Ctek Battery Charger / Maintainer

[blschaefer1]

Hi all,

I understand our cars have lithium ion batteries. I have a Ctek 3300 battery charger / maintainer that I have been using for prior cars and an wondering if anyone has used this unit (or similar) on their F8X?

Or is the lithium-specific Ctek unit 'mandatory'?

Appreciate any input. Thanks.

[jwzimm]

A LiFePO4 battery charging profile is very different than a Lead-acid battery. As such, you need to use the proper charger/maintainer to avoid damaging your battery.

A replacement battery for this car, by the way, is $1200. It might be worth the money to get the proper charger.

[lippy]

How often do you need to replace the batteries on these cars, in general?

And why do you need an external charger? I only use them on my classics.

[Jockey]

Yes, you must get the lithium ion specific charger. I have the ctek one and just recently used for 8 months while I was deployed. Car started right up after those 8 months. Worked like a champ.

[KevinM]

CTEK makes a BMW-branded dual mode charger now. Interestingly, I could not find the same charger on the CTEK web site; it appears it is only made as a BMW-branded version:

https://www.ecstuning.com/Search/Sit...ger/ES3082995/

Originally Posted by lippy

And why do you need an external charger? I only use them on my classics.

I don't have experience with lithium batteries, but with my M5 and Z4M coupe I hook them up when i won't be driving them for 3 days or more. These cars draw power and my experience has been it really extends the battery life.

[cryptz]

kevin does that work with the lithium ion batteries? I only ask because it says it works for all models of BMWs. I thought only the most recent would have this battery type..

[KevinM]

Originally Posted by cryptz

kevin does that work with the lithium ion batteries? I only ask because it says it works for all models of BMWs. I thought only the most recent would have this battery type..

Not 100% certain as I haven't ordered it yet, but the picture indicates it is dual mode - has a setting for lead batteries and a setting for lithium ion batteries. Assuming that is correct it would certainly work on all BMWs.

[blschaefer1]

Originally Posted by KevinM

CTEK makes a BMW-branded dual mode charger now. Interestingly, I could not find the same charger on the CTEK web site; it appears it is only made as a BMW-branded version:

https://www.ecstuning.com/Search/Sit...ger/ES3082995/




I don't have experience with lithium batteries, but with my M5 and Z4M coupe I hook them up when i won't be driving them for 3 days or more. These cars draw power and my experience has been it really extends the battery life.

Thanks for this. It does indeed appears this will cover both lithium and lead acid batteries. I'm going to order one.

[CSBM5]

How about this one? https://www.amazon.com/CTEK-56-926-L.../dp/B00EUF6UM8

[KevinM]

Originally Posted by CSBM5

How about this one? https://www.amazon.com/CTEK-56-926-L.../dp/B00EUF6UM8

That will definitely work. For the extra $15, I'm going with the dual mode BMW version so I can use it with my other cars as well.

[Draper]

FYI, you can grab the CTEK Lithium US model on Jet for $80 (with instant coupon).

https://jet.com/product/CTEK-56926-C...95747186ce9964

[CSBM5]

Originally Posted by KevinM

That will definitely work. For the extra $15, I'm going with the dual mode BMW version so I can use it with my other cars as well.

FWIW, I've had a higher end CTEK for a number of years with their old style detachable wall mount. I move the cables from the M3 to the M5 (switching from AGM to normal battery mode) every 4-5 days. Anyway, I would suggest looking into their wall mount kit for the newer style like that (think this is it) coupled with two of these cord extensions which has worked out perfectly.

[TurboAL47]

I have the CTEK 56-926 as well with extension cable and larger terminals. i have it hung in my garage on a cork board because it has mounting holes.

[blschaefer1]

Originally Posted by Draper

FYI, you can grab the CTEK Lithium US model on Jet for $80 (with instant coupon).

https://jet.com/product/CTEK-56926-C...95747186ce9964

Nice find! Thanks! Just ordered one!

[Tomm3]

Guys, just remember:
Lithium Ion batteries don't like full charge state! They will die much sooner!
The worst you can do is to leave the trickle charge for a long time.
As I remember from some BMW tech pdf our battery has a protection system which will disconnect it from the car's network. So the battery will never go to zero volts (which would kill it). After connecting the charger - battery will reconnect again.
Provided there are no problems with coding the car/radio etc. after full loss of power - I would go this way instead of trickle charging the battery.
The best state of charge for longlife operation for LIPO battery is about 40%. Anything higher and the capacity deteriorates quickly.
If I would leave for a very long time like few months - I would remove the battery from the car and connect to a charger with "Storage" function when the charger actually discharges the battery down to 40% and then it's good for a very long storage. The best in low temperatures (but not below freezing).

[Jockey]

The CTEK lithium chargers do go into storage mode at a point.

[Draper]

Originally Posted by Tomm3

Guys, just remember:
Lithium Ion batteries don't like full charge state! They will die much sooner!
The worst you can do is to leave the trickle charge for a long time.
As I remember from some BMW tech pdf our battery has a protection system which will disconnect it from the car's network. So the battery will never go to zero volts (which would kill it). After connecting the charger - battery will reconnect again.
Provided there are no problems with coding the car/radio etc. after full loss of power - I would go this way instead of trickle charging the battery.
The best state of charge for longlife operation for LIPO battery is about 40%. Anything higher and the capacity deteriorates quickly.
If I would leave for a very long time like few months - I would remove the battery from the car and connect to a charger with "Storage" function when the charger actually discharges the battery down to 40% and then it's good for a very long storage. The best in low temperatures (but not below freezing).

CTEK doesn't make traditional trickle (dumb) chargers. They make smart battery chargers that use a multi-step process to monitor the current condition of the battery, and charge if/when needed. They can stay connected indefinitely and will never overcharge the battery.

BMW has been using (and selling) CTEK chargers for years, so I wouldn't worry about it.

[Tomm3]

But it will keep your battery close to 100% charge.
This is what I mean.
Wrong. Unless you lease

[Draper]

Originally Posted by Tomm3

But it will keep your battery close to 100% charge.
This is what I mean.
Wrong. Unless you lease

I think CTEK and BMW know what they're doing.

[mazaa93]

I live in Australia and ordered the CTEK battery charger like the one in the link below;
https://www.ecstuning.com/ES3082995/

I've got an adaptor (US to AUS) at home since the CTEK charger has the American power point.

This might be a ridiculously stupid question, but the charger won't damage my battery will it? (Asking due to difference in power output at powerpoints or something lol).

ALSO, I noticed the charger has two options "NORMAL" and "LI-ION" - which one do I use for my F82 M4??

[2kaccordocoupe]

The noco genius g3500 is also an excellent charger. I use it on my current 2009 335 which has lived in a garage for most of its 7 year time this far. Never had a single battery, electrical or starting issue. Solid!

https://no.co/g3500

I have the older model, still called the g3500. However it does not support lithium. This new updated g3500 supports lithium and also supports can bus charging via the cig port. I'm going to pick it up for my upcoming m4.

[Jockey]

Originally Posted by Tomm3

But it will keep your battery close to 100% charge.
This is what I mean.
Wrong. Unless you lease

Again, I had mine plugged in for 8 months.

I used a CTEK charger. BMW uses a CTEK charger for transport.

So go ahead and post some documentation about the CTEK Chargers and how they keep the batteries at a full charge.