m325i 711 Report post Posted August 31, 2020 Hi I was wondering if you guys could advise me on battery chargers. Family have a 335i that has been sitting and error codes are from a (slightly) flat battery. I was advised to try a charger. What is the cheapest option that will do the trick? I see they vary quite a bit on TM. It’s not so much for tending, more to actually charge this up. TIA! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
M3AN 4016 Report post Posted August 31, 2020 Solved: 1 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
gjm 3258 Report post Posted August 31, 2020 I think Brent @BM WORLD has mentioned 'battery coding'. I don't know what that is or what benefit it brings, but it could be a factor. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
M3AN 4016 Report post Posted August 31, 2020 (edited) Batteries on new cars need to be registered if they're replacing the same capacity battery, there's additional coding required if the replacement battery has different specs. Both of these only apply if you're changing the battery though, not just charging it. @m325i - you'll probably need a charger with a restoration mode, like the CTEK (which are the favoured chargers on the market). Edited August 31, 2020 by M3AN 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
exextatic 131 Report post Posted August 31, 2020 +1 on the CTEK units, I believe BMW's battery charger accessory is also just a BMW-branded CTEK. 2 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
The Bimmer 11 Report post Posted August 31, 2020 european dealers using deutronik chargers. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
HalfJobHarry 106 Report post Posted August 31, 2020 (edited) I regularly use a CTEK clone I got from Jaycar about a year ago. It has trickle charging modes for wet cell and AGM (which many/all? newer BMWs are fitted with). https://www.jaycar.co.nz/6-12vdc-1-5a-8-step-intelligent-lead-acid-and-lithium-battery-charger/p/MB3900 EDIT: Takes a 70AH AGM from below <25% to 100% in about 12 hours or so... Can vouch for it's goodness and auto charging and cutoff capabilities. The IMPORTANT thing with these cars is to connect to the jump/charging point under the bonnet, NOT directly to the battery in the boot (ever). BMWs branded charger is a CTEK charger...highly recommended too but a lot more $$. Edited August 31, 2020 by HalfJobHarry more info. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
M3AN 4016 Report post Posted August 31, 2020 8 minutes ago, The Bimmer said: european dealers using deutronik chargers. Perhaps but they're hardly consumer-level chargers. 6 minutes ago, HalfJobHarry said: I regularly use a CTEK clone I got from Jaycar about a year ago. It has trickle charging modes for wet cell and AGM (which many/all? newer BMWs are fitted with). https://www.jaycar.co.nz/6-12vdc-1-5a-8-step-intelligent-lead-acid-and-lithium-battery-charger/p/MB3900 EDIT: Takes a 70AH AGM from below <25% to 100% in about 12 hours or so... Can vouch for it's goodness and auto charging and cutoff capabilities. The IMPORTANT thing with these cars is to connect to the jump/charging point under the bonnet, NOT directly to the battery in the boot (ever). BMWs branded charger is a CTEK charger...highly recommended too but a lot more $$. Meh. That charger you linked to is 1.5A so will take days to charge a nearly flat battery. That's actually less amps than the maintenance mode on my second charger (Protector brand I think). I'd challenge anyone to find a quality 5A charger designed for vehicles for less than the CTEK I've linked to. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
HalfJobHarry 106 Report post Posted August 31, 2020 3 minutes ago, M3AN said: Perhaps but they're hardly consumer-level chargers. Meh. That charger you linked to is 1.5A so will take days to charge a nearly flat battery. That's actually less amps than the maintenance mode on my second charger (Protector brand I think). I'd challenge anyone to find a quality 5A charger designed for vehicles for less than the CTEK I've linked to. Yeah no dispute from me there, but works well enough for me to top up batteries every now and then on the car(s) don't drive for 3 weeks or so. Speed is not a huge concern for me there You've linked to a great charger for a really good price for a CTEK at that ampage for sure. I'm merely sharing my experience with a cheap charger that hasn't blown anything up as a bottom dollar alternative. 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
M3AN 4016 Report post Posted August 31, 2020 Of course, that is true, there will be many applications the one you have are suitable for. Funnily enough the charger for my RC batteries is 10A running off a 20A power supply, all of these car chargers are pussies really! Except those Deutronik beasts @The Bimmer mentioned above. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
gjm 3258 Report post Posted August 31, 2020 I have to ask - why? Why is (re)charging a battery now so complicated? Is it a dealership thing? Can they charge for this service? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
M3AN 4016 Report post Posted August 31, 2020 21 minutes ago, gjm said: I have to ask - why? Why is (re)charging a battery now so complicated? Is it a dealership thing? Can they charge for this service? I don't think it's complicated, but like anything valuable or volatile you want to treat it with care and respect. 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
turbolizard 38 Report post Posted August 31, 2020 49 minutes ago, gjm said: I have to ask - why? Why is (re)charging a battery now so complicated? Is it a dealership thing? Can they charge for this service? The manufacturers are chasing every bit of economy and emissions reduction they can get and as a result the onboard charging systems are now much more sophisticated and less wasteful of energy. The car is trying to optimise the charging regime, which changes as the battery ages or if a bigger or smaller battery is used, which is why it needs to be coded when a new battery is installed. Charging via the connections under the bonnet allows the electronics to keep track of the extra charge going into the battery, whereas connecting direct to the battery does not. 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Olaf 3341 Report post Posted August 31, 2020 I too run a CTEK MXS5.0, f**king brilliant. And as it's close to fathers day, pricing is excellent, as Dave has linked to. Quality unit, almost capable of reincarnation. 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
HalfJobHarry 106 Report post Posted September 1, 2020 (edited) 9 hours ago, Olaf said: I too run a CTEK MXS5.0, f**king brilliant. And as it's close to fathers day, pricing is excellent, as Dave has linked to. Quality unit, almost capable of reincarnation. I am tempted because it's an awesome price... EDIT: Holy C*rap ! I didn't fully realize the price and have pulled the trigger on this one....that's sale of the century! Edited September 1, 2020 by HalfJobHarry Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
m325i 711 Report post Posted September 1, 2020 Thanks - bought that Ctek one on special. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
