Battery failure on E34

wrote:
> I've had an E34 520 for about a year. I use it about twice a week to
> drive 100 miles.
>
> I had last used in on Sunday (only a short journey, about 10 miles) and
> then when I started it on Thursday the car turned over a little slower
> then usual (it normally starts really easily) but this time I could hear
> it was struggling to turn over the battery.
>
> When I used it again on Friday it started fine.
>
> I tried it again today (after it had been standing for about 15 hours)
> and it didn't have enough power to spin the engine much at all. About
> enough to turn it over for five seconds before it died.
>
> Since it was fine on Friday (on that 100 mile journey I stopped twice,
> it started fine both times) I'm guessing it's more likely a battery than
> a charging problem. I suppose it could be something's drawing more idle
> current than it should though.
>
> I thought I'd check what current it drawed with the ignition off before
> I replace the battery (sixty uk pounds!), anyone got any ideas what sort
> of figure I should be looking at? I'm guessing a few milliamps.
>
> The alarm (BMW fit) is switched off if it makes any difference.
>
> All advice gratefully received!

ABout 60MA would be normal. How old is the battery? If more than 3 yrs,
I'd replace it regardless.

"JimV" > wrote in message
...
> wrote:
>> I've had an E34 520 for about a year. I use it about twice a week to
>> drive 100 miles.
>>
>> I had last used in on Sunday (only a short journey, about 10 miles) and
>> then when I started it on Thursday the car turned over a little slower
>> then usual (it normally starts really easily) but this time I could hear
>> it was struggling to turn over the battery.
>>
>> When I used it again on Friday it started fine. I tried it again today
>> (after it had been standing for about 15 hours)
>> and it didn't have enough power to spin the engine much at all. About
>> enough to turn it over for five seconds before it died.
>>
>> Since it was fine on Friday (on that 100 mile journey I stopped twice,
>> it started fine both times) I'm guessing it's more likely a battery than
>> a charging problem. I suppose it could be something's drawing more idle
>> current than it should though.
>>
>> I thought I'd check what current it drawed with the ignition off before
>> I replace the battery (sixty uk pounds!), anyone got any ideas what sort
>> of figure I should be looking at? I'm guessing a few milliamps.
>>
>> The alarm (BMW fit) is switched off if it makes any difference.
>>
>> All advice gratefully received!
>
> ABout 60MA would be normal. How old is the battery? If more than 3 yrs,
> I'd replace it regardless.

Agree, I would replace it too. Is the battery in your 520 in the engine
compartment or under the rear seat? I ask because I have a 535i with the
battery under the rear seat and my last battery, a, plug, Sears Diehard,
lasted 9 years. I recently replaced it with one from Kragen (Checkers in
some parts of the country) and we will see how long that one last....

Those bloody batteries!

And for 60 Pounds Sterling! Those *******s!

Yeah, UK. Replace the battery, and clean all the start system
electrical connections as insurance.

Usually, a worn starter spins slow all the time (worn brushes.) But a
bad battery is sometimes strong, and then weak, depending on the recent
recharge. I nursed and recharged a BMW battery for months, and then
noticed one cell wasn't reacting to the recharge, not bubbling a bit.
Time for a new battery.

Best wishes,
Chevy Chase

In article >,
JimV > wrote:
> How old is the battery? If more than 3 yrs,
> I'd replace it regardless.

A decent battery place should have an electronic tester which will give
chapter and verse on the battery state.

--
*When I'm not in my right mind, my left mind gets pretty crowded *

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

In article >,
> wrote:
> The battery's dated 1999 so it's about 6 years old. Might be time to
> replace it I suppose.

It certainly doesn't owe you anything. I'm pleased to get 4 years out of
one.

--
*Who is this General Failure chap anyway - and why is he reading my HD? *

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

On Sun, 23 Jan 2005 13:01:38 +0000, wrote:

> "Dave Plowman (News)" > wrote in message
>:
>
>>In article >,
>> > wrote:
>>> The battery's dated 1999 so it's about 6 years old. Might be time to
>>> replace it I suppose.
>>
>>It certainly doesn't owe you anything. I'm pleased to get 4 years out of
>>one.
>
>Whilst I don't deny that, any excuse to avoid spending money is always
>welcome...

Fine, so long as you don't mind being stranded somewhere when the
battery actually carries out the clear threat it just made...
--
Dan Drake

On Sun, 23 Jan 2005 15:20:52 +0000, wrote:

> Dan Drake > wrote in message
>:
>
>>On Sun, 23 Jan 2005 13:01:38 +0000, wrote:
>
>>>Whilst I don't deny that, any excuse to avoid spending money is always
>>>welcome...
>>
>>Fine, so long as you don't mind being stranded somewhere when the
>>battery actually carries out the clear threat it just made...
>
>Well, that's what breakdown insurance is for, isn't it.

That's good logic for never doing any preventative maintenance at all!
--
Dan Drake

On Sun, 23 Jan 2005 20:05:30 +0000, wrote:

> Dan Drake > wrote in message
>:
>
>>On Sun, 23 Jan 2005 15:20:52 +0000, wrote:
>
>>>Well, that's what breakdown insurance is for, isn't it.
>>
>>That's good logic for never doing any preventative maintenance at all!
>
>I'd never looked at it that way. Thanks, you've saved me a lot of time
>and money.

My pleasure. Good luck!
--
Dan Drake

In article >,
> wrote:
> >It certainly doesn't owe you anything. I'm pleased to get 4 years out of
> >one.

> Whilst I don't deny that, any excuse to avoid spending money is always
> welcome...

You're telling this to an Aberdonian? ;-)

--
*I don't work here. I'm a consultant

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.