Battery

[DarrenBM]

I've never been happy with the stop/start performance of my car since getting it when it was 8 months old back in 2012. Stop/start not operating often etc. Since then I've also done a lot of short journeys and the stop/start hasn't operated for about 2 years! For over a year the car has been displaying "excessive battery drain" during colder months but hat off to it - the car has never run the battery flat.
The rear window demister also hasn't worked for a while which I'm hoping is related to the battery condition.

Anyway, after a 500 mile round trip recently I found the stop/start still wasn't working. I took in into the dealer and after they tried charging it (wasting my money as I assumed it was not holding a charge fully), they fitted a new battery as the original battery would not charge above 50% capacity.
I believe the old battery was made in Lithuania and the new one made in Germany. Even though I did a lot of short journeys from the moment I got the car I didn't feel the battery was strong. I remember reading some of the batteries fitted to X1's were "duff", anyone else had issues?

Happy to now have a new one fitted so no complaints (out of warranty anyway) and driving longer distances in the next month so hopefully this battery stays good.

[rps]

Very same problem on my '13. Battery was 65% and replaced under warranty.

[vstolpner]

I'm going to raise the battery issue at my next service (doing it in the next couple months). I'm thinking mine isn't charging much either, but start stop does start working after long journeys, although for a short period of time, maybe 10-20 times and then that's it.

[rps]

Originally Posted by vstolpner

I'm going to raise the battery issue at my next service (doing it in the next couple months). I'm thinking mine isn't charging much either, but start stop does start working after long journeys, although for a short period of time, maybe 10-20 times and then that's it.

I also noticed that my alternator was putting out 15+ volts when charging, which was way too much. Now it's in the 12-13 range which is correct. My AS/S now works perfectly.

[vstolpner]

I think my voltage hovers around 14.7V when the engine is on. I've got a longer trip coming up today, will try to monitor the voltage as I go

[Billy Porter]

No issues. Even in winter with lights, heater on etc the stop/start kicks in.

I do have the brake energy regen thing though

[vstolpner]

Originally Posted by Billy Porter

No issues. Even in winter with lights, heater on etc the stop/start kicks in.

I do have the brake energy regen thing though

What year / model do you have?

[Billy Porter]

September 2010 2.0 SE Diesel. Original owner specced m-sport seats and steering wheel and self dimming retractable mirrors.

In case you don’t know: the brake regen disconnects the alternator when not needed and collects kinetic energy when braking to change a big battery. It’s supposed to save about 10% off your fuel bill. I believe it as I can get 53+mpg on long journeys, 42 when commuting. Bloody excellent in my view

[vstolpner]

Yeah I was thinking I probably have it as well (2013 28i). I have a feeling my issue is either with the alternator not locking in often enough it with the battery. Anyway going to get my car serviced Monday and going to talk to the guys there about it

[0w40X1]

I feel you pain. I live in apartment and can't charge, but before I left town for 3 months. I charged with Deltran battery Tender, and it charged up after about 3 hours.

I've never had any light, but I watch voltage with scangauge.

Now get this; I came back after 3 months, and reconected neg post. Car showed well charged still, and my damn auto stop came on because I accidently hit button.

I let car sit for 3 days as usual, and battery still charged. I seemed to have had trouble that way, before the charge.

Every one should plug in battery tender if they have elecdtricity. It's approx 1.2 amp charger with smart electronics to conditon battery.

[Royleblue]

I reported that the StopStart had not worked for a while when I had the car serviced in December. They said that there was nothing wrong with it but kept the car overnight to charge the battery fully. StopStart worked perfectly for a few weeks but is now not kicking in again. I have a trip to Devon and back next month. If that's not enough to charge the battery I will go back to the dealer and get them to check it out.

[vstolpner]

I had a similar issue with mine as well. They were only able to charge it for an hour or so but the auto stop start did work for a bit. Seems like when I do a longer trip it will charge the battery and the function will work for a day or two and then stops working again.

Now I'm mostly concerned as to why the battery is not charging properly.

[0w40X1]

Like I said, my battery was still charged up after 3 months disconnected. I'm only driving about every 3 days for 10 miles to get groceries. After 2 weeks of that kind of driving, battery is charging all the time when I drive at 14.7 volts instead of 13.8 when I came home after 3 months.

What we've got is a situation where computer system is running and checking car too much while sitting. I can go on 1000 mile round trip before it acts like charged up. I go over to friends house every chance i get to plug in my Deltran 1.25amp battery tender for 3 hours.

That will charge it up.

[msginnie]

It is always best to have superior battery for your vehicle. I changed my car battery 4 and half years back and it is still running in best condition. I always prefer superior thing without caring for it's cost.

[PrematureApex]

I have a solution to all of your problems!




Disable the god forsaken stop/start!

[vstolpner]

I just charged up my battery overnight (actually over two nights - probably 20 hours total) using a 1.1 amp Noco Genius charger. Start stop works no problem now and I can see a significant improvement in gas mileage.

[walendvay]

this is a great charger that is AGM friendly: http://www.batterytender.com/Charger...derR-Plus.html

be careful not to blast your AGM battery with a high current charger.

This aforementioned charger is the same as the BMW labeled charger you might have seen in the dealer showrooms.

[vstolpner]

Yeah, this is the charger that I used: https://www.amazon.ca/gp/aw/d/B004LX3AXQ/

It was on a good sale locally so I picked it up. I believe this is the charger that BMW is moving to (or a similar CTEK charger). But this even includes CANBUS support for charging via 12v socket on BMW's so I figured it's a good charger.

I tried another AGM rated charger before and noticed it was charging at 15-17 volts which is obviously not safe. This one stayed under 14.5v the whole time.

[msginnie]

Hi DarrenM,

You are not clear in your question. This is clear that due to the bad performance of battery, your car is giving multifarious problems. But you have not made it clear what changes comes after using new battery. If,with new battery your car starting problem etc is solved, then in such case you must go for new battery. They can also change old battery with new.