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      01-27-2023, 01:08 PM   #1
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Using a battery tender

Good afternoon, has anyone had the need to use a battery tender? any recommendations or basically, a dime a dozen?
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      01-27-2023, 02:11 PM   #2
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bryansna View Post
Good afternoon, has anyone had the need to use a battery tender? any recommendations or basically, a dime a dozen?
I've been using BatteryMINDer Plus for over 13 years on 3 of my classics that spend a majority of the year parked in the garage. I like these units because they don't over charge and have a long-term maintenance mode once the battery is fully topped up.

Just checked, looks like the units I purchased are no longer available for purchase on Amazon, but search around for the BatteryMINDer brand.


https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/...?ie=UTF8&psc=1
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      01-27-2023, 03:07 PM   #3
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bryansna View Post
Good afternoon, has anyone had the need to use a battery tender? any recommendations or basically, a dime a dozen?
I use a Ctek MXS 5.0. Ctek makes them for BMW. We have AGM batteries, and you can put it into a slow charge mode on this unit.
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      01-28-2023, 08:15 AM   #4
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bryansna View Post
Good afternoon, has anyone had the need to use a battery tender? any recommendations or basically, a dime a dozen?
Had the need? Yes due to the vehicle sitting for long stretches of time not being driven. Using an advanced battery tender keeps the battery from becoming deeply discharged…thus increasing its usable life.

Also be aware that many modern BMWs (with their electronic parking brake) have no “easy”way of putting the transmission in neutral without electrical power. Those that fail to think ahead and end up with a dead battery…then panic when they don’t know how to move the vehicle in a position to be towed or get to the jump start locations in the engine bay…to apply power to the car to access the battery in the trunk (which sometimes no longer has a lock cylinder).

If you drive short distances or the car will be sitting for long stretches of time (more than 3 weeks)…then a battery tender/maintainer can help increase the life of your car’s battery.

I highly recommend using and advanced or intelligent unit that will bring the battery up to charge, then maintain that charge without OVER-charging the battery.

BMW sells “branded” advanced chargers (made for use with AGM and Lithium batteries) that are made by Delco or CTEK…you can look for either brands…the Delco/CTEK brands tend to cost less. Then if you do a search of this much discussed topic…you’ll also see many BMW owners that also recommend NOCO (spelling?) battery tenders, too.

I’ve had my BMW branded (DELCO) advanced battery tender for years…and it works great. It is actually hooked up to my f06 6 series right now because I’m driving the f15 x5. I also swap on my riding lawn mower’s battery every few weeks to keep it charged up until mowing season returns.
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      01-28-2023, 09:29 AM   #5
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Appreciate all the information. I may have the need to be away for a couple of weeks and would like to prevent a dead battery, if I can prevent it m
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      01-28-2023, 10:43 AM   #6
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I have a couple NOCO chargers for my cars. They’re great and I haven’t had any issues.
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      01-28-2023, 11:42 AM   #7
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There are many threads regarding battery tenders/maintainers and a lot of different opinions.

I have always used a Delran Battery Tender Plus 1.25-amp 12-volt output charger on my other vehicles.

After reading the BMW manual for my M550, it states to only use chargers that have a constant charging voltage of 14.8 V.

To be safe, I ended up buying this BMW charger, which I believe is made by CTEK:

https://www.bmwpartsdirect.com/oem-p...er-61432408594
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      01-28-2023, 12:47 PM   #8
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Does anyone know if the C-Tek MXS 5.0 is equivalent to the BMW part mentioned above? I own the C-Tek and would like to know if using it could be a bad idea for my 2018 G30. Specifically curious about the statements above mentioning the BMW part provides constant 14.8 voltage, which is requirement.
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      01-28-2023, 12:50 PM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Spyder3 View Post
Does anyone know if the C-Tek MXS 5.0 is equivalent to the BMW part mentioned above? I own the C-Tek and would like to know if using it could be a bad idea for my 2018 G30.
I have the CTEK MXS 5.0. It has the AGP function….its the one you want.
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      01-28-2023, 08:15 PM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Qsilver7 View Post
Had the need? Yes due to the vehicle sitting for long stretches of time not being driven. Using an advanced battery tender keeps the battery from becoming deeply discharged…thus increasing its usable life.

Also be aware that many modern BMWs (with their electronic parking brake) have no “easy”way of putting the transmission in neutral without electrical power. Those that fail to think ahead and end up with a dead battery…then panic when they don’t know how to move the vehicle in a position to be towed or get to the jump start locations in the engine bay…to apply power to the car to access the battery in the trunk (which sometimes no longer has a lock cylinder).

If you drive short distances or the car will be sitting for long stretches of time (more than 3 weeks)…then a battery tender/maintainer can help increase the life of your car’s battery.

I highly recommend using and advanced or intelligent unit that will bring the battery up to charge, then maintain that charge without OVER-charging the battery.

BMW sells “branded” advanced chargers (made for use with AGM and Lithium batteries) that are made by Delco or CTEK…you can look for either brands…the Delco/CTEK brands tend to cost less. Then if you do a search of this much discussed topic…you’ll also see many BMW owners that also recommend NOCO (spelling?) battery tenders, too.

