Charge BMW Dead Battery the Right Way

ESTIMATED TIME 4-24 hours

DIY COST $20-$55

DIFFICULTY Very Easy

Ideally, the battery should be charged off the car, but if the battery has no damaged cells, it can be charged in the vehicle.

What you will need

12 Volt Battery Charger
- Recommended CTEK CTEK56 Battery Charger.

Procedure

The proper way to charge a BMW battery is by using the jump start terminals under the hood.

Open the driver's door using the emergency key found inside the key fob.
Pull the hood release twice and open the hood.
Locate the positive terminal under the engine bay.
Connect the red clamp from your charger to this post.
Locate the negative terminal under the hood. BMW has a designated copper post. If you can't find the negative (ground) post, connect the black clamp to one of the strut tower bolts.
Determine the battery type. The battery type is printed on top of the battery. The battery type will be Regular/Lead Acid/Flooded or AGM battery. If the battery has a black case, it most likely is an AGM battery. If the battery has a white case, it is a regular or flooded battery.
Plug your charger into a wall outlet or extension cord.
Allow the battery to get charged or stay fully charged. Do not keep the key in the ignition while the battery is charging. If you are charging a fully discharged battery, it can take up to twenty-four hours to charge your BMW battery.

BMW batteries are used even when the car is turned off.

Typically it takes anywhere from 15 to 30 minutes for all BMW systems to go to "sleep." Even when the car has entered a "sleep mode," 0.1-0.5A is still drawn from the battery.

Symptoms

Car won't start
Battery Warning Light on
Airbag light on
The battery dies when parked for an extended time.
Instrument Cluster Warning Lights on

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use a slow charger to jump-start a BMW?

Yes, you can, but you need to allow the battery to charge for several hours. A slow charger only puts out about 2 to 12 amps, which is not a lot much current. If your BMW battery is fully discharged, it can take about 10 hours or more for the battery to get charged.

Where is the battery charging location on a BMW?

The charging points on a BMW are (also known as the jump-starting terminals) located in the engine bay. The positive terminal is covered with a red plastic cover.

Comments

My 330d is completely flat I have tried to charge it with a standard charger. After seconds it cut out and beeping noise started. Is it essential that you use a trickle charger . Help!

Is it necessary to use a smart charger to charge the on my 2014 330id Mseries

Trickle charger refers to small current. It could be 1A. Any charger up to 15A would be fine in my opinion.

My 89 535i battery keeps dying - if it is not driven everyday it is dead. New battery, not the precise one, cost me a few hundred, died and the dealer refuses to replace it, regardless that it was 11 months. If I get a boost, it immediately catches - love ya baby, but when cold, she's cold as ice! Just hit up a friend for his charger, > started with the 75 v, traditional flow - about two hours, the battery appears to have juice - won't start, but functions light up > tried the ENGINE STARTER and all the bells and lights like an air raid hit at once and blew itself out. > now I've turned it to 2 V SLOW TRICKLE and deep engine Just came inside and searched dead bmw battery charging and found your site ... thanks man

btw ... I connected at the battery under back seat - but you're recommending under the hood? I didn't want to leave it on street with the charger exposed ... must it be at the hood terminals - that is where I've always boosted since the back is such a PITA

FORGOT! THANKS for the run down on the battery usage for the services even when turned off! That was helpful ... could not believe how fast and how much everything draws ... seems I had a leak but also noting the computer on the 89 535i keeps all services lit up even after the car is off