[Nicky P]

Hi Guys
My 2012 535 has been standing for a while recently. Every time I start the engine it shows me a warning sign saying battery power depleting electricals were shut off. After driving for a few miles the warning is not shown again after re-starting the engine

Is this safe and should I be taking any action if the car is to be standing most of the week ?

Cheers
Nicky P

[AP]

for what its worth,
my car typically sits unused for weekdays and gets used typically just at weekends.
Only a month old now but no battery warnings to date.
checked the obvious with no electricals on that you are aware of?
Id expect a car to be able to sit unused for a couple of weeks without any issues at all.

[JNoSol]

You should invest in a Genuine BMW Battery Charger, it's available at your dealership. Use the charger twice a month if you don't drive on the freeway or if your car is parked most of the week. BMWs need to be driven frequently to keep those Lithium (correction: AGM) battery charged.

[The X Men]

Get yourself a battery tender

http://www.amazon.com/Battery-Tender...battery+tender

[stealth.pilot]

Originally Posted by Nicky P

Hi Guys
My 2012 535 has been standing for a while recently. Every time I start the engine it shows me a warning sign saying battery power depleting electricals were shut off. After driving for a few miles the warning is not shown again after re-starting the engine

Is this safe and should I be taking any action if the car is to be standing most of the week ?

Cheers
Nicky P

Do you have anything plugged into the power outlets? In the BMW some of the outlets work even if the car is switched off. I have not driven the car for three weeks before and had very little change in the battery level.

[BigKutta]

Originally Posted by Nicky P

Hi Guys
My 2012 535 has been standing for a while recently. Every time I start the engine it shows me a warning sign saying battery power depleting electricals were shut off. After driving for a few miles the warning is not shown again after re-starting the engine

Is this safe and should I be taking any action if the car is to be standing most of the week ?

Cheers
Nicky P

Your issue may be that you don't drive long enough to recharge the battery fully when you start it up after a long time. If you drive it around for a good charge, there shouldn't be a problem

[gatoman39]

Originally Posted by JNoSol

You should invest in a Genuine BMW Battery Charger, it's available at your dealership. Use the charger twice a month if you don't drive on the freeway or if your car is parked most of the week. BMWs need to be driven frequently to keep those Lithium battery charged.

The battery is an AGM battery not Lithium.

Originally Posted by The X Men

Get yourself a battery tender

http://www.amazon.com/Battery-Tender...battery+tender

Agree get a battery tender or the Ctek charger, those seem to be the two most popular.

[1HOT BMR]

I've got two of these:

http://www.amazon.com/CTEK-Multi-700...keywords=cteck

One for each one of my "ultimate driving machines" so I can drive short distance trips if I want to. Your problem is caused by poor BMW design where CAFE fuel economy is more important than the customer's peace of mind.

[gatoman39]

Originally Posted by 1HOT BMR

I've got two of these:

http://www.amazon.com/CTEK-Multi-700...keywords=cteck

One for each one of my "ultimate driving machines" so I can drive short distance trips if I want to. Your problem is caused by poor BMW design where CAFE fuel economy is more important than the customer's peace of mind.

I hear what you're saying, but I don't think it's poor design. I just think that the car has so much electronics on it that, coupled with short driving is the unfortunate outcome. I don't think the engineers can account for every single driving situation and unfortunately the short city trips and sparse use will manifest in a depleted battery. A battery charger is a small price to pay, I'm more pissed about stupid runflat tires.

[JNoSol]

Originally Posted by gatoman39

The battery is an AGM battery not Lithium.

I always learn something new from you, gatoman. I had no idea that BMW uses Absorbent Glass Mat (AGM) battery technology, like Optima. Some reason I keep thinking it uses Lithium. Is there a reason why BMW hasn't use Lithium-Ion Phosphate? It lasts longer, has higher capacity, charges quicker, and it is so much lighter.

[gatoman39]

Originally Posted by JNoSol

I always learn something new from you, gatoman. I had no idea that BMW uses Absorbent Glass Mat (AGM) battery technology, like Optima. Some reason I keep thinking it uses Lithium. Is there a reason why BMW hasn't use Lithium-Ion Phosphate? It lasts longer, has higher capacity, charges quicker, and it is so much lighter.

The 5 series hybrid uses lithium phosphate battery. No worries, I have been corrected many times by others for things that I thought were the case. It's a learning experience. I think there are several reasons why they don't use Lithium Ion, and the main ones are probably cost and weight, but there's no electric motor to charge the thing so I don't even know if it's possible on a gas vehicle.

[delvek]

I dont "winterize" my 550, just not interested in driving it in snow,etc. So in the winter, if it sits for a few weeks, I will get hte same warning and after a healthy drive it goes away until it sits again for a few weeks. Once the spring arrives and I drive it semi-regularly I never have an issues.

[Nicky P]

Thanks Guys, all good advice -

[The X Men]

Originally Posted by gatoman39

The 5 series hybrid uses lithium phosphate battery. No worries, I have been corrected many times by others for things that I thought were the case. It's a learning experience. I think there are several reasons why they don't use Lithium Ion, and the main ones are probably cost and weight, but there's no electric motor to charge the thing so I don't even know if it's possible on a gas vehicle.

Lithium battery can be charge with an alternator as well. I am pretty sure cost is one of the main issue, a lithium battery would cost 2 to 3 times the price of a regular battery. I am surprise none of the high end car manufacturer have use a 12 volt lithium battery in a regular gas powered car, the lithium battery should last the life of the car.