Battery

[domsz4]

May need a new battery ... still got one with a BMW sticker in the boot so it's done well.

I checked my E46 today. It also has a BMW battery and I think it may be the original one from 2000 ! Thanks for the answers from everyone, I will order a new Bosch S5 from Tayna (as soon as the 5% offer pops up).

I think it's highly unlikely as a battery has a life of 2-5 years. A lot depends upon how it's used, climate, etc., so some may last longer, but 17 years is unrealistic

it was deffo a BMW branded battery... maybe not the original then. would take a picture but some pikey in a van decided that it was ok to take from my front garden. im happy for them to have taken it as it saves me the bother but they should have asked.

the battery in my previous car was at least 8 -10 yrs old as the car was new for my parents and i was the second owner. regular use helps

 

[Ewazix]

May need a new battery ... still got one with a BMW sticker in the boot so it's done well.

I checked my E46 today. It also has a BMW battery and I think it may be the original one from 2000 ! Thanks for the answers from everyone, I will order a new Bosch S5 from Tayna (as soon as the 5% offer pops up).

I think it's highly unlikely as a battery has a life of 2-5 years. A lot depends upon how it's used, climate, etc., so some may last longer, but 17 years is unrealistic

Mine's incredibly still on it's BMW US manufactured and date coded June 2003 original! It's garaged and on Ctek when not used for 10-14 days or more and is still fine. .... I know, I jinx it every time I mention it, it can't last forever :lol:

 

[cj10jeeper]

Very impressive. Ctek is clearly a big help as it's the draining that kills batteries

 

[domsz4]

I couldn't rate my ctec high enough it's pulled my gell battery back several times from what should have been goosed. Battery reading @10.9v so practically 0 charge. Also when I left the car on it as a conditioner it used such little power I was amazed. It didn't even use 1 unit on the meter!

 

[Ewazix]

Very impressive. Ctek is clearly a big help as it's the draining that kills batteries

If I've got it right the Ctek float/conditioning mode removes the sulphurous coating on the plates, and providing you don't warp the plates by fast charging, overcharging or deep discharge there is technically nothing to stop them going on.

 

[NickDE]

May need a new battery ... still got one with a BMW sticker in the boot so it's done well.

I checked my E46 today. It also has a BMW battery and I think it may be the original one from 2000 ! Thanks for the answers from everyone, I will order a new Bosch S5 from Tayna (as soon as the 5% offer pops up).

I think it's highly unlikely as a battery has a life of 2-5 years. A lot depends upon how it's used, climate, etc., so some may last longer, but 17 years is unrealistic

I swapped out the battery today. The old one has a label on stating install prior to Mar 2004. Checking the service records the car was at a BMW dealer on 15 Jan 2004, only six months/6000km after the previous service. So I reckon it went in for starting problems and got a new battery.
Still, 13 years out of a battery is pretty damn good - in a car that has spend its life sitting outside in all weathers being used for occasional long trips interspersed with long periods of standing around, and has been allowed to drain fully a couple of times.


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[cj10jeeper]

Agreed - great lifespan out of a battery. Certainly owed you nothing