I think i need new battery

[Styler]

Well today on my day off :rolleyes: my M started to act up. My dash lights and sat nav/radio were going on and off and now have gone off completely!

The car starts fine, but i did manage to leave my angel eyes on all day a few weeks ago at work and the car started fine then, but i got the feeling my battery is getting too weak to run all the gizmos plus the sub in the boot.

Anyone have a similar problem, my indicators work on the outside but not in that dash. From what i have been reading on the web, i think battery is the key. I disconnected the battery for a while but everything still was off, but it can't be the fuses because the radio and dash lights came on for a bit then went out again.

Anyone recommend a good battery? especially good for running amps and subs etc.

[Chaos]

I always say to people upgrade the battery when they install any serious ICE. The battery is the weak point of the electrical system and invariably stresses out and ends up dragging the alternator to hell and back. Not a cheap repair on an M3.

A Bosch silver top or red top will sort you out, hopefully the alternator is just struggling and not actually showing signs of it's imminent demise. :(

[MARTY]

not used one myself hidesh but i think the silvertop is prettymuch rated as the best you can get.

Marty

[peppernick]

Sounds like your battery is dying.

Alternator failure is all or nothing. You'll get the low voltage warning light on the dash before all electrical components shut down one after the other.

The fuel pump will be the first to go.

My alternator blew 2 days into my install on my M3. Cost £800 to replace, but done under warranty.

[Chaos]

Hence the 'imminent demise' comment, rather than 'gradual demise'. :)

I'd offer to get a battery in for you ready for next week Hidesh, but honestly I'd recommend getting one as soon as you can to prevent any unnecessary moments on hard shoulders..!

[Styler]

Cheers for the offer Dan :), I got tomorrow off to, anyone know a place near london i can pick up a new bosch silver top for a good price?

I'm gonna need one anyway when i get my proper ICE install done in a few months.

If the alternator is going, should the light come on in the dash? I have a warranty with warranty direct, so hopefully they should cover the alternator if it goes poop! Does a weak battery affect MPG? I've notice recently my MPG is a bit lower than usual. I've left my current battery charging in the garage, but thats going to be a waste of electricity if the battery is nackered.

[Black Sabbath]

I dont know :rolleyes: spends a fortune on BBK's, new wheels etc and then is too tight to buy a new battery :rolleyes: :rolleyes:

[Styler]

I dont know :rolleyes: spends a fortune on BBK's, new wheels etc and then is too tight to buy a new battery :rolleyes: :rolleyes:
lol, I am a Patel you know! :eek: :D

[Stock323iSaloon]

Don't GSF sells the Bosche batteries at a good price?

[Chaos]

Yup, GSF are your boys, gotta be one near you Hidesh.

[Styler]

Yep, they were going to be my first port of call tomorrow morning! There is one about 10mins from my house :)

My battery has been charging in the garage, and it seems to be fully charged? I've been having an argument with my dad about it all evening lol, he says my battery is fine and that there must be another electronic problem in the car. Hope battery fixes the problem, i think it must be it. My dash is acting very weird, the dash backlight now stays on even if the headlights and the car is switched off lol?

[Chaos]

My 6500 Classic phone charges to full every night, the POS battery still runs out 45 mins into my calls every day though. :mad: If it can't hold the charge, or it can't get the charge it needs from the alternator to support it's load, you'll see what you're seeing. Sure, there may be one or two other less obvious reasons to also see it, but Occam's razor is what it is. ;)

[Sajjad]

Slightly off the point, but wondering.. does anyone know if the D has different spec battery compared to the petty's?

[Stock323iSaloon]

Slightly off the point, but wondering.. does anyone know if the D has different spec battery compared to the petty's?
diesel-spec batteries usually are larger capacity (cold crank amperage)

[Styler]

One Bish-bash-bosch from GSF in Brixton. They guy there was really nice, has a VW golf pushing out some 600BHP! nice AP racing BBK also! They working on a E30 at the mo, should be ready for the summer shows.

http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/bb208/Hidesh/DSC00159.jpg

I have the power! lol

http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/bb208/Hidesh/DSC001611.jpg

[Styler]

i have a feeling my Denison Ice link could be what was draining my battery?

I always leave mine plugged in the car all the time, i wonder if this could be the problem? i'm sure it must stop charging on its own after a while, will do a check in a bit

[m3cslboy]

Shit my CSL's doing this , the TC/ DSC/ dash lights come on after 1 minute !!!! when starting the car and it sounds like its dying while its starting. Plus my SMG has stopped making noises ( ie beeps and dongs )

The mini battery is always on trickle charge when the car in not in use, do i need a new Mini battery or should i just fuck IT and get a decent sized battery.

sorry form thread jack Hidesh, i think i need a new battery.

