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      09-13-2019, 12:57 PM   #1
Razor1973
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Drives: 2012 BMW 535i M Sport 6MT
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Miami, FL, U.S.

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Dead battery questions: Charging / Replacement / Opening the trunk

I have a 2012 BMW 535i M Sport sedan with a manual transmission and over 100K miles in the odometer. This was my primary (only) car until about 4 months ago when I leased a different vehicle (not specifying to avoid going into a discussion about that one LOL). I admit that, since then, I've abandoned the BMW. I haven't driven it once. Two of the tires already had a slow leak before and are now on the ground and my battery is dead. The dead battery is the main point of this post.

I have a NOCO Genius G3500 smart charger/maintainer which I have used to revive a completely dead battery on a Honda Accord before. I attached the clamps to the positive (red) connector in the engine bay and an unpainted piece of metal as I read in a few places online. I left it overnight (about 10 hours) and, in the morning, the only light that was on in the charger was the power light. This is a little discouraging, but I remember this was the case for about 2 nights with the Accord before the charger showed other lights and charged (repaired?) the battery on night 3. I am still hopeful this will happen with my BMW battery. Otherwise, I will need to replace it.

I have three questions at this point:
  1. Should I continue to charge this way or should I charge the battery directly from the trunk. I think I read that wasn't the safest option and engine bay is the recommended approach. Does this also apply to a fully dead battery?
  2. How do I access the trunk with the battery fully depleted? There is no key hole there. Is going through my back seats the only option?
  3. If I have to replace the battery, do I get H9, H8 or H7? After reading a few threads, I believe it should be H8, but I am not sure. Also, must I get a scanner to reset the computer after the battery is replaced (and I guess I would look up the procedure) or do I not have to as long as the specs (?) are the same?

I have never done any mechanical or electrical work on my car myself, but definitely want to try. I am also doing an oil change on my own for the first time. Wish me luck! I just need the car to run first.

Thank you in advance!
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Current: 2012 535i M Sport 6MT + 2019 Volvo XC60 T8 Inscription (PHEV)
Past: 2011 BMW X3 xDrive35i, 2008 BMW 535i 6MT, 2009 BMW 335i sedan 6MT, 2007 BMW 335i sedan 6MT, 2007 Volvo S80 V8 Sport AT, 2005 Volvo S60R 6MT, 2001 Audi S4 6MT, 1998 Volkswagen GTI VR6 6MT
Appreciate 0