Gah! M4 is dead

[aboulfad]

Maybe it's the same gremlin I had I took it in and they found nothing and tried to blame it on me with silly scenarios...

[IB M]

I've got a 3 month old 17M3 with 3k miles. Yesterday I sat in the car and listened to the last half of a song once engine was shut off and I got a low battery warning. Just 2 minutes of radio, seems like the batteries may not be up to handling all the high end electronics and computers.

[Alvinized52]

Originally Posted by BickUW89

Drove the car on Friday and it ran perfectly as usual. No warning signs or idiot lights of any kind.

The car sat in the garage Saturday and Sunday. This morning I went to run an errand, and the car wouldn't start. Checked everything, and discovered there is no - ZERO - power. WTH? The car is only 8 months old, with 8k miles, and absolutely no indications that there is a problem with the charging system.

It's parked in an enclosed garage at my house, too, so it's not like it was vandalized or anything.

Guess I'll put BMW Roadside Assistance to work. :-(

Might be the battery is bad.

[BeastMode335i]

Damn OP that's kinda shitty, this is like the fifth or sixth time I've read about this happening on the newer M's..

[Silenus]

Originally Posted by IB M

I've got a 3 month old 17M3 with 3k miles. Yesterday I sat in the car and listened to the last half of a song once engine was shut off and I got a low battery warning. Just 2 minutes of radio, seems like the batteries may not be up to handling all the high end electronics and computers.

The warning doesn't always indicate low voltage, it's letting you know that it logged a fault (kind of a "user error" fault) and that it doesn't want you to do that again. If your battery were to die and you attempted to get it covered under warranty, we can look at these faults to determine if it's a manufacturer defect or misuse of the vehicle's systems. The F8x Li battery is very advanced and can handle a lot more than a traditional battery.

[Mapo]

Good idea to bring it in for a check up. I have a M4 (4700 miles on it)and leave it in a garage 3-4 weeks at a time (temperature in garage is 45f), starts right up no problem

[F83]

Originally Posted by Lmonus

Had the same issue this Sunday - Apparently the battery drains when its sub freezing temperatures and the car has not moved for a couple of days.

Seems very nooby considering the pricetags of our cars.

BMW says its normal?

What? Nonsense. Remind you that Munich gets pretty cold also. Something is wrong. Go get it fixed.

[IB M]

Originally Posted by Silenus

The warning doesn't always indicate low voltage, it's letting you know that it logged a fault (kind of a "user error" fault) and that it doesn't want you to do that again. If your battery were to die and you attempted to get it covered under warranty, we can look at these faults to determine if it's a manufacturer defect or misuse of the vehicle's systems. The F8x Li battery is very advanced and can handle a lot more than a traditional battery.

Thanks for the tip. Makes me wonder what I did wrong. Maybe my car doesn't appreciate ACDC Back in Black at near full volume.

[BickUW89]

So, after a day in the shop, they said that the car didn't throw any codes and that the battery and electrical system checks out fine. They reiterated what others have said here, that the battery has a fault trigger in a low-voltage situation that completely disengages the battery. He also echoed what others have said, that a normal charger won't work with the Li-ion battery, and that the only way to get it going again is to jump it.

Guess I'll need to invest in a new battery charger as a backup. Anyone have a link or description for the correct type for these cars? I know I can look it up - just being lazy asking.