After 10 years of beemers the first non starter was the E30

[e301988325i]

After 5 1/2 years of owning my E30 it finally let me down this morning with a dead battery I quickly forgave her and after finding my jump pack dead, jumped her from the E46. The shame was immense for the E30, I'm surprised she didn't throw the cambelt in disgust. I suspect that the twin usb cigarette adaptor I left in over christmas slowly drained the battery dead.

This is the first time any of the 4 beemers I've owned have failed to start or complete a journey over 10 years of ownership overall and I'm gutted it was the E30. The only other problems have been E30 handbrake disintegrating, M20 intake bellows splitting, punctures and track abuse boiling the PAS fluid, none of which caused any journeys to not be made.

What are the chances of the battery being ok after being drained, the car cranked very slowly for a second, but I gave up straight away.

Should I just go and buy a new battery, I can't believe I've had it for so long, I've not fitted a battery so is 5 1/2 years plus what it did before my time good for a battery anyway (it's a bosch)?

[capri_rob]

If its that old it could be due replacement anyway BUT I got one of those Ctek charger/conditioners for christmas which I believe can rejuvenate old batteries using the "Desulphation" programme.

You can also leave them permanently connected and once the battery is fully charged it switches to "conditioning" mode to keep it topped up.

They're less than the cost of a new battery and even if it doesnt work its worth having to keep the new battery in tiptop condition

[bss325i]

If its not been totally discharged then it may be ok after a charge.

[greg124]

The only time my E30 has let me down was due to a flat battery while left at the airport.
However, a battery being over 5 years old does not neccesarily mean it needs to be replaced. We had the same battery in an Avenger for 13 years

[e301988325i]

If its not been totally discharged then it may be ok after a charge.

I did 3/4 hour this morning and left the solar charger in all day and started perfectly this afternoon, think I'm starting to hear an alternator whine through the stereo (just a headunit), not sure if that's related at all.

[monkey]

not bad in 10 years Alex wouldn't think that many renault / peugeot owners could say that

[Simon13]

the car didn't let you down, you did!

[tom325sport]

the car didn't let you down, you did!

Yep agree here. I did this years ago and blamed the car... I had left my lights on

[polsta]

the car didn't let you down, you did!

thats what i thought

any car at all if left for long enough/with enough drain, will just drain the battery and it wont start , you cant blame the car for that

[e301988325i]

i know, but still the first non starter. I thought about it the night before but was too lazy to go and check. Car had only been sat for 3 weeks.

[e301988325i]

I last drove it 10 days ago 3/4 hour. I needed to use it today so I put the battery on charge last night, charger said completely drained and only registered 1/2 - 3/4 full this morning, but still cranked over perfectly. Today 3/4 hour drive parked up for 6hrs and started perfectly.

A few questions:

1) How do I test for a residual drain when the car is switched off, remove the positive lead from the battery and check for current A between the battery and lead?

2) The battery is in the boot and the boot lights come on automatically where's the plunger for them?

3) Can anyone suggest how to test if the boot lights are staying on with the boot shut?

4) Should I just go and buy a battery? quite happy to do so but it does still crank ok?

[e30topless]

2) The battery is in the boot and the boot lights come on automatically where's the plunger for them?

under the lid near the light

3) Can anyone suggest how to test if the boot lights are staying on with the boot shut?

lock the wife in there

4) Should I just go and buy a battery? quite happy to do so but it does still crank ok?

I would

[daimlerman]

2) The battery is in the boot and the boot lights come on automatically where's the plunger for them?

under the lid near the light

3) Can anyone suggest how to test if the boot lights are staying on with the boot shut?

lock the wife in there

4) Should I just go and buy a battery? quite happy to do so but it does still crank ok?

I would

http://www.e30zone.net/modules.php?name ... c&t=213159

What is it at the moment with locking wive's and 10 year olds in boots?

[e301988325i]

Thanks for the link Malc, I had to use my phone to video inside the boot as the Mrs absolutely refused to get in. Quite unreasonable I thought.

Booy lights ok and current draw of 0.05A, so battery is just not holding charge, I've not had one go like that before.

You were right Steve, I bought a replacement silver bosch 096, 780CCA & 5 year gurantee for £93inc tax, the charger says it's half full so I'll leave it until tonight to swap them over.

[Silverfang]

Checked the charging rate when it's running? Should be 13.8V or there abouts.

[e301988325i]

Checked the charging rate when it's running? Should be 13.8V or there abouts.

I haven't LOL, but it's not draining whilst driving!

[Silverfang]

Checked the charging rate when it's running? Should be 13.8V or there abouts.

I haven't LOL, but it's not draining whilst driving!

True lol

Mine did have a similar issue, where it'd run fine, but the battery wouldn't charge sufficently to keep it going.
Turned out the alternator wasn't pumping out enough voltage / ampage to keep the battery fully topped up.

[e301988325i]

I'm 99% it's not the alternator, the alternator light goes out as it should, went down the motorway for 1/2 hour with heated seat, stereo, lights, phone charging and restarted perfectly after being parked for 6hrs.