[Black Sabbath]

Raj,just buy a new battery you tight wad ;) :D .Where have you been anyway?.Hidesh glad its all sorted now ;)

[Styler]

Thread is here to help anyone matey :)

Thing with M3s is that until the battery is nackered to death, only then does the battery light come on in the dash, but if your battery is too weak even the dash lights wont work! My fuel petrol warning light didn't even work when my battery started to get weak. The weakness in the battery puts the alternator into overdrive, which cause that to fail prematurely also.

If you car battery is more than 4 years old, i would get a new one. As soon as the dash starts to act up randomly plus with your symptoms i would say a new battery is going to be needed, but make sure your alternator is ok. Mine never sounded like the engine was going to cut out, still had enough juice just to run the car and was getting enough voltage through.

[Styler]

well i just headed out to meet some hot bird, left my house and the same shit happened again all the electronics went out sat nav radio etc. Airbag light came on same as before? I've left the car in the garage and disconnected the battery as the dash light wouldn't go off after switching the lights off.

WTF is happening? I took the car for a long drive today up to Buckinghamshire and back this morning and everything was fine. But now its gone pants lol.

Could it be the alternator? I don't get a weak battery warning light yet though? Looks like another job for Maybank lol.

Must dash can't keep the bird waiting, will have to go in my dads E39 instead!

[Individual One]

Now then Styler, I think we've been here before,

My M3 started to play up just like yours, the things what happened are

1, Dash lights not working:confused:
2, Indicator not working on dash:confused:
3, Wipers not working:confused:
4, Air bag light on:confused:
5, No radio:confused:
6, No sat nav:confused:
7, No telephone/bluetooth:confused:
8, Windows not working:confused:

Put a new radio tuner in and bingo all's well.:cool: :D

BMW wanted £850.:eek: :mad: Flea bay £320.;) :D :D

Hope i'm rong mate but worth a look.

[Styler]

mine was working fine after I put the new battery in. Was perfect until today. I did notice the dash lights flickering a bit a few days back.

My blue tooth was still working even though the screen went off, and radio comes on sometimes to.

I dont think it could be head unit as it was working fine after the new battery. Must be a power issue. I reckon my long drive must have nackered the battery as the alternator wasn't charging it.

[Styler]

anyone have a rough idea of how much a new alternator would be?

[alexsh1]

anyone have a rough idea of how much a new alternator would be?

From BMW its about £800

but go for a s/h one or a new bosch
http://www.quarrybmwspares.co.uk/
alternatively speak to Andy @ Icecold

BTW, I'd recommend you guys to upgrade the battery before you do your ICE
and do not forget to check the alternator.
If you have powerful ICE (500/1 or 1000/1 amp and several subs) then go for 1-3 farad capacitor and/or another battery.

I just wonder if it is possible to upgrade the alternator for more powerful one :o

[Styler]

i've already upgraded the battery to bosch one, when i had the problem last time. I have warranty so hopefully it will be covered by that.

I was driving around today with no sub and amp connected at it was running fine.

[Styler]

it's happened again tonight! fucking nightmare this problem, had to drive back on the motor way with no dash lights at all!

Same problem as before, most electricals not working. But this time my Left mirror didn't auto fold down? I had to manually do it. Don't know what the hell is the problem. I had my alternator checked a few weeks back and t was charging fine??

This is becoming a real pain in the arse!

[BMW JAY84]

need to find yourself a good auto electrician mate. There is one in warlingham if I remember correctly

[Styler]

I think water maybe getting in from somewhere

[Aaftab]

it's happened again tonight! fucking nightmare this problem, had to drive back on the motor way with no dash lights at all!

Same problem as before, most electricals not working. But this time my Left mirror didn't auto fold down? I had to manually do it. Don't know what the hell is the problem. I had my alternator checked a few weeks back and t was charging fine??

This is becoming a real pain in the arse!
Damn sorry to hear about that man! You got 2 options, take it to a good indi or bite the bullet and take it to bmw! You said you had warranty, why dont you give them a call?

