G29 - Status of battery?

[Nanu]

Just wondering if there is there any way to check status of battery via the idrive?

Whilst sitting in the car park today waiting for STMBO to return from a shop listening to the radio, I got a message stating that the car was going to switch off systems unless I started the engine.

After being parked up in the garage for 3 weeks and before that, having heating, heated seats and steering wheel in use, I suspect the battery charge to be low but wondering with all the tech on the car, if you can find out the level of charge? A brief scroll though the system and I can't find any.

Been on a run of about 70 miles today but I will put it on charge anyway tomorrow but it would be nice to know if I can check it via the car itself

[B21]

I don’t know G29 systems..but based on its predecessor I doubt it…

Best bet is to put it on an intelligent charger.

[ronk]

My car albeit an F30 (2015) gives me a “iDrive is shutting down” warning after a while sitting waiting!
It also asks to press the radio on / off button if I want to continue listening. Other systems go dead.

I’m sure my E89 (2016) does the same. - I would nip out into the garage and check - but it’s too cold!

[PSQ777]

Just wondering if there is there any way to check status of battery via the idrive?

Whilst sitting in the car park today waiting for STMBO to return from a shop listening to the radio, I got a message stating that the car was going to switch off systems unless I started the engine.

After being parked up in the garage for 3 weeks and before that, having heating, heated seats and steering wheel in use, I suspect the battery charge to be low but wondering with all the tech on the car, if you can find out the level of charge? A brief scroll though the system and I can't find any.

Been on a run of about 70 miles today but I will put it on charge anyway tomorrow but it would be nice to know if I can check it via the car itself

I posted about my battery issues over on the Problems board. My battery is being replaced this week. The most obvious symptom I have seen is that the internal lights including the ambient light strips will not switch on when you unlock the car. Then occasionally I see a low charge warning and the car computer recommends an extended drive. I read about this and the car will switch off anything that could impede starting. I finally got a notification that I need a battery service. Unfortunately I haven't found a way of checking the battery status, the prompts only come when there is an issue.

[Nanu]

Thanks, I haven’t had any warnings yet or recommendations other than to switch on the engine.

Just to be on the safe side, will connect up the battery charger and from memory that does show the level of charge.

Surprised there is not this facility on a car that can do checks on just about everything else!

[G29Z4]

I have a G29z4 and a 330e and both do this after several minutes. It’s to preserve charge on the battery and to make sure the radio etc aren’t left on for long periods by accident thus flattening the battery.

[q96169we]

The car's onboard energy management system is designed to power off the system gradually if engine is not running but aux is on, unless you are in diagonosis mode. If your battery is indeed become very low and you keep waking up the car without starting the engine, there will be a warning message about start engine for battery maintainance.

About battery charge measurement, there isn't anything in iDrive that can give you percise percentage of the state of charge (SoC). I have BimmerLink which can give me percise reading. The lowest percetange I have dipped into is 30-40%, and at that point, no warning was given in iDrive but I can feel the engin start crank is weeker than battery SoC higher than 70%. As I only drive the car once per week purely to let everything circulate, it's always on the trickle charger these days.

[Nanu]

Cheers for the feedback.

Had the car in for a service last week and mechanic said just about the same, to make suer there is always enough charge in the battery to start the car and perform basic functions and not to worry, the battery is fine.

Did suggest a trickle charge now and again never goes amiss during winter or if the car is not being used often for longer journeys

[q96169we]

In my old car (like 200x old, not 19xx old), I unplugged the battery negative terminal when I knew it would be parked for some while. But with latest car, I prefer using trickle charger as unstable battery voltage, or unplug battery may make the electronic unhappy. Based on my read of the car's FYI memory (like fault code, but it's logged just FYI), the car actually knows I connect it to a trickle charger so I assume the 'clever' electronic will adjust to it if necessary.

[PaperSniper]

We now have three cars. We are retired......
1. My wife's/our normal driver, a 330e which gets plenty of use, enough that I'm not concerned about its battery charge (garaged, plugged in)
2. My car, the Z4 which gets very little use. I average about 4000 miles per year so far (garaged, not plugged in).
3. Our recently purchased bastard child Mazda CX-30. We bought so we can use it during rainy days, etc so the other other two beauties can stay beautiful. We also use it for trips since it has more cargo capacity than the 330e. It is kept outside and will likely also get plenty of miles.

I am a bit concerned about my Z4. I try to drive it at least every 10 days, and for perhaps an hour each time. But I do wonder about connecting a Battery Tender Jr or something like that. I have several of those in the house that I used to use on motorcycles (BMWs also, of course). What are your thoughts on that? Should I concerned with the Z4's lack of use? If a battery tender is suggested, any thoughts on how to connect it so it's easy to connect/disconnect? Location, etc?

Thanks.

Doug

[B21]

If the car is garaged I’d put the Zed on a decent charger that can stay permanently connected..but I wouldn’t bother with the faff of wiring it in..I’d just use the hit live in the engine bay to connect it..

Far better than just starting it every so often…

[PaperSniper]

"....I’d just use the hit live in the engine bay to connect it...."

What's that?

[B21]

"....I’d just use the hit live in the engine bay to connect it...."

What's that?

Sorry..auto correct.. hot live..there’s a jumper / charger point in the engine bay covered by a removable red plastic cover..it’s where you should attach chargers rather than direct to the battery..

[Pondrew]

I am a bit concerned about my Z4. I try to drive it at least every 10 days, and for perhaps an hour each time. But I do wonder about connecting a Battery Tender Jr or something like that. I have several of those in the house that I used to use on motorcycles (BMWs also, of course). What are your thoughts on that? Should I concerned with the Z4's lack of use? If a battery tender is suggested, any thoughts on how to connect it so it's easy to connect/disconnect? Location, etc?

Stick it on a 'maintenance charger' once a week until it is fully charged. Simples.
Also if you have motorcycle specific chargers, they tend to be very low current (as bike batteries hold around 10 times less juice than cars). They should work on a car but may take a long time to charge. Most modern chargers have 'modes' to change from cars to bikes, AGM to normal lead acid, etc. A 5 amp charger is ideal IMO.