[2022M550i]

I noticed there is a huge difference when charging the battery in my M550i...If the car is not locked, it takes at least 12 hours to get to full charge. If I lock it, it fully charges in about 2 hours. Hood is up in both conditions. Using Ctek mxs 5.0 in AGM mode. Everything appears to be off in the car when it's unlocked, but there must be something still running. I always lock it now, even when in the garage.

[jcal65]

I have a short 3-mile commute and don’t drive much during the work week. I use a Battery Tender charger/maintainer every night to keep the battery at an optimum level. I do notice a wide variation in full charge times. The battery is usually at full charge by time I leave for work the next day, but sometimes it does reach full charge. I leave the hood open but will experiment with it closed. BMWs seem to never completely shut down.

I had a bad experience with my 2012 535i. At around 10k miles, my battery completely died, left me stranded and the car had to be towed to the dealer. They told me I wasn’t driving the car enough to charge the battery and wanted around $800 to replace it. I told them I would not pay for it, and they did a courtesy replacement. This was apparently an issue many others were experiencing at the time, including the dealer showroom cars. Ever since, I have used a Battery Tender almost daily and had not had any issues.

One thing I am not sure about is if there is more than one battery. In my previous two Jaguars and Range Rover, they had a main battery in the trunk and a separate battery for the start/stop system. JLR recommended charging by hardwiring the charger cable to the bus panel in the trunk to charge both batteries. These vehicles would enter a sleep mode if the car was not used for a period of time. You could actually enter a wake-up time if your car was going to be sitting at an airport for an extended period of time.

[HerkHealer]

Originally Posted by 2022M550i

I noticed there is a huge difference when charging the battery in my M550i...If the car is not locked, it takes at least 12 hours to get to full charge. If I lock it, it fully charges in about 2 hours. Hood is up in both conditions. Using Ctek mxs 5.0 in AGM mode. Everything appears to be off in the car when it's unlocked, but there must be something still running. I always lock it now, even when in the garage.

Wow, that's nuts ! I have left my car in the garage unlocked for well over a week, almost 2 weeks and came back home and it started up fine. Never knew there was a drain occurring, but maybe I should throw my battery tender on the next time I take a trip.

Has your car fully drained on you ?

[2022M550i]

Herk - My battery never completely drained because I always lock it. I wasn't locking it when I was charging it and that's when I noticed something was running. There are days where the car won't move and some weeks I don't drive it much. There's always a reason why I'd rather take the Lexus because of a bad parking situation...which seems to be everywhere. I'll do an overnight trickle charge at least once a week.

Jcal - I've heard that too about hardwiring to the battery in the trunk. There are two batteries in my car. The manual suggests using the posts in the engine bay to charge the batteries. The front charge seems to be working, but now I'll test the battery in the trunk.

[jcal65]

Originally Posted by 2022M550i

Jcal - I've heard that too about hardwiring to the battery in the trunk. There are two batteries in my car. The manual suggests using the posts in the engine bay to charge the batteries. The front charge seems to be working, but now I'll test the battery in the trunk.

Yes, I also follow the manual and connect to the posts under the hood only.

I have a copy of the workshop service manual for the G30. It has some interesting information regarding the battery.

One thing I am going to check is that my Battery Tender maintains a constant charging voltage of 14.8 V.

[2022M550i]

Originally Posted by jcal65

Yes, I also follow the manual and connect to the posts under the hood only.

I have a copy of the workshop service manual for the G30. It has some interesting information regarding the battery.

One thing I am going to check is that my Battery Tender maintains a constant charging voltage of 14.8 V.

Thanks for sharing...crazy detail for a battery. Here's the specs on the Ctek charger. Ctek makes the charger that BMW sells...they just put the BMW logo on it. It states 14.7V and is the same exact spec as the BMW version.


.

[HerkHealer]

Originally Posted by 2022M550i

Herk - My battery never completely drained because I always lock it. I wasn't locking it when I was charging it and that's when I noticed something was running. There are days where the car won't move and some weeks I don't drive it much. There's always a reason why I'd rather take the Lexus because of a bad parking situation...which seems to be everywhere. I'll do an overnight trickle charge at least once a week.

Jcal - I've heard that too about hardwiring to the battery in the trunk. There are two batteries in my car. The manual suggests using the posts in the engine bay to charge the batteries. The front charge seems to be working, but now I'll test the battery in the trunk.

Thanks bud! I really like that charger you have. Very impressive you can change modes. Just ordered it from the Amazons. Its on sale too! Much better than my "plug n play" battery tender.

[H_T]

A few questions: Do you confirm the system shuts down before leaving the vehicle unlocked? For example, if I don't see the screen turn off, I hold the radio power button for a few seconds to make sure it does.

Also, is there a way to see the battery level, via bimmercode or otherwise?

I would think locking and essentially arming the alarm would use more power than leaving it unlocked.

[2022M550i]

Originally Posted by H_T

A few questions: Do you confirm the system shuts down before leaving the vehicle unlocked? For example, if I don't see the screen turn off, I hold the radio power button for a few seconds to make sure it does.

Also, is there a way to see the battery level, via bimmercode or otherwise?

I would think locking and essentially arming the alarm would use more power than leaving it unlocked.

Yes, 100% confirmed everything appears off when I walk away from the vehicle.

I have a good battery tester that I can check out whats going on….just haven't had time to dig into it yet.

Maybe when you lock it, it goes into some sort of hibernation mode where unlocked, it something stays alert.

I assumed the same that you did…regarding unlocked, it would use more juice.

[HighlandPete]

Originally Posted by 2022M550i

Yes, 100% confirmed everything appears off when I walk away from the vehicle.

I have a good battery tester that I can check out whats going on….just haven't had time to dig into it yet.

