Battery Charge or Replace?

///Mani · 09-20-2019, 10:45 PM

Good evening fellow enthusiasts,

I've been noticing that my 2015 M4 is taking a bit longer to start up for the past two days. I imagine that it is a battery issue. A little history on the car is that I bought it in March 2019 with 6000 miles and its now at 9200. The car sits for a couple days at a time but I've been driving it frequently within the past two weeks. The car is out of warranty. I also do have a radar detector that I have tapped into the mirror that is plugged in all the time.

After looking at the cost of a new battery, I was wondering if a trickle charger (specifically the CTEK referenced in the forums) would do the trick or whether I'd have to buy a new battery. I was hoping that it would last longer but I understand that driving a car sporadically and having a radar detector could shorten it.

I am unfamiliar with the CTEK trickle charger as well. If this is a solution, would anyone mind explaining it to me and how I can use it?

Thank you very much for your time and consideration

Nick

G4BR13L · 09-21-2019, 07:49 PM

Could be anything: battery too low voltage, bad ground cable, bad starter motor, loose cables to the starter, vapor lock, ... . The trick obviously is to pinpoint which one it is.

Check grounding cable:
https://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/sho...diagId=12_2092

Is it hot where you live?
What is the voltage of the battery?
Does it happen everytime?

///Mani · 09-21-2019, 10:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by G4BR13L

Could be anything: battery too low voltage, bad ground cable, bad starter motor, loose cables to the starter, vapor lock, ... . The trick obviously is to pinpoint which one it is.

Check grounding cable:
https://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/sho...diagId=12_2092

Is it hot where you live?
What is the voltage of the battery?
Does it happen everytime?

I live in Central Florida so it gets pretty dang hot lol. I don't have my multimeter with me so I won't be able to check the voltage. It has been happening the past two weeks

N1rve · 09-21-2019, 11:34 PM

I have a feeling it's because you're not driving it enough to fully recharge your battery, therefore it's a weak battery. Heat kills batteries.

///Mani · 09-22-2019, 04:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by N1rve

I have a feeling it's because you're not driving it enough to fully recharge your battery, therefore it's a weak battery. Heat kills batteries.

Would taking it for a long drive help out? Also would the CTEK battery charger charge the battery? I'm planning on getting one since when I normally drive the car its days between sessions.

N1rve · 09-22-2019, 05:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ///mpower.nick

Would taking it for a long drive help out? Also would the CTEK battery charger charge the battery? I'm planning on getting one since when I normally drive the car its days between sessions.

You can try taking it on an hour drive without turning the car off and see if it helps. I'm not familiar with the CTEK battery charger but if you're looking to get a battery tender, make sure it works with the Lithium battery in the F8X. You can't use a normal lead acid battery tender.

///Mani · 09-22-2019, 06:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by N1rve

You can try taking it on an hour drive without turning the car off and see if it helps. I'm not familiar with the CTEK battery charger but if you're looking to get a battery tender, make sure it works with the Lithium battery in the F8X. You can't use a normal lead acid battery tender.

10-4, thanks friend.

hellokitty · 09-23-2019, 02:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ///mpower.nick

Quote:

Originally Posted by N1rve

You can try taking it on an hour drive without turning the car off and see if it helps. I'm not familiar with the CTEK battery charger but if you're looking to get a battery tender, make sure it works with the Lithium battery in the F8X. You can't use a normal lead acid battery tender.

10-4, thanks friend.

Likely low voltage. Buy a CTEK li-ion charger and leave it plugged in until you are ready to drive.

SCKOMS · 09-23-2019, 09:51 PM

Get one of these...

https://www.amazon.com/Battery-Saver...4&sr=8-1-fkmr1

agentrnge · 09-24-2019, 09:12 PM

Edit: As a sanity check, the battery tender in the original amazon link did not specifically say it is meant for Lithium flavored batteries. Thanks SCKOMS for updating. New link does indicate Lithium battery compatibility.

CTEK is recommended in every thread about this.

SCKOMS · 09-24-2019, 11:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by agentrnge

As a sanity check, the battery tender in the amazon link doesn't specifically say it is meant for Lithium flavored batteries. CTEK is recommended in every thread about this. Stick with that one.

Corrected the link

///Mani · 09-25-2019, 06:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by agentrnge

As a sanity check, the battery tender in the amazon link doesn't specifically say it is meant for Lithium flavored batteries. CTEK is recommended in every thread about this. Stick with that one.

Thanks, I think I will take the CTEK.

09-20-2019, 10:45 PM	#1
///Mani Private 36 Rep 86 Posts Drives: BMW M4 Join Date: Apr 2019 Location: Florida iTrader: (0)	Battery Charge or Replace? Good evening fellow enthusiasts, I've been noticing that my 2015 M4 is taking a bit longer to start up for the past two days. I imagine that it is a battery issue. A little history on the car is that I bought it in March 2019 with 6000 miles and its now at 9200. The car sits for a couple days at a time but I've been driving it frequently within the past two weeks. The car is out of warranty. I also do have a radar detector that I have tapped into the mirror that is plugged in all the time. After looking at the cost of a new battery, I was wondering if a trickle charger (specifically the CTEK referenced in the forums) would do the trick or whether I'd have to buy a new battery. I was hoping that it would last longer but I understand that driving a car sporadically and having a radar detector could shorten it. I am unfamiliar with the CTEK trickle charger as well. If this is a solution, would anyone mind explaining it to me and how I can use it? Thank you very much for your time and consideration Nick
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09-21-2019, 07:49 PM	#2
G4BR13L Major 523 Rep 1,105 Posts Drives: BMW M4 Join Date: Aug 2015 Location: Hasselt (Belgium) iTrader: (0)	Could be anything: battery too low voltage, bad ground cable, bad starter motor, loose cables to the starter, vapor lock, ... . The trick obviously is to pinpoint which one it is. Check grounding cable: https://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/sho...diagId=12_2092 Is it hot where you live? What is the voltage of the battery? Does it happen everytime? Last edited by G4BR13L; 09-21-2019 at 08:04 PM..
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09-21-2019, 11:34 PM	#4
N1rve Racecar Driver 1286 Rep 1,955 Posts Drives: BMW M4 Join Date: Mar 2019 Location: Beverly Hills, California iTrader: (2) Garage List 2019 BMW M4 [9.63]	I have a feeling it's because you're not driving it enough to fully recharge your battery, therefore it's a weak battery. Heat kills batteries. __________________ N1rve 2019 BMW ///M4 - Alpine White \| Sakhir Orange/Black Leather \| M-DCT \| Executive Package \| 19" Black 437M Wheels \| Carbon Fiber Trim \| Sunroof \| Active Blind Spot \| Heated Steering Wheel \| Adaptive M Suspension
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09-23-2019, 09:51 PM	#9
SCKOMS SCKOMS 89 Rep 99 Posts Drives: 2018 M4 Convertible Join Date: May 2019 Location: Lake County IL iTrader: (0)	Get one of these... https://www.amazon.com/Battery-Saver...4&sr=8-1-fkmr1
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09-24-2019, 09:12 PM	#10
agentrnge Lieutenant 381 Rep 486 Posts Drives: 2018 M3 6MT, 2001 740iL Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Morris County, NJ iTrader: (0)	Edit: As a sanity check, the battery tender in the original amazon link did not specifically say it is meant for Lithium flavored batteries. Thanks SCKOMS for updating. New link does indicate Lithium battery compatibility. CTEK is recommended in every thread about this. Last edited by agentrnge; 09-25-2019 at 08:57 AM..
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