Removing battery, and locking car.

[shuey]

Hey all. I’m going away for 2 months and will be storing car. I know what needs to done before storing car but wanted to clarify whether e86 can be manually locked if I’m removing the battery.

And also how do I make sure the windows are closed properly without battery.

Car will be parked on uncovered drive way.

Is there anything I need to aware of since battery is located in boot? Can the boot be unlatched without the battery?

And if not - does that mean I need to leave boot unlocked?

Or what else would you recommend. As long as boris let’s me back in I should be gone for no longer than 7weeks

 

[Ewazix]

Removing the battery isn't a great idea TBH, this disables the alarm so insurance could be invalidated, re-set will be needed for windows and the car may go in to transport mode depending on whether the dealer cleared this on delivery.

A good battery fully charged will probably last 7 weeks (mine has in the past), but the best plan is to run a cable to the boot and install a smart battery maintainer like Ctek, or a cheap solar charger. These are a bit feeble, particularly in a UK winter but should give enough to prevent it discharging. The AA unit should do the job https://www.autoexpress.co.uk/product-group-tests/43793/best-solar-chargers-2021

 

[Chris_D]

Get yourself a ctek ftw.

 

[Lance]

I have an E85 which has a key hole on both the boot and the drivers door……..just open the old fashioned way. Does the E86 not have these?

If it does, lock the car with the key as it doesn’t arm the alarm and leave it. Providing it’s parked up with a good charge it should be fine after 7 weeks. I’ve done 5 and a half weeks and all was well!

 

[Jamesbradbury]

When the battery is flat the boot does not open with the key which I only found out after leaving my jump cables in the boot. I used an old dead battery and swapped it into the car then put some jump cables in the cabin. When you want to use it just pop the bonnet, attach jump leads to open the boot electrically and put in the good battery again.

Admittedly I got fed up of this and bought a CTEK charger so if you can then do that.

 

[Mr Tidy]

If you do remove the battery (which I would try to avoid personally) pushing in the top of the talgate BMW badge you'll find there is a key slot in the bottom of it.

 

[Liam22]

And also how do I make sure the windows are closed properly without battery.

The windows will be in the correct position because you'll disconnect the battery with the doors closed. Every time you reconnect the battery the windows will drop by a few mm.

There's no need to remove the battery - just disconnect the earth lead.

Your problem will be locking the passenger door. I would suggest trying this procedure:

1. Lock car
2. Unlock and open the boot (if the whole car unlocks then try to lock the doors while the boot is open)
3. Disconnect battery
4. Close boot

When you return, simply open the tailgate with the key. Power is not required to operate the tailgate release.

As above, trickle charger is preferable, but unless the battery is in tip-top condition, I wouldn't trust it for 2 months.

 

[shuey]

Cool thanks man, yeh I was going to remove battery completely and leave it on at home on trickle charger.owned car for 3 years and battery has never failed yet.

And also how do I make sure the windows are closed properly without battery.

The windows will be in the correct position because you'll disconnect the battery with the doors closed. Every time you reconnect the battery the windows will drop by a few mm.

There's no need to remove the battery - just disconnect the earth lead.

Your problem will be locking the passenger door. I would suggest trying this procedure:

1. Lock car
2. Unlock and open the boot (if the whole car unlocks then try to lock the doors while the boot is open)
3. Disconnect battery
4. Close boot

When you return, simply open the tailgate with the key. Power is not required to operate the tailgate release.

As above, trickle charger is preferable, but unless the battery is in tip-top condition, I wouldn't trust it for 2 months.

:evil: