 am
TitanTim wrote: ↑Sun May 13, 2018 8:10 am The only issue I've had is the mode selector button tends to go dodgy after a few years making it difficult to cycle through the modes but apart from that fit and forget.
Tim.
I thought this was just mine It's done it since new so I just learned to press the outer edge of the button to stop it jumping across multiple modes.

Think I'm on my third unit in 13 years due to the mode button. They seem fine when new but over time it gets more difficult cycling through modes and either it won't select or as you say jumps through them. Its odd because I only actually press the button no more than twice a year as once the car is stored and hooked up it's left. I don't think it's so much wear but poor design as it can happen when the unit is new.

One of reasons I like them is because they have a mode for agm stop start batteries, I'm guessing these need charging differently or require a higher charge rate, not sure.

Tim.

eff1guy · Post by **eff1guy** » Sun May 13, 2018 10:09 am

enzed4 wrote: ↑Sun May 13, 2018 8:48 am
TitanTim wrote: ↑Sun May 13, 2018 8:10 am The only issue I've had is the mode selector button tends to go dodgy after a few years making it difficult to cycle through the modes but apart from that fit and forget.
Tim.
I thought this was just mine It's done it since new so I just learned to press the outer edge of the button to stop it jumping across multiple modes.

Mine's gone like this too, PITA sometimes as it takes several attempts to get the correct mode

But other than that it works fine

jabber · Post by **jabber** » Sun May 13, 2018 11:24 am

TitanTim wrote: ↑Sun May 13, 2018 8:10 am I've used cteks for years and they are good, essential if you plan storing the car for months. The only issue I've had is the mode selector button tends to go dodgy after a few years making it difficult to cycle through the modes but apart from that fit and forget. Only got around to getting the 140i out last week after being stored since September and fired up first time otherwise the battery would have been dead.
Tim.

Mines is the same but I have found that if I connect it up but don’t touch any buttons then leave it for 5 minutes the mode button functions correctly

mentalnerve · Post by **mentalnerve** » Sun May 13, 2018 12:37 pm

I've got 2 chargers the ctek mxs7 £80 with the cigarette lighter plug when I bought it. which has various functions and is brilliant for bringing a battery up from the dead and reconditioning it. The other one is a £13 one from Aldi which is useless when the voltage drops below 9v but great as trickle charger

obelix54 · Post by **obelix54** » Sun May 20, 2018 10:10 pm

Thank you all for your advice, CTEK it is !

bob4333 · Post by **bob4333** » Mon May 21, 2018 8:21 am

I doubt you'll regret buying a CTEK, had mine for 10+ years and no malarky.

They're extremely capable and even go into a maintenance routine if left on permanently with the car unused. Even BMW dealerships use them for showroom cars.

Sure I read somewhere they also have a programme for bringing a battery back from the dead. Now that's a feat!

Busterboo · Post by **Busterboo** » Mon May 21, 2018 10:58 pm

mentalnerve wrote: ↑Sun May 13, 2018 12:37 pm I've got ... the ctek mxs7 £80 with the cigarette lighter plug ...

Can you use it on an E89 through the cigarette lighter?

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