ReformedAustralian 0 Report post Posted August 11, 2013 Right - so we headed off for two weeks away and the 745i sat outside the house until we got back. Upon getting back I attempted to open the door with my key fob. No response at all. So I used the click out key to manually open the door. Once sitting in the seat I tried to insert the fob into the starter. To my great surprise the starter would not accept the fob and rather than clicking in all the way, it simply sat half way. I logged on here and started searching for answers. There was a topic around the fobs not staying in and the generally accepted answer was to disconnect the negative terminal off the battery, wait a period of time and then all should be right. Attempted that and no joy unfortunately. The net step was to log into an online BMW help line who suggested the issue sounded like a flat battery which required charging or jumping. As a result I hooked up a battery charger to the battery and it says the battery is fully charged. It does seemingly switch itself on and off intermittently (approx 30 second cycles) and while I am sitting in the drivers seat I noticed that where before the dash/heads up display was totally dead it now lights up intermittently as does my GPS screen which is plugged into the cigarette lighter. The charger has been on the car for an hour at this stage and the charger is still behaving in the same way. What do you think guys? Details on car: 2002 Schnitzer BMW 745i Cheers and thanks in advance - Steve Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kiwi535 538 Report post Posted August 11, 2013 all i can suggest is to leave it till the battery is fully charged.If it says the battery is fully charged it sounds like you have a bad connection(maybe fusible link) problem Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ultrarandom 3 Report post Posted August 11, 2013 What's the condition of the charger? Could even be a completely dead battery. Try taking the battery out of the car and charging it, if that doesn't work take into somewhere like Supercheap and get the battery tested. Annoying thing with euro cars is the batteries are expensive to replace (240ish) but sounds like all the symptoms of a flat battery. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ReformedAustralian 0 Report post Posted August 11, 2013 Charger is an Arlec 4 amp and belongs to mate next door. Seems fine. Weird that dash lights come up briefly every 30 seconds or so but then flash back off. Does sound (logically) like a flat battery. I didn't leave lights on or anything whilst away. Did leave GPS plugged in but wouldn't have thought that would be an issue... Unsure if battery is original from manufacture either as am not original owner. What about jumping it guys, would this likely start it and do i need any specialist jumping equipment? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ReformedAustralian 0 Report post Posted August 11, 2013 What's the condition of the charger? Could even be a completely dead battery. Try taking the battery out of the car and charging it, if that doesn't work take into somewhere like Supercheap and get the battery tested. Annoying thing with euro cars is the batteries are expensive to replace (240ish) but sounds like all the symptoms of a flat battery. Not super keen to remove battery from car in it's entirety given how fiddly they are pulling out of the boot and removing trim... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kiwi535 538 Report post Posted August 11, 2013 if you have a really good battery to jump start the first thing i would do is to connect the good battery to yours and see if everything electrical is working again.I wouldnt jump start.a 7 series.Maybe try disconnecting the battery and charging it in place.If you do need to jump start read up on how to minimize the voltage spike risks Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ReformedAustralian 0 Report post Posted August 11, 2013 Right, so i have located a fuse chart for an E65 2002... if i have a fuseable link issue where do I start? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kiwi535 538 Report post Posted August 11, 2013 Right, so i have located a fuse chart for an E65 2002... if i have a fuseable link issue where do I start? fusible link is ussually in a big plastic sheath near the battery.its a big fuse to protect the whole system,sometimes they can crack Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ReformedAustralian 0 Report post Posted August 11, 2013 fusible link is ussually in a big plastic sheath near the battery.its a big fuse to protect the whole system,sometimes they can crack Ill go check it. In the meantime I have been looking at other replies on similar topics - most seem to suggest that my battery has gone to heaven. Sounds like it can be safely jumped though so may have to have a lash at that tomorrow if the charge fails. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ReformedAustralian 0 Report post Posted August 11, 2013 What's the condition of the charger? Could even be a completely dead battery. Try taking the battery out of the car and charging it, if that doesn't work take into somewhere like Supercheap and get the battery tested. Annoying thing with euro cars is the batteries are expensive to replace (240ish) but sounds like all the symptoms of a flat battery. Out of interest - obviously the car won't move and I certainly don't wan t to pay to tow it to the dealer - is a flat battery the same as a dead battery? IE: once I charge it, on the balance of probabilities will it be ok once charged and back in the car and if so, can i just remove the battery and drop that off at the dealer and have them charge it? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sp8s 1 Report post Posted August 11, 2013 Some battery chargers have a system where they charge in cycles when connected to dead flat batteries. This is to stop a very high voltage going into a battery and rooting it with too high a charge. Seems to be this is what is happening here. Leave charger connected over night and check how things are in the morning.. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ReformedAustralian 0 Report post Posted August 11, 2013 Thanks for the help guys, hopefully all will be sweet in the AM. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
elmarco 56 Report post Posted August 11, 2013 I'd be getting a workshop to look at this one if it doesn't fire in the morning. I believe that these cars are smart enough that they need a computer reset if you put a new battery in - saw another e65 owner grumbling about it when I picked up my car last time. Certainly sounds like a dead battery to me. I wouldn't go anywhere near jumping it unless you know what you're doing. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ReformedAustralian 0 Report post Posted August 11, 2013 Update: charge didn't work. Going to take battery out, drop off at workshop and get them to check and - if cactus - replace it. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kiwi535 538 Report post Posted August 11, 2013 Update: charge didn't work. Going to take battery out, drop off at workshop and get them to check and - if cactus - replace it. have you tried a "jump start" without the actual start bit?Ie hook up a known good battery to yours? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
polley 916 Report post Posted August 11, 2013 Charger is prob hitting current limit and turning off. Then trying again in 30 secs and cutting out again. No doubt with a flat battery and the car's electronics it would draw over 4 amps. Try disconnecting the battery and charging it Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bimmer boy 21 Report post Posted August 11, 2013 I've jump started plenty of these before just use the terminals under the hood and do it the way you would to any car Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
hotwire 352 Report post Posted August 11, 2013 ^^^^ Absolutely - thats what they are there for. Even jump starting at the battery is not an issue. as long as connecting correctly - you will not have a problem. Try jump starting from another car/battery, if it starts - take it (the car) to a sparky & get the battery/car checked. If it doesn't start - obviously you will have to get someone out to it. The battery could be charged & buggered, or just flat. Both will give the same symtom. Going by the indicator on the charger will not necessarily give an accurate state of the battery - I would hate to think over the years how many times I have had to explain that to customers. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kiwi535 538 Report post Posted August 11, 2013 yes 4 amp charger is only a little one. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
yng_750 247 Report post Posted August 11, 2013 as chargers become smater they have and short protection this means if you touch them together they wont spark, only downside is it doesnt supply power until it detects a bettery, usually at around 4.5V This means if you battery is at 0v it will not start charging, you can "jump it" by hooking another good battery on for 10 mins or so just to get it started. I would bet that his battery is buggered and the 30 second pulse is it trying to detect a battery. I have a good fast charger and a cheap 2.5a charger from SCA for like $50, as it has a 0v start charge. makes it much easier. keep an eye out on the packaging for start voltage. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RustyItalian 11 Report post Posted August 12, 2013 as chargers become smater they have and short protection this means if you touch them together they wont spark, only downside is it doesnt supply power until it detects a bettery, usually at around 4.5V Yep, once bought a "smart" charger. Wouldn't recognize a flat battery and therefore made no attempt to charge it. Really useful aye, a charger that won't charge a flat battery... Swapped it for a "dumb" charger that did the business. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
