2000 BMW Z3: Discharged Battery, Hydro Meter Black, Jumped Car, yet still black?

Ok, it turns out that I left my trunk open for 3 days and didn't drive
my car. The little trunk lamp must have completely discharged my
battery because the car wouldn't start, I lost my clock settings, and
the battery's hydrometer was pure black, indicating a discharged
battery (yellow means a dead battery and green means a charged good
battery). I was able to jump-start the car, and I drove it around
constantly for a few hours. However, the hydrometer is still pure
black, but the car now starts without jumping.

1. Can I recharge the battery by driving the car for long periods of
time?

2. How long does it take to charge the battery to get the hydrometer
to be green again?

On 17 Oct 2004 12:08:35 -0700, (MathMan) wrote:

>Ok, it turns out that I left my trunk open for 3 days and didn't drive
>my car. The little trunk lamp must have completely discharged my
>battery because the car wouldn't start, I lost my clock settings, and
>the battery's hydrometer was pure black, indicating a discharged
>battery (yellow means a dead battery and green means a charged good
>battery). I was able to jump-start the car, and I drove it around
>constantly for a few hours. However, the hydrometer is still pure
>black, but the car now starts without jumping.
>
>1. Can I recharge the battery by driving the car for long periods of
>time?
>
>2. How long does it take to charge the battery to get the hydrometer
>to be green again?


I have an M3 with the battery in the trunk. The battery is dead and
the trunk lid is closed. Since the trunk is actuated by an electronic
solinoid how do I get into the trunk to change the battery?

JC Kirkland

On Sun, 21 Nov 2004 16:02:23 +0000, 04 Mystic wrote:

> On 17 Oct 2004 12:08:35 -0700, (MathMan) wrote:
>
>>Ok, it turns out that I left my trunk open for 3 days and didn't drive my
>>car. The little trunk lamp must have completely discharged my battery
>>because the car wouldn't start, I lost my clock settings, and the
>>battery's hydrometer was pure black, indicating a discharged battery
>>(yellow means a dead battery and green means a charged good battery). I
>>was able to jump-start the car, and I drove it around constantly for a
>>few hours. However, the hydrometer is still pure black, but the car now
>>starts without jumping.
>>
>>1. Can I recharge the battery by driving the car for long periods of
>>time?
>>
>>2. How long does it take to charge the battery to get the hydrometer to
>>be green again?
>
>
> I have an M3 with the battery in the trunk. The battery is dead and the
> trunk lid is closed. Since the trunk is actuated by an electronic solinoid
> how do I get into the trunk to change the battery?
>
Use jumper cables and power the car up with another battery via the jump
start connector in the engine bay.

--
The instructions said to use Windows 98 or better, so I installed RedHat.

On Sun, 21 Nov 2004 11:54:04 -0600, Jim Levie >
wrote:

>On Sun, 21 Nov 2004 16:02:23 +0000, 04 Mystic wrote:
>
>> On 17 Oct 2004 12:08:35 -0700, (MathMan) wrote:
>>
>>>Ok, it turns out that I left my trunk open for 3 days and didn't drive my
>>>car. The little trunk lamp must have completely discharged my battery
>>>because the car wouldn't start, I lost my clock settings, and the
>>>battery's hydrometer was pure black, indicating a discharged battery
>>>(yellow means a dead battery and green means a charged good battery). I
>>>was able to jump-start the car, and I drove it around constantly for a
>>>few hours. However, the hydrometer is still pure black, but the car now
>>>starts without jumping.
>>>
>>>1. Can I recharge the battery by driving the car for long periods of
>>>time?
>>>
>>>2. How long does it take to charge the battery to get the hydrometer to
>>>be green again?
>>
>>
>> I have an M3 with the battery in the trunk. The battery is dead and the
>> trunk lid is closed. Since the trunk is actuated by an electronic solinoid
>> how do I get into the trunk to change the battery?
>>
>Use jumper cables and power the car up with another battery via the jump
>start connector in the engine bay.

Thanks I'll try that.