Discharged battery and inability to recharge in BMW – what is the reason?
BMW driver question
The car after a long stop does not start. No possibility to turn the starter. The lights do not come on. It looks like a discharged battery. After charging the battery no change. The car had all the doors locked for a few days, but probably not locked from the remote control. Could this have been the reason for the discharged battery? How to start the car? Thank you in advance for your advice.
The problem was with the BMW 1, but also occurs in other models.
Centra Futura battery | Photo used for informational purposes © Centra Futura
Response from BM Cars service
The described problem initially indicates a discharged battery. If the charging went well and the state of the battery allows you to charge it, then some lights should come on after the operation.
If, despite charging, the lights still do not illuminate, then I suggest checking the battery with a tester – the voltage should be around 12 volts and under load should not drop too quickly below 11 volts.
Starting the engine is possible with an external power source of 12 V. Under the hood, connect the clamps to the screw with the red cover ( ) and the unpainted screw next to it (-).
We do not recommend using boosters or starting devices that give instant very high currents to start the engine, this can damage the vehicle’s controllers. The best solution is to connect another vehicle with a running engine to the battery.
There can be many reasons for rapid battery discharge. Vehicle doors that are not closed and frequently opened can cause excessive current draws by preparing the vehicle to start the engine.
To check the resting current draws, it is necessary to perform a full diagnostic of the vehicle.
BMW 1 E87 | By Akitoishii at Japanese Wikipedia (Transferred from ja.wikipedia to Commons.) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons
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Bosch battery used in BMW cars | Photo used for informational purposes © Bosch
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