Battery State.....

[Maria1]

Due to Covid our E89 3.0i is stuck in a garage in Spain without a trickle charger. Unfortunately it's a communal garage without power sockets.....We had to leave it suddenly and return to the the Uk at the end of October when it all went horrendous again. We have no idea when we will get back but it seems unlikely that it will be before the end of February at the earliest. That means at least 13 weeks without being used. Beforehand, the battery was relatively new and good shape. But I suspect it will be as flat as a pancake when we get to retrieve it. My aim (if we are allowed to carry one on board) is to take one of those booster packs and use it on the terminals once I have opened the door and bonnet with the manual key. This will then allow me to open the boot for me to take the battery to the flat to be charged on a CTEK. Question is can you take a CTEK and booster in hand luggage on a plane? And is this a plan?

 

[Smartbear]

I’m not 100% but I’d say the charger would be ok but not the booster battery due to the potential hazard it presents to the aircraft.
It might be easier to just throw a new battery on it as once they go very flat they’re never the same again :?
Rob

 

[Smartbear]

I’m not 100% but I’d say the charger would be ok but not the booster battery due to the potential hazard it presents to the aircraft.
It might be easier to just throw a new battery on it as once they go very flat they’re never the same again :?
If you have to leave it again, it’s probably best to remove one of the battery leads to stop the constant load discharging it.
Rob

 

[Anonymous]

From an airline viewpoint a battery booster pack would be regarded as dangerous goods, therefore not eligible for air transport without considerable paperwork and costs.

SmartBear’ s suggestions / observations are correct IMHO

The battery’s integrity will have been irreversibly compromised. Headaches including roof failures and parking brake failures often follow such scenarios..

Best plan to arrange to have a suitable AGM battery delivered to your Spanish residence..buy /bring a small ctek type charger and charge it fully before fitting.

You can use it it then to bootstrap your way in.

For future reference BMW suggests a maximum period of 6 weeks between top up charges if left installed and 3 months for batteries that have been disconnected...

 

[mcbutler]

Just listening to tonights covid briefing and they are talking about April before its relaxed!!!! The battery is recoverable down to 10.5V and you might be lucky...... Its nothing to sweat about at all, if it goes it goes, if it doesent go and buy a new batttery..........

 

[Maria1]

Thanks I will see what it looks like when we do get there. And not take a booster.

 

[Silverstar]

I know a couple of online sources where you can buy the battery from here in Spain at sensible prices, you can also get the booster and Ctek charger here from Amazon Spain delivered to your apartment. Best to just come down and try starting the car, you never know it might be fine.