Maybe when you lock it, it goes into some sort of hibernation mode where unlocked, it something stays alert.

I assumed the same that you did…regarding unlocked, it would use more juice.

I find my F11 will not stay 100% asleep when unlocked. Seems it does have some function (all OE) which wakes the car every so often, can hear clicks and other sounds.

Lock it and it goes into sleep mode.

I charge mine while locked, definitely faster top up times using my CTEK MXS 5.0

[2022M550i]

Originally Posted by HighlandPete

I find my F11 will not stay 100% asleep when unlocked. Seems it does have some function (all OE) which wakes the car every so often, can hear clicks and other sounds.

Lock it and it goes into sleep mode.

I charge mine while locked, definitely faster top up times using my CTEK MXS 5.0

I have several cars that I charge and they usually top off in a couple hours at worst with the CTEK. The good thing about the CTEK, you can see the progress. When the BMW was still not topped off after charging all day I thought the battery was really drained. One time I locked the car and it topped off in 2 hours. That's what caught my attention. I kept it unlocked another time and it was the same all day situation. So, I just lock it now.

[Qsilver7]

Originally Posted by H_T

…is there a way to see the battery level, via bimmercode or otherwise?

The Bimmercode app is justly named…it is for CODING.

If you want to check the car’s battery level and pull/clear/reset codes…it’s their “sister app” BIMMERLINK that allows you to get diagnostic help and check the battery level as well as do a new battery registration as well as other service resets etc.

Just as Bimmercode has a website…Bimmerlink has a website, too that goes into detail about the app.

• www.Bimmercodeapp.com
• www.Bimmerlink.app

Here’s screenshots of of the battery state of charge you can retrieve from the Bimmerlink app…as well as some other info you can retrieve:

[H_T]

Originally Posted by Qsilver7

The Bimmercode app is justly named…it is for CODING.

If you want to check the car's battery level and pull/clear/reset codes…it's their "sister app" BIMMERLINK that allows you to get diagnostic help and check the battery level as well as do a new battery registration as well as other service resets etc.

Just as Bimmercode has a website…Bimmerlink has a website, too that goes into detail about the app.

• www.Bimmercodeapp.com
• www.Bimmerlink.app

Here's screenshots of of the battery state of charge you can retrieve from the Bimmerlink app…as well as some other info you can retrieve:

Sorry I should have clarified: i have both apps, but was looking for a way to see battery level on the dash/hud or i7 menu. Just trying to avoid having to plugging in the adapter every time I want to check.

Was asking if there is a way to code the indicator to appear on the car's screen.

[Ptree1822]

this is the charger that i use in my bay. your trickle charger is cute. this will sustain car when on and when it is pulling 40 amps. your trickle charger wont do that. and when your battery is charged the amperage will drop automatically protecting your vehicle and battery.

https://www.deutronic.com/produkte/d...-computer-1ac/

[Ptree1822]

Originally Posted by H_T

Sorry I should have clarified: i have both apps, but was looking for a way to see battery level on the dash/hud or i7 menu. Just trying to avoid having to plugging in the adapter every time I want to check.

Was asking if there is a way to code the indicator to appear on the car's screen.

you cant without ista there energy diag test plan show how long vehicle is immobilized for the length of trips taken in the car. percentage of car of the battery at the battery's life time. there's lots of things your app wont show you that your car is able to tell you. unfortunately your app wont show any of that.

[Dallasguy1985]

Im looking to buy a battery tender too since I work from home I don't drive it much and I don't the battery to die obviously what are you guys using.

[540iSUP]

Originally Posted by Ptree1822

this is the charger that i use in my bay. your trickle charger is cute. this will sustain car when on and when it is pulling 40 amps. your trickle charger wont do that. and when your battery is charged the amperage will drop automatically protecting your vehicle and battery.

https://www.deutronic.com/produkte/d...-computer-1ac/

Awesome unit, but for $1700, I doubt anyone here would want to purchase it.

[540iSUP]

https://g30.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh....php?t=1760197

I've been using the CTEK charger for maybe a year now with no issues. I installed the panel in the trunk as described in this thread.

[Warp Ten]

Originally Posted by 540iSUP

https://g30.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh....php?t=1760197

I've been using the CTEK charger for maybe a year now with no issues. I installed the panel in the trunk as described in this thread.

I just bought a CTEK 5.0 and I wondered if you have to set it to charge an AGM battery for the G30, or just leave it set for a lead-acid battery. I have used an older Battery Tender in the past for all my cars, including the G30, and have never had a problem with the batteries. Full disclosure: I have not yet hooked up the new CTEK nor read the instructions. Just wondered if I could get a quick answer here. Thanks. --Bob

[540iSUP]

Originally Posted by Warp Ten

I just bought a CTEK 5.0 and I wondered if you have to set it to charge an AGM battery for the G30, or just leave it set for a lead-acid battery. I have used an older Battery Tender in the past for all my cars, including the G30, and have never had a problem with the batteries. Full disclosure: I have not yet hooked up the new CTEK nor read the instructions. Just wondered if I could get a quick answer here. Thanks. --Bob

I use the AGM setting. If your OEM battery is black, its an AGM; if its white, it's lead-acid. I think BMW stopped using lead-acid in 2002.

[jcy]

Originally Posted by 2022M550i

I noticed there is a huge difference when charging the battery in my M550i...If the car is not locked, it takes at least 12 hours to get to full charge. If I lock it, it fully charges in about 2 hours. Hood is up in both conditions. Using Ctek mxs 5.0 in AGM mode. Everything appears to be off in the car when it's unlocked, but there must be something still running. I always lock it now, even when in the garage.

Do you have comfort access?

[430Scud]

I posted information on battery charging and a method for safely charging both batteries at the same time.

https://g30.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh...php?p=31087669