Argh! Car stuck in airport carpark with dead battery!

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fingerman
E30 Zone Squatter
E30 Zone Squatter
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Joined: Mon Jun 05, 2006 11:00 pm
Location: Stockport

Post Mon Nov 24, 2008 10:29 pm

Sh1te, had to leave the E36 in the long stay car park on Manchester Airport this evening as been working away since last Wednesday.

The clues of the dead battery was opening the boot, no light and only the boot opened, hhmm I thought so opened the drivers door (with key) and just the drivers door, no vanity lights - brilliant! So a quick try to start the engine - forget it no dash lights or anything ! :x

Had a quick look at the battery and it looked pretty new although I couldn't read the thing as it was too dark.

As the service history is non existant (for the past 100k!) I thought of getting a battery first thing then getting to the airport and replacing it, or should a try to jump start ?

When I picked the car up the other week the boot light had been removed, I presumed it was faulty so put another it - could this drain a battery over 5 days?

Anyway, I bet this has happened quite a lot in airport carparks - maybe there's a business in it, selling batterys or oil at the entrance winkeye

At least noone will nick the E36, if me old E30 was there I might have cared a bit more :roll:
Previously owned loads of old E30s, E34s, a few E36s, E32s, E39s and an E38.

Currently in a diesel Audi - miss me old E30's....
Speedtouch
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Post Mon Nov 24, 2008 10:37 pm

Yes, a boot light staying on for five days would flatten the battery. Hope you get it sorted - I take it you have no AA/RAC cover?
///M aurice
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fingerman
E30 Zone Squatter
E30 Zone Squatter
Posts: 1588
Joined: Mon Jun 05, 2006 11:00 pm
Location: Stockport

Post Mon Nov 24, 2008 10:42 pm

Think I'll get a battery as I've no idea how old it is, guess they last about 6-8 years (maybe more?) so a new one would be nice, and will remove the boot light !

I do have rescue cover with Direct Line but it was easier and quicker to get a taxi home and sort it out tomorrow as the Airport isn't to far away.

Thanks for the advice 8)
Previously owned loads of old E30s, E34s, a few E36s, E32s, E39s and an E38.

Currently in a diesel Audi - miss me old E30's....
Alex
Married to the E30 Zone
Married to the E30 Zone
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Location: Johannesburg, South Africa

Post Mon Nov 24, 2008 11:57 pm

bump start it winkeye
Sanchez
Married to the E30 Zone
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Post Tue Nov 25, 2008 12:02 am

fingerman wrote: sort it out tomorrow as the Airport isn't to far away.
Y did you drive in the 1st place.
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fingerman
E30 Zone Squatter
E30 Zone Squatter
Posts: 1588
Joined: Mon Jun 05, 2006 11:00 pm
Location: Stockport

Post Tue Nov 25, 2008 7:55 pm

Too much hassle with getting a taxi there and couldn't get a lift, and I can claim back the car park charges through work.

Anyway, ended up getting a new battery for £65 as I've no idea how old the current one is and there's no receipts in the service book.

It got me home and took out the boot light and glovebox torch! - is just the radio taking a bit now - will monitor

Still don't like the shape and was bidding on a nice e28 this evening on ebay :mad:
Previously owned loads of old E30s, E34s, a few E36s, E32s, E39s and an E38.

Currently in a diesel Audi - miss me old E30's....
Gwynleym10
E30 Zone Addict
E30 Zone Addict
Posts: 3650
Joined: Sun Jan 09, 2005 11:00 pm
Location: London/Cymru

Post Wed Nov 26, 2008 10:25 pm

Get one of the Solar trickle chargers - they do work I had my e30 plugged into them for 5months and the battery didn't go flat.

Ones made by VW are the best ones, like the ones in the pic on my landcruiser (its 24v so needs 2)
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