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      01-04-2016, 03:18 PM   #1
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Trickle Charge

I bough Trickle charger couple of years ago for my motorcycle in Walmart I don't remember how much I paid for.
I decide to use it on my car 2013 550i its been working just fine no problems.
I cycle form Motorcycle to my car every couple of days.

Feel free to share what some of you guys are use to keep your battery charged during cold days.



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      01-04-2016, 04:14 PM   #2
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BUMP! Interested in getting a good trickle charger. Looking at Battery Tender
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      01-04-2016, 08:38 PM   #3
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I'm debating whether I need one of these? I start my car once a.week and drive it around the storage area for a few min
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      01-04-2016, 10:37 PM   #4
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Quote:
Originally Posted by lsturbointeg View Post
I'm debating whether I need one of these? I start my car once a.week and drive it around the storage area for a few min

Just from my knowledge I don't think that's nearly enough to keep battery charged.
I think BMW recommends you have to drive car for 75miles daily to keep it charged but I am not 100% sure on this.

If I was you I would keep it on charge just knowing battery is fully charged
would be satisfaction.
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      01-04-2016, 10:42 PM   #5
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Car is going in storage Feb to July so definitely getting something. GF only drives 4 miles each way to work so I know I need to juice her up before I leave. Let the product research begin. Info welcome.
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      01-05-2016, 12:20 AM   #6
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What about just disconnecting the battery completely?
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      01-05-2016, 12:40 AM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by lsturbointeg View Post
What about just disconnecting the battery completely?
IMO I wouldn't do that just because BMW is so sensitive when it comes to electronics.
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      01-05-2016, 01:05 AM   #8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by lsturbointeg View Post
What about just disconnecting the battery completely?
I thought about that but I am pretty sure the trunk handle on the trunk lid is electric. I don't have the pass through or fold seats or whatever. I've got three weeks of vacation starting tomorrow to figure it out. I saw somewhere there is a battery disconnect switch you can install. Still need a charger for the GFs 328 though. Also like ElJeffe said with all the electronics my might be better to trickle charge instead of disconnect. Research, also let me know what you come up with since you have yours in lock down all winter. I'll be using Jack Rabbit storage since no garage, have to see if they have a 110 outlet in the unit.
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      01-05-2016, 01:40 AM   #9
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Amazon to the rescue. I'll see what the dealership parts department has available and price in the morning. Maybe they will price match if it's more $$. I figure that a BMW brand charger may be a little more but if any electronic issues come up it's their product I'm using. CYA for extended warranty.
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      01-05-2016, 09:25 AM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by VB5ER View Post
Amazon to the rescue. I'll see what the dealership parts department has available and price in the morning. Maybe they will price match if it's more $$. I figure that a BMW brand charger may be a little more but if any electronic issues come up it's their product I'm using. CYA for extended warranty.
Oh sweet! In my storage there's no outlets but there is a pull string light switch above with a bulb. Probably put in one of those adaptors where you can plug a 3 prong extension cord and plug the trickle charger into that.

Now would you connect it from the Hood side or in the trunk where the battery is?
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      01-05-2016, 10:25 AM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by lsturbointeg View Post
Oh sweet! In my storage there's no outlets but there is a pull string light switch above with a bulb. Probably put in one of those adaptors where you can plug a 3 prong extension cord and plug the trickle charger into that.

