Battery replacement

dillrob · 01-18-2010, 12:00 PM

I bought a 2005 Z4 and it seems like the battery may be nearing its end of life. I keep the car in the garage and after sitting for a couple days at about 30-35 degrees farenheit, the car is hard to start. It does turn over, but it seems to struggle. Also sounds as if it is low on oil, which I know its not.

In any case, wondering what the typical life is for the original battery based on your experience (the car is from Mass. and I'm in Pa.). Also, is this something that I should try to get replaced under warranty?

Thanks.

chickdr · 01-18-2010, 01:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dillrob

I bought a 2005 Z4 and it seems like the battery may be nearing its end of life. I keep the car in the garage and after sitting for a couple days at about 30-35 degrees farenheit, the car is hard to start. It does turn over, but it seems to struggle. Also sounds as if it is low on oil, which I know its not.

In any case, wondering what the typical life is for the original battery based on your experience (the car is from Mass. and I'm in Pa.). Also, is this something that I should try to get replaced under warranty?

Thanks.

It is an 05 or 06? I ask as your car is listed as an 06si on the left of the screen? I have had issues with my battery as well and I drive an 06. The dealer found corrosion on the battery terminals when it was checked recently. Maybe start there, then get a battery tender, the CTEK 3300 is a good one, and see if that solves your problem. It could be the battery is at its end too. 5 years is pretty good if it is in fact an 05. There are tons of battery threads on various Z4 boards for more info on good alternatives to the very expensive OEM replacement. If your car is an 06, they may do a replacement under warranty IF the car has been driven enough to qualify(I believe it has to have 8K miles/year to be considered as less than this puts a big strain on the battery)

dillrob · 01-18-2010, 03:16 PM

Your right doc. It is an '06. I am at just under 8k/year (28k at 43 months). I'll take a look at the terminals though and consider the tender too. Thanks.

zee4mike · 01-18-2010, 04:04 PM

I have a 2006 Z4 3.0i and just experienced the identical problems, in addition to the DSC and ABS lights coming on occasionally on start. New battery solved the problem although it wasn't covered under warranty due to driving history.....not frequently enough. My local dealer cut me a deal, I bought the battery and a tender and they didn't charge me labor for installation. Total bill was just under $270. Now it starts great....problem solved.

caseysc · 01-18-2010, 05:07 PM

Check out this site:

http://www.remybattery.com/Departmen...e-Battery.aspx

Sears had a battery tender that I use for $20 on sale.

VitaminT · 01-18-2010, 07:18 PM

My car wasn't used much before I bought it last March. It did have a tender on it but still I ran into issues a few months ago. Dealer ran some diagnostic on it and got a code that was covered under warranty. No problems since.

GeorgeT · 01-20-2010, 09:37 AM

My '03 still has the original battery - 38,000 miles driven about twice a week. I'm living on borrowed time I think.

How does a motor that's low on oil sound? You may be hearing valve "chatter" due to oil draining away from the head after sitting for an extended time. Hve you checked the oil level? If it's truly low on oil, the sound you would hear is the motor self-distructing.

dillrob · 01-20-2010, 11:21 AM

The oil level is indicating that it is full - "OK"

The sound, to me, is more of a metal-on-metal sound, or a poorly lubricated engine sound. This may actually be the case until the oil actually starts circulating and warms up.

caseysc · 01-20-2010, 07:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dillrob

The oil level is indicating that it is full - "OK"

The sound, to me, is more of a metal-on-metal sound, or a poorly lubricated engine sound. This may actually be the case until the oil actually starts circulating and warms up.

All due respect, take your car to a mechanic you trust before YOU RUIN THE ENGINE. A forum is not the place to diagnose something like this.

zee4mike · 01-20-2010, 08:29 PM

dillrob, I have an 06 Z4 3.0i and just had the cylinder head replaced under warranty. The N52 engine has had a few issues with the oil circulation around the lifters (not a technical guy here) and results in a "ticking" sound when starting and randomly after warming up at least in my case. BMW has a service procedure designed to address this issue and if it doesn't work after a couple of times, the dealer can ask BMW to replace the head. In my case, persistence paid in following the suggested service recommendations. I think I may have posted on this post under "ticking sound after engine start up" and got some great recommendations from other members.

zee4mike · 01-20-2010, 08:37 PM

Check out the thread on page two of the general forum on "information all non-m drivers should know about their engines" post.