I’ve had my BMW branded (DELCO) advanced battery tender for years…and it works great. It is actually hooked up to my f06 6 series right now because I’m driving the f15 x5. I also swap on my riding lawn mower’s battery every few weeks to keep it charged up until mowing season returns.
I bought the BMW branded charger as it was nominally more expensive than the "generic."
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      01-29-2023, 01:49 PM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 2022M550i View Post
I use a Ctek MXS 5.0. Ctek makes them for BMW. We have AGM batteries, and you can put it into a slow charge mode on this unit.
I have the same charger as you and just leave it in AGM mode.
How do you put the charger into "slow" mode and what is the benefit of doing so? From what I understand this charger starts slow and gradually works things out by sensing what the battery is doing.
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      01-29-2023, 04:26 PM   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by HerkHealer View Post
I have the same charger as you and just leave it in AGM mode.
How do you put the charger into "slow" mode and what is the benefit of doing so? From what I understand this charger starts slow and gradually works things out by sensing what the battery is doing.
The AGM mode is a slower mode. Set it and forget it.

Here’s a quote: “AGM batteries require a slower, more stable charge than flooded batteries and can't sustain the high charging speeds used by standard battery chargers. If you charge an AGM battery with the wrong type of charger, you will end up under or overcharging your battery.”
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      01-29-2023, 04:32 PM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 2022M550i View Post
The AGM mode is a slower mode. Set it and forget it.

Here’s a quote: “AGM batteries require a slower, more stable charge than flooded batteries and can't sustain the high charging speeds used by standard battery chargers. If you charge an AGM battery with the wrong type of charger, you will end up under or overcharging your battery.”
Ahhh! Gotcha, thanks bud.
I went to the garage just to check if I missed something on the charger.
Everything looks good. Green #7 is on while she's in Prison for the Winter.

I just found out this is the exact charger BMW now sells with their name on it ! Gotta love that!
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      01-29-2023, 04:34 PM   #14
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Originally Posted by HerkHealer View Post
Ahhh! Gotcha, thanks bud.
I went to the garage just to check if I missed something on the charger.
Everything looks good. Green #7 is on while she's in Prison for the Winter.
Prison! Ha ha.
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      01-29-2023, 04:38 PM   #15
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Originally Posted by 2022M550i View Post
Prison! Ha ha.
Even worse for me, I have to wait until around late April to drive again.
My town decided 2 years ago, since we're on waterfront they cant salt anymore so now my road becomes a dirt road for months after they dump tons of dirt on it. Sucks.
They do come and clean it off in spring, so that's a plus.
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      01-29-2023, 05:18 PM   #16
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What's considered too short of a drive?
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      01-29-2023, 05:28 PM   #17
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Originally Posted by oldtexasdog View Post
What's considered too short of a drive?
Not sure if anyone will be able to answer that, but I can tell you that last winter I ran my 2020 M550 for at least 15 minutes a week to exercise the alternator, oil, etc. She was in lockdown for about 4.5 months. I did not have a trickle charger on it and it was fine, but our cars also power up the batteries during regenerative braking. When I first put the CTEK MXS 5.0 on it, the batteries were only 60% charged. Overnight, they were up to 100%.

Go grab one. It's under $100 and is complete peace of mind. BMW rebranded the exact same model and sells it. It also powers up small stuff. Great product. BMW even thought to notch out a piece of the weatherstripping to run the wiring!!
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      01-29-2023, 06:22 PM   #18
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Quote:
Originally Posted by HerkHealer View Post
...
My town decided 2 years ago, since we're on waterfront they cant salt anymore..
"Waterfront" as in Atlantic? A rather large source of salt?

Never mind. I thought you were on the coast...
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      01-29-2023, 08:09 PM   #19
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"Waterfront" as in Atlantic? A rather large source of salt?

Never mind. I thought you were on the coast...
No, just a large pond, which has State Wetland Protection.
But I do live 50 minutes from the MA/NH beaches if that matters. haahaa..
If you've never been to Hampton Beach NH, its a blast. Like a mini Jersey Shore.
Ask Joe, he's been there.
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      01-29-2023, 08:24 PM   #20
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Ask Joe, he's been there.
Sporting his thong banana hammock
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      01-29-2023, 08:50 PM   #21
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Sporting his thong banana hammock

I think it holds a record for the oldest/continuous Arcade too?
Hopefully he wasnt wearing the davy dukes.
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      01-30-2023, 04:30 AM   #22
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Quote:
Originally Posted by HerkHealer View Post
Not sure if anyone will be able to answer that, but I can tell you that last winter I ran my 2020 M550 for at least 15 minutes a week to exercise the alternator, oil, etc. She was in lockdown for about 4.5 months. I did not have a trickle charger on it and it was fine, but our cars also power up the batteries during regenerative braking. When I first put the CTEK MXS 5.0 on it, the batteries were only 60% charged. Overnight, they were up to 100%.
Your battery SoC doesn't surprise me, when we don't use a car very often.

Running the engine, or a short drive, doesn't really charge the battery much at all between 60 - 80% SoC. Alternator will only maintain it, supporting the consumer demands.

We really need driving conditions where we get lots of over-runs and limited braking to add charge. Situations where the alternator is fully engaged to harvest most energy.
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