BMW Certified fail with pinched battery vent tube

[dsx724]

I own a 15 X1 sDive and helped my brother in law buy a certified 14 X1 sDrive 3 years ago. He is stuck in China because of COVID and asked me to retrieve the car for him because his apartment lease will end soon. I went with someone to get it and started to drive back.

I was driving for 30 minutes in his X1 passing NJ turnpike and smelled a rotten egg smell typical of that area and didn't think anything of it. After another 10 minutes, I realized something was wrong when I heard a hissing noise that grew louder. I pulled off and check the back and there was a white vapor coming out from the trunk. I had been breathing that crap for 20 minutes or so.

I had the battery in my own X1 fail twice but never like this. The closest dealer was at least an hour away so I left the car and went to the closest Autozone in the follow car and bought a battery. When I came back and started unmounting the battery, I saw that the vent tube was pinched underneath the plastic for the + terminal and there was stuff leaking on the bottom of the other side of the battery. It seems like whichever tech was replacing the battery accidentally pinched the vent tube for the battery.

Going to the dealer monday to file a complaint. What should had been a 3 hour thing turned into a whole day ordeal with me breathing some nonsense. If I ever buy certified, I am going to check everything myself.

[orca4wd]

This is interesting, thank you for sharing. I didn't realize the battery has vent tube. I thought newer BMW will come standard with AGM battery which eliminated this hassle. Anyway, good to know your experience.

[cwickberg]

It should be criminal in install a lead acid battery ( unsealed) in the passenger area of a vehicle and old have a vent tube...

I replace all my batteries with a fully sealed AGM or hybrid