Not driving car for 1-2 months - how do I prepare it?

wdskukm3 · 01-11-2018, 11:02 AM

I accidentally put a 1 amp motorcycle battery tender from Deltran on my M3. It's been 2 weeks already. Hopefully I didn't ruin my Lithium Ion battery.

Emcee · 01-11-2018, 07:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SD ///M4

Everything will shut down eventually if you don't lock the car, but it will shut down immediately if you lock it. You can test this by turning on the radio and then exiting the car. If you don't lock the car, the radio will continue to play, but eventually it will shut off. If you lock the car, the radio shuts off immediately.

Sure but if you hit the start/stop button again it will turn off the radio immediately, but it will leave the 12V outlets on, this even happens when you lock the car.

SD ///M4 · 01-14-2018, 07:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Emcee

Quote:

Originally Posted by SD ///M4

Everything will shut down eventually if you don't lock the car, but it will shut down immediately if you lock it. You can test this by turning on the radio and then exiting the car. If you don't lock the car, the radio will continue to play, but eventually it will shut off. If you lock the car, the radio shuts off immediately.

Sure but if you hit the start/stop button again it will turn off the radio immediately, but it will leave the 12V outlets on, this even happens when you lock the car.

In a previous thread I documented how long the 12V power ports stayed active if you locked the car and if you didn't lock the car. They shut off eventually. but if you want to know how long it takes, you'll have to search for my post from about 1.5 years ago.

MaynardZed · 01-17-2018, 12:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MaynardZed

Yeah the CTEK manual says the same thing, same charger I think. I did that procedure like 29 times, LOL! Best I could get it up to was about 1.9V then it would discharge quickly. Battery reads 0.00V now.

Weirdest shit ever. Hooked up jumper cables in trunk instead of in engine bay (like manual says to do). M4 started right up? I let it idle for a couple of hours, 13.8 charging volts reading on battery. When I shut it off, battery read 13.55 volts so my battery definitely is holding a charge now.

Check control says “Replace Battery” so I’ll still drop it off at the dealer but at least I can drive it down instead of towing it.

Thinking the LiOn battery put itself in a safe/sleep mode when it got so low on volts?

MaynardZed · 01-19-2018, 02:31 PM

Battery replaced at dealer under warranty, no cost. Wheww!

bmrwrld · 01-19-2018, 02:41 PM

1 to 2 months your good, I've gone months at a time with nothing but a battery charger and never had any issues. When you go years then all that other stuff is good to do. My car is over 3 years old with 1800 miles and runs like day #1. Don't think to much in to it.

LOW4LYF · 01-20-2018, 05:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MaynardZed

Battery replaced at dealer under warranty, no cost. Wheww!

Not that easy anymore since your driving profile is recorded and saved within the DME.

Masheen · 01-23-2018, 06:07 PM

I am using a Ctek and it works fine

wzj519 · 01-24-2018, 01:58 AM

my car parks in my garage now and I travelled back to Asia two months ago. Would tell you what will be the car's performance at the end of this month. lol

ec126 · 02-08-2018, 09:24 PM

I just bought a BMW branded tender (CTEK) and leave it plugged in and connected to the car, is it safe to keep the battery always topped off? Would this be bad for the battery in the long run too? Sometimes when I see it is at stage 8, I unplug it, knowing that the battery is topped off. I could be wrong.

G35POPPEDMYCHERRY · 02-08-2018, 10:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ec126

I just bought a BMW branded tender (CTEK) and leave it plugged in and connected to the car, is it safe to keep the battery always topped off? Would this be bad for the battery in the long run too? Sometimes when I see it is at stage 8, I unplug it, knowing that the battery is topped off. I could be wrong.

the trickle chargers are smart. you set it and forget it.

01-11-2018, 11:02 AM	#45
wdskukm3 Captain 364 Rep 834 Posts Drives: 2015 F80 M3 and Model P3D Join Date: Oct 2017 Location: Orland Park,IL iTrader: (0)	I accidentally put a 1 amp motorcycle battery tender from Deltran on my M3. It's been 2 weeks already. Hopefully I didn't ruin my Lithium Ion battery. __________________ M Forever!!!!
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01-19-2018, 02:31 PM	#49
MaynardZed Lieutenant Colonel 1231 Rep 1,789 Posts Drives: wife crazy Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: Phoenix iTrader: (0) Garage List 2019 Ford Raptor [0.00] 2016 Porsche 991.1 ... [0.00] 1987 Chevy Camaro I ... [0.00] 1972 Chevy Corvette [0.00] 1999 BMW M3 race car [0.00]	Battery replaced at dealer under warranty, no cost. Wheww! __________________ Road course laptimes for BMW M4 2015 6MT WHP East Track: 1:04.880, Arizona Motorsports Park: 1:54.352 Road course laptimes for Porsche 911 991.1 GTS 7MT WHP East Track: 1:02.770, Arizona Motorsports Park: 1:48.889
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01-19-2018, 02:41 PM	#50
bmrwrld Lieutenant 158 Rep 490 Posts Drives: BMW Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: So Cal iTrader: (0)	1 to 2 months your good, I've gone months at a time with nothing but a battery charger and never had any issues. When you go years then all that other stuff is good to do. My car is over 3 years old with 1800 miles and runs like day #1. Don't think to much in to it.
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01-23-2018, 06:07 PM	#52
Masheen Major 116 Rep 1,027 Posts Drives: 2016 M4 Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: The Hills in Lyngen iTrader: (0)	I am using a Ctek and it works fine __________________ BMW M4 2016. Sakhir Orange. M Performance.
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01-24-2018, 01:58 AM	#53
wzj519 Captain 92 Rep 846 Posts Drives: 2017 M3 COMP PKG Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Toronto iTrader: (0)	my car parks in my garage now and I travelled back to Asia two months ago. Would tell you what will be the car's performance at the end of this month. lol __________________ 2012 X6 35I (Gone) 2013 650 GC (Gone) 2014 M5 Comp PKG (Gone) 2015 X6 50I (Gone) 2017 M3 Comp PKG 2017 MINI JCW 991.2 GT3 (coming)
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02-08-2018, 09:24 PM	#54
ec126 Private 33 Rep 93 Posts Drives: F82 Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: Sacramento, CA iTrader: (0)	I just bought a BMW branded tender (CTEK) and leave it plugged in and connected to the car, is it safe to keep the battery always topped off? Would this be bad for the battery in the long run too? Sometimes when I see it is at stage 8, I unplug it, knowing that the battery is topped off. I could be wrong. __________________ 2018 M4 \| 6MT \| ZCP \| Alpine White
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