Battery when garaged over winter

O

obelix54

Member
 Witney, Oxon
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.
 
obelix54 said:
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.
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I would leave it connected to an intelligent charger, you can leave it switched on permanently without worrying about it :thumbsup:
Rob
 
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.
 
Not the cheapest but this is the one you want.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/CTEK-MXS-5-0-Reconditions-Motorcycle/dp/B00FC42HAA/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1526116367&sr=8-1&keywords=ctek+mxs+5+0
 
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.
 
TitanTim said:
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.
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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.
 
enzed4 said:
TitanTim said:
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.
Click to expand...
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.
Click to expand...

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.
 
enzed4 said:
TitanTim said:
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.
Click to expand...
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.
Click to expand...
Mine's gone like this too, PITA sometimes as it takes several attempts to get the correct mode :headbang: But other than that it works fine
 
TitanTim said:
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.
Click to expand...

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
 
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
 
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!
 
:tumbleweed:
Busterboo said:
mentalnerve said:
I've got ... the ctek mxs7 £80 with the cigarette lighter plug ...
Click to expand...

Can you use it on an E89 through the cigarette lighter?
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The book instructs you to conect a charger via the under bonnet posts.
With the amount of electronics these cars have I won’t argue with their (BMW) instructions.

My charger was an cheapo under £10 job from Makro many years ago - designed for liesure batteries and golf carts - it cycles the battery but doesn’t fully charge nor discharge, something like 12.5v up to 13.5v it’s done the job over the last seven or eight years .
I used it over last winter and it started on the button in May - I did put the voltmeter across the posts once in a while and it was always in a positively charged state.
 
Thanks, ronk.

I asked mentalnerve about using the cigarette lighter socket for a CTEK, because mine's only live with the ignition on and so can't be used. (The same was true of a recent 4.2 Jaguar but, very conveniently, I could use the CTEK through the lighter socket on the 911.) I wondered, however, if he has an E89 variant with a live socket or if his has been modified.
 
The ‘book’ is very specific about using the under bonnet pins and it concerns me that conecting via the fag lighter might be powering up some component from the wrong direction.

I didnt find it a hardship to lift the bonnet and dump the charger there. As the car was garaged, I always left the bonnet ajar so I didn’t forget the car was on charge.
 
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