3002 tii · 01-22-2010, 08:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zee4mike

I have a 2006 Z4 3.0i and just experienced the identical problems, in addition to the DSC and ABS lights coming on occasionally on start. New battery solved the problem although it wasn't covered under warranty due to driving history.....not frequently enough. My local dealer cut me a deal, I bought the battery and a tender and they didn't charge me labor for installation. Total bill was just under $270. Now it starts great....problem solved.

saving on "labor" costs doesn't seem worth it to me. installing a battery takes 5 mins.

pbdm4k · 01-22-2010, 10:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dubbedown

saving on "labor" costs doesn't seem worth it to me. installing a battery takes 5 mins.

Yes, but why do it yourself when someone else will do it for free?
Didn't even cost a beer!

01-18-2010, 12:00 PM	#1
dillrob New Member 4 Rep 9 Posts Drives: 2006 BMW Z4 3.0si Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Downingtown, Pa iTrader: (0)	Battery replacement I bought a 2005 Z4 and it seems like the battery may be nearing its end of life. I keep the car in the garage and after sitting for a couple days at about 30-35 degrees farenheit, the car is hard to start. It does turn over, but it seems to struggle. Also sounds as if it is low on oil, which I know its not. In any case, wondering what the typical life is for the original battery based on your experience (the car is from Mass. and I'm in Pa.). Also, is this something that I should try to get replaced under warranty? Thanks.
	Appreciate 0 Tweet Quote

01-18-2010, 03:16 PM	#3
dillrob New Member 4 Rep 9 Posts Drives: 2006 BMW Z4 3.0si Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Downingtown, Pa iTrader: (0)	Your right doc. It is an '06. I am at just under 8k/year (28k at 43 months). I'll take a look at the terminals though and consider the tender too. Thanks.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

01-18-2010, 04:04 PM	#4
zee4mike New Member 0 Rep 21 Posts Drives: 2006 Z4 3.0i Roadster Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Chicago, IL iTrader: (0)	I have a 2006 Z4 3.0i and just experienced the identical problems, in addition to the DSC and ABS lights coming on occasionally on start. New battery solved the problem although it wasn't covered under warranty due to driving history.....not frequently enough. My local dealer cut me a deal, I bought the battery and a tender and they didn't charge me labor for installation. Total bill was just under $270. Now it starts great....problem solved.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

01-18-2010, 05:07 PM	#5
caseysc Second Lieutenant 9 Rep 274 Posts Drives: 2010 128i Conv. Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Aiken, SC iTrader: (0) Garage List 2005 Z4 2.5i [8.00]	Check out this site: http://www.remybattery.com/Departmen...e-Battery.aspx Sears had a battery tender that I use for $20 on sale.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

01-18-2010, 07:18 PM	#6
VitaminT First Lieutenant 11 Rep 304 Posts Drives: 2006 M Roadster Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Alabama iTrader: (0)	My car wasn't used much before I bought it last March. It did have a tender on it but still I ran into issues a few months ago. Dealer ran some diagnostic on it and got a code that was covered under warranty. No problems since.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

01-20-2010, 09:37 AM	#7
GeorgeT Private First Class 1 Rep 112 Posts Drives: 2007 750i; 2003 Z4 3.0 Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Seneca, SC iTrader: (0)	My '03 still has the original battery - 38,000 miles driven about twice a week. I'm living on borrowed time I think. How does a motor that's low on oil sound? You may be hearing valve "chatter" due to oil draining away from the head after sitting for an extended time. Hve you checked the oil level? If it's truly low on oil, the sound you would hear is the motor self-distructing.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

01-20-2010, 11:21 AM	#8
dillrob New Member 4 Rep 9 Posts Drives: 2006 BMW Z4 3.0si Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Downingtown, Pa iTrader: (0)	The oil level is indicating that it is full - "OK" The sound, to me, is more of a metal-on-metal sound, or a poorly lubricated engine sound. This may actually be the case until the oil actually starts circulating and warms up.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

01-20-2010, 08:29 PM	#10
zee4mike New Member 0 Rep 21 Posts Drives: 2006 Z4 3.0i Roadster Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Chicago, IL iTrader: (0)	dillrob, I have an 06 Z4 3.0i and just had the cylinder head replaced under warranty. The N52 engine has had a few issues with the oil circulation around the lifters (not a technical guy here) and results in a "ticking" sound when starting and randomly after warming up at least in my case. BMW has a service procedure designed to address this issue and if it doesn't work after a couple of times, the dealer can ask BMW to replace the head. In my case, persistence paid in following the suggested service recommendations. I think I may have posted on this post under "ticking sound after engine start up" and got some great recommendations from other members.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

01-20-2010, 08:37 PM	#11
zee4mike New Member 0 Rep 21 Posts Drives: 2006 Z4 3.0i Roadster Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Chicago, IL iTrader: (0)	Check out the thread on page two of the general forum on "information all non-m drivers should know about their engines" post.
	Appreciate 0 Quote