Now would you connect it from the Hood side or in the trunk where the battery is?
Hook it under the hood
Stopped by BMW this morning and talked to the SA there. When I asked him if I should charge or disconnect for 5 month storage he said disconnect. When I asked him how to open the trunk with no power he said "that's a good question" when I asked him if I hooked up another car to the under the hood terminals while the battery was disconnected would it juice my car so I can open the trunk, "that's another good question" after that he said that I should charge it while I was gone. Lol.
The parts department guy said that the charger on Amazon I showed him was their older model and they have a newer one for $95 that supposedly has more safeguards yada yada. I had them order it and I'll post a pic of it and it's features when I get it. I'm sure either one will work fine but for an extra $20 I'll get the latest and greatest version.
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      01-05-2016, 11:33 AM   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by VB5ER View Post
Hook it under the hood
Stopped by BMW this morning and talked to the SA there. When I asked him if I should charge or disconnect for 5 month storage he said disconnect. When I asked him how to open the trunk with no power he said "that's a good question" when I asked him if I hooked up another car to the under the hood terminals while the battery was disconnected would it juice my car so I can open the trunk, "that's another good question" after that he said that I should charge it while I was gone. Lol.
The parts department guy said that the charger on Amazon I showed him was their older model and they have a newer one for $95 that supposedly has more safeguards yada yada. I had them order it and I'll post a pic of it and it's features when I get it. I'm sure either one will work fine but for an extra $20 I'll get the latest and greatest version.

LOL that funny
lets face it some of the SA @ BMW are complete morons no idea wtf they talking about.
I don't consider my self expert what so ever but its common sense in manny cases.
To me its just a Charger I understand there might be some safety features but at end of the day don't use charger that you would use to charge some of the Ziegler machinery.
My charger I don't think I paid more than $30 its been good charger for my cars and Motorcycle.
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      01-05-2016, 03:33 PM   #13
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just to clarify i can just hook up the trickle charger and forget about it or should i be checking it weekly? i don't want $hit catching on fire lol!
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      01-05-2016, 07:10 PM   #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by lsturbointeg View Post
just to clarify i can just hook up the trickle charger and forget about it or should i be checking it weekly? i don't want $hit catching on fire lol!

Now I think it comes down to quality of the charger if you buy high end yes you probably could just hook up and forget it.
If you buy cheep I probably would get battery charged then take it off
what am trying to say just cycle on and off.

something to keep in mind keep it away from your car something like what I did on my car ^^^^^
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      01-07-2016, 11:46 AM   #15
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Ok. Here is the latest charger that BMW is selling. $95 bucks. I'm going to be in storage for 5 months unattended so I'll juice it up right before putting it in, bring jumper cables when I pick it up, charge it up again at the house. Anyway here are some pics and specs on the charger. If you need a battery I found replacement batteries for about $200 on the net. The diy looks pretty basic but its recommended to register (code) the new battery to the car. You may be able to do the install yourself and have an import garage code it or a fellow 5post member. I do not plan on giving the dealership 500+ cash for this when the time comes.
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      01-07-2016, 01:00 PM   #16
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Alright, she's hooked up and charging, now back to Street Outlaws and beer #rednkvacation
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      01-07-2016, 01:19 PM   #17
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Looks good
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      01-07-2016, 02:43 PM   #18
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The one above is actually a CTek charger. I have the CTek 3300 and it works perfect for either low battery messages on the iDrive or times when the car is going to sit for a while.
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      01-07-2016, 02:49 PM   #19
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Quote:
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The one above is actually a CTek charger. I have the CTek 3300 and it works perfect for either low battery messages on the iDrive or times when the car is going to sit for a while.
Nice. Yeah, the "BMW" charger says CTEK SWEDEN on the side.
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      01-07-2016, 03:58 PM   #20
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bscarlett View Post
The one above is actually a CTek charger. I have the CTek 3300 and it works perfect for either low battery messages on the iDrive or times when the car is going to sit for a while.
so do you just hooked it up and walk away until after winter or do you have to check up on it weekly or monthly?
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      01-07-2016, 04:19 PM   #21
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Quote:
Originally Posted by lsturbointeg View Post
so do you just hooked it up and walk away until after winter or do you have to check up on it weekly or monthly?
No need to check during charging. It has auto shut-off for power surge. I have being using it since 2013. The Ctek MU 4.3 will do fine. Highly recommend..
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      01-13-2016, 03:21 PM   #22
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I looked around and found the ctek to be the way to go. Either the BMW branded one or any of their chargers on smartercharger.com

Question - I hear that hooking up to the battery is a bad idea, but I dont like the idea of leaving the hood open or half closed so close to the aligator clips. Has anyone permanently installed a pigtail in the trunk?
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