[Styler]

Damn sorry to hear about that man! You got 2 options, take it to a good indi or bite the bullet and take it to bmw! You said you had warranty, why dont you give them a call?
I'm not sure how far my warranty covers electrical problems. But being an electrical problem, it could be a real pain in the arse to find out what the problem is. I'm thinking water maybe getting in somewhere and shorting something out. It was raining a lot today, and my car was out for most of the day, plus when it happened last time it was after i washed my car with a hose? However i did drive the car yesterday in the pouring rain and it was fine this morning. It's only after i drove to Harrow for dinner and tried to start it for the drive back did the problem start.

[BMW JAY84]

Check the ecu box Hidesh top left hand corner of engine bay. Remove the screw and see if any water has ingressed through there

[Styler]

Check the ecu box Hidesh top left hand corner of engine bay. Remove the screw and see if any water has ingressed through there

cool, I will have a look in the morning, i'm to knackered to do it now. Looks like i will have to take another day off to sort this problem out.

[BMW JAY84]

ha ha any excuse mate :) Im round your neck of the woods tomorrow. Let us know if you need a hand :)

[ADAMOD]

Hidesh chect the voltage at your battery terminals with a multimeter, they should read 14 - 16 volts.If you are down around 12-13 your altenator is screwed.

[Styler]

Hidesh chect the voltage at your battery terminals with a multimeter, they should read 14 - 16 volts.If you are down around 12-13 your altenator is screwed.
I had the alternator checked a few ago and it was fine. This is the third time i've had this problem, so i know it's not the alternator as the car would have died by now as the problem first occurred 2 months ago.

I strongly suspect water is leaking in somewhere. Yesterday i left my car on a decline, and it rained non stop pretty hard for a 3-4 hours. I think water is getting in from the boot, i've noticed a small hole on the left hand side under the boot lid where the water channels into. If the car is left on a decline i'm sure water can get through it, but it's just a guess. I think i need to take the boot carpet out to see.

[Individual One]

Styler you have a PM

[Styler]

Styler you have a PM
thanks for that, i just disconnected it and no joy :(

I have a feeling it maybe a faulty ignition switch, i've heard about people having similar symptoms with that.

[Individual One]

I did that mate as well but no joy. what is wrong with your car at the moment.

[Styler]

I did that mate as well but no joy. what is wrong with your car at the moment.
Same as before. i disconnected everything satnav and radio tuner. but still nothing worked. I connected everything back up drove to work with nothing working just now.

I disconnected the battery 4 of 5 times in th work car park, turned the key and my mirrors and everything started working again. It must be the electronic ignition switch, i will have to take it into a bmw dealer and see what they say.

[Individual One]

Same as before. i disconnected everything satnav and radio tuner. but still nothing worked. I connected everything back up drove to work with nothing working just now.

I disconnected the battery 4 of 5 times in th work car park, turned the key and my mirrors and everything started working again. It must be the electronic ignition switch, i will have to take it into a bmw dealer and see what they say.

Originally Posted by Individual One
I did that mate as well but no joy. what is wrong with your car at the moment.


Sorry syler i thought you meant you disconnected your battery.

Have you unplugged your radio tuner in the boot, when i did this all my electrics started to work, when i plugged it back in all the faults came back.

[Styler]

everything started working again after disconnecting the battery on and off, so radio tuner is working ok.

[Styler]

Good news, dealer found where water is coming in from. Apparently water is getting into A-pillar around the windscreen, which is shorting out the electrics which run up inside it.

Finally got a result! But don't know how much they will charge as yet for finding/fixinf problem.

[Purvesh]

Good news, dealer found where water is coming in from. Apparently water is getting into A-pillar around the windscreen, which is shorting out the electrics which run up inside it.

Finally got a result! But don't know how much they will charge as yet for finding/fixinf problem.

Good to hear, make sure you confirm the charges over the phone before you head over to pick the car up. It'll give you a chance to put on some fresh pants...:D

[Black Sabbath]

Its still under warranty isn't it?,I dont think I be offering to settle any bill without putting up a good fight about it :)

[gie0320]

Good news, dealer found where water is coming in from. Apparently water is getting into A-pillar around the windscreen, which is shorting out the electrics which run up inside it.

Finally got a result! But don't know how much they will charge as yet for finding/fixinf problem.

Finally! Its really good they found the cause. Is the electrics okay and was your windscreen ever replaced in the past? just wondering why it would start leaking there if its still the original seal.

[mystic sport]

I wonder if a 'cracked' windscreen that will 'obviously' need replacing will cure the issues ;) - about £60 on your insurance. New windcreen bonded in should stop and leaks in that area???