Battery life..

B

bluestreak56

Veteran
 Maidenhead
In December, after I returned from a 2 week trip abroad, I took my 2001 (51) E46 compact to Tesco's (1.1 miles away)

After 45 mins in the shop I came back, tried to start the car and was greeted by lots of clicking, flashing dash lights, flashing lights and a groaning noise behind the dash.

A few hours later I managed to get my mums Hyundai Getz down there and jump start it to which it started first time. I thought nothing more of it and carried on.

Today I jumped in the car and tried to start it and had the same issue (car has moved other than between drives for over a week).

I looked in the boot and to my amazement it has an original BMW battery with a sticker on it dated 2004 (spare wheel check ok)! I checked the voltage at standstill 11.6v and was amazed, can it really have lasted nearly 11 years?

I've looked through the paperwork I have (only have docs back to 2006 and not all Im sure) and theres nothing about the battery being replaced..

So my question is .. has anyone else ever heard of a battery lasting this long? If so is it worth me buying another BMW one or Bosch / Varta?
 
I know of a few individual that have Z3's where there OEM battery lasted for 9 or 10 years but most of the were put away for the winter and the battery was on a maintainer...
 
It's current you need to start the car (amps not volts) so 11.6V with a voltmeter is no good unless it can push it out with enough current to spin your motor. My Zed looks like it has the original battery and will be 10 years old in July.
 
GreyZed said:
It's current you need to start the car (amps not volts) so 11.6V with a voltmeter is no good unless it can push it out with enough current to spin your motor. My Zed looks like it has the original battery and will be 10 years old in July.
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x1
 
Same, my Zed's on the original 2003 unit but I do put it on a Ctek conditioner if it's not going to be used for a week or more which helps the plates.
 
WLH said:
I know of a few individual that have Z3's where there OEM battery lasted for 9 or 10 years but most of the were put away for the winter and the battery was on a maintainer...
Click to expand...

Agree. My Z has only ever been used under those conditions and the original battery lasted 9 years.
 
as above.

batteries are known to have a long lifespan if cared for properly.

most however don't.

Since spending what many would consider an absurd amount for a car battery given it's specs (XS Power D5100); I've gotten in the habit of charging it once a week with a ctek charger.

Never missed a beat to date.
 
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