Hi all ,just had the free battery test at my local Halfords,Rayleigh in Essex and it came back with a Healthy 61% ,the guy said it was ok for now but if it gets down to 50% then it is time for a new battery.What do you guys think of my 61% is it ok for now .???
Battery test today.
- Thread starter superduperredz4
- Start date
Winter is tough on batteries so if you have any doubts it's worth changing now. I am a little dubious about the Halfords test though - the battery float voltage off load is fairly irrelevant so it must either be the cold cranking amps (CCA) they test or the capacity.
The latter can be done with some clever algorithm to derive capacity without actually discharging the battery but I'd take that with a pinch of salt. If it is the CCA at 61% then it really just indicates the battery impedance (or resistance if you like) is rising a little which means when you try and take big pulses of current from the battery like when starting, you 'lose' some of the 12V available which obviously doesn't spin the starter as quick.
This happens with age due to sulphation gradually forming on the battery plates - or it happens very quickly indeed if the battery is left in a discharged state (<10V) for even just a few days.
Many of the modern battery chargers such as the CTEK MXS 5.0 or 7.0 have de-sulphation programs in them that can revive ageing batteries surprisingly well.
The latter can be done with some clever algorithm to derive capacity without actually discharging the battery but I'd take that with a pinch of salt. If it is the CCA at 61% then it really just indicates the battery impedance (or resistance if you like) is rising a little which means when you try and take big pulses of current from the battery like when starting, you 'lose' some of the 12V available which obviously doesn't spin the starter as quick.
This happens with age due to sulphation gradually forming on the battery plates - or it happens very quickly indeed if the battery is left in a discharged state (<10V) for even just a few days.
Many of the modern battery chargers such as the CTEK MXS 5.0 or 7.0 have de-sulphation programs in them that can revive ageing batteries surprisingly well.
Hi ph001 yes I have one of these CTEK MXS 5.0 thingys so will try it out today and see if it does the business. Do I need to run the recon program?
Been monitoring battery for 10days on my 2010 E89 & it seemingly struggles to hold decent charge if left off the trickle charger. ( low battery light occasionally shows )
10 days in France next month + winter looming I took the hit yesterday & ordered one .
AGM Varta 096 £125
10 days in France next month + winter looming I took the hit yesterday & ordered one .
AGM Varta 096 £125
Will it be okay to run recon program a couple of times ,just wondering,but if you say it will do some good then I will do it. 
mr wilks said:Been monitoring battery for 10days on my 2010 E89 & it seemingly struggles to hold decent charge if left off the trickle charger. ( low battery light occasionally shows )
10 days in France next month + winter looming I took the hit yesterday & ordered one .
AGM Varta 096 £125
Does this need to be coded to the car for it to work properly?
Just asking as I had to get a new battery for the X6 and it was an AGM battery and the car had to be told that a new battery was fitted.
Apparently if you just change the battery without telling the car it may charge wrongly resulting in the battery not lasting as long as it should.
Nictrix said:mr wilks said:Been monitoring battery for 10days on my 2010 E89 & it seemingly struggles to hold decent charge if left off the trickle charger. ( low battery light occasionally shows )
10 days in France next month + winter looming I took the hit yesterday & ordered one .
AGM Varta 096 £125
Does this need to be coded to the car for it to work properly?
Just asking as I had to get a new battery for the X6 and it was an AGM battery and the car had to be told that a new battery was fitted.
Apparently if you just change the battery without telling the car it may charge wrongly resulting in the battery not lasting as long as it should.
I've heard of this as well, I've also heard of people replacing the battery without doing anything else without the sky falling in on them :wink:
Rob
As above, Ive heard of lots of people needing to have a battery replacement coded to their car.....
I think it's an option you can add if you buy Carly -the programming tool.
Not sure if it's required on the e89..... maybe it's linked to whether you have the stop/start lci version or not?
https://www.google.co.uk/amp/bimmertips.com/bmw-battery-registering-and-programming-explained/amp/
UPDATE.... done a bit more research on this.... it's all down to whether or not you have the BMW IBS attached to your negative battery terminal. If you have, the battery will need registration- if not, it won't!
No idea if my 2009 car has it as I'm at work just now so can't check.
Maybe someone with an lci and then none lci car can check which have it?
I think it's an option you can add if you buy Carly -the programming tool.
Not sure if it's required on the e89..... maybe it's linked to whether you have the stop/start lci version or not?
https://www.google.co.uk/amp/bimmertips.com/bmw-battery-registering-and-programming-explained/amp/
UPDATE.... done a bit more research on this.... it's all down to whether or not you have the BMW IBS attached to your negative battery terminal. If you have, the battery will need registration- if not, it won't!
No idea if my 2009 car has it as I'm at work just now so can't check.
Maybe someone with an lci and then none lci car can check which have it?
North West Surrey
Coding only seems to apply to newer models.
My E86 had a battery last year and it didn't need coding.
But my 1 Series (E87) had one in 2012 and it did need coding because it had stop/start and one of those AGM batteries. Cost just over £250 even then!
My E86 had a battery last year and it didn't need coding.
But my 1 Series (E87) had one in 2012 and it did need coding because it had stop/start and one of those AGM batteries. Cost just over £250 even then!
Smartbear said:Nictrix said:mr wilks said:Been monitoring battery for 10days on my 2010 E89 & it seemingly struggles to hold decent charge if left off the trickle charger. ( low battery light occasionally shows )
10 days in France next month + winter looming I took the hit yesterday & ordered one .
AGM Varta 096 £125
Does this need to be coded to the car for it to work properly?
Just asking as I had to get a new battery for the X6 and it was an AGM battery and the car had to be told that a new battery was fitted.
Apparently if you just change the battery without telling the car it may charge wrongly resulting in the battery not lasting as long as it should.
I've heard of this as well, I've also heard of people replacing the battery without doing anything else without the sky falling in on them :wink:
Rob
Only time would tell if the replacement battery didnt last as long as the original.
But in Mr Wilks case it really wont matter as the chances of him still having this Z in 5 or 6 years is pretty slim. :lol:
:erm: what makes you say that :yu:This all so confusing this new battery lark,some say it will need to be coded to the car whatever that means and some say just do it and to hell with the consequences.I just want it all to work again when it is done.I can change a battery but to code it well that is another story.So is the E89 able to have a new battery without getting the hump?
Don't think it's anything fancy, simple to disconnect alternator when accelerating and connect when braking to keep battery charged up. One would suspect the voltage would vary and be visible on a voltmeter, but I have seen any difference when I used a plug in voltmeter.
If the system was intelligent perhaps it could monitor battery state to stop us using the roof if the battery was detected to be in a poor state
or perhaps even getting into the car.
Have a look at the manual link in the how to section, tells you all about coding the battery and why.
Look at section General electrical system.
If the system was intelligent perhaps it could monitor battery state to stop us using the roof if the battery was detected to be in a poor state
or perhaps even getting into the car.
Have a look at the manual link in the how to section, tells you all about coding the battery and why.
Look at section General electrical system.