The majority of brand-new BMW vehicles are constructed with their batteries in the trunk, unlike practically all other vehicles. Now that we’ve cleared things out, learning how to remove a car battery won’t take much time: Under the upholstery that covers your trunk, the battery is often found on the right side of your car.
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Before we get started, it should be noted that the battery in the first-generation BMW X1 was quite simple to access: simply open the boot, remove the inner side cover from behind the right rear wheel, and the battery would be revealed in a recess adjacent to the boot floor. But when the current-generation X1 appeared, everything was different.
The X1’s battery was shifted from the back of the car to the front as it transitioned from a rear-wheel drive to a front-wheel drive platform. It is now located just in front of the windscreen and behind the engine. That doesn’t sound too challenging to access, and in most cars it isn’t, but the X1 has a complex configuration of coverings and structural braces installed over the battery, plus a fairly complicated electrical system located close by.
This means that quite a bit of stripping must be done just to reach the battery, which must then be carefully loosened and removed. It is best to hire a professional to complete this task because some of the stripping includes a structural component of the car’s body and because there are important electrical components nearby. Nevertheless, we dived into an X1’s engine bay to demonstrate how labor-intensive this seemingly straightforward procedure is.
Procedure
To change and register a BMW battery yourself, adhere to these instructions:
Set your BMW down. Remove the key while turning off the ignition, but leave the car unlocked. Put your intelligent key at least 30 feet away from the vehicle if you have one.
find the battery Most BMWs have the batteries in the trunk, however some older models had it in the engine compartment. Locate the BMW battery on the passenger side of the trunk floor by opening the trunk. If you have a BMW station wagon, the battery is located on the floor of the trunk. To reveal the battery, remove the lining.
To disconnect the negative battery terminal, use a 10mm wrench. Stay away from the negative battery terminal when resting the cord.
Remove the battery’s positive terminal. After that, unplug and take out the positive battery cable. To identify the 10 mm nut that needs to be loosened, you must lift the red plastic cover.
Take the battery bracket off. A bracket on the side and a bracket on top hold the battery in place. By first removing the two 13 mm bolts pointed out by the white arrows below, you can remove the top bracket.
- It’s time to take out the old battery right now. They are substantial batteries. To lift the old battery, seek assistance.
Put in the fresh battery. Make sure the new battery is properly seated by slowly lowering it into place.
dependable battery Replacing the bracket Avoid overtightening them to avoid damaging the battery casing. A lead-acid battery installation requires that the vent pipe be connected. This is required to prevent a buildup of gasses from the vent hole inside the trunk.
Battery posts should be cleaned. To clean the battery clamps, use a battery terminal brush. Glue the battery terminals together.
- First, connect the battery’s positive terminal.
- Last to connect is the negative terminal.
Your car’s battery charge history is reset throughout the BMW battery registration process. Any battery data that was saved as well as the preceding battery’s temperature statistics are deleted. The technique won’t erase the odometer reading.
Your new battery could fail before its time if you replace a BMW battery but don’t register the old one. You could occasionally encounter electrical problems or alerts on the instrument cluster.
How to repair a BMW battery
If you haven’t already changed the battery in your BMW and don’t know how to do it, here is a quick method. There are nine steps that make up the battery replacement process:
- Remove your key from the ignition after turning it off. Next, find your battery. In a BMW, where is the battery? The majority of the time, you can discover it within your trunk, either on the floor or on the right side. Located it? The battery liner should be removed.
- With a 10mm wrench, unplug the negative battery terminal right away, then store the cable.
- The cable must then be disconnected from the positive battery terminal. To complete the task correctly, lift up the red plastic cover and look for a 10mm nut; you must loosen it.
- The time has come to remove the brackets. Two brackets, one on top and one on the side, support the battery. First, you should unbolt the latter using two 13mm bolts.
- Take out the battery from the trunk, but be careful because it could be heavy.
- Take images of the battery’s model number and technical specifications before you install the new battery. When registering your battery, the BimmerTech expert will need this information very much.
- Now that the old battery has been removed, gently set the new one in its place. Just make sure the settings are correct.
- crucial step Secure the battery properly. You must reinstall the brackets in order to accomplish this, being careful not to overtighten them. If not, you could break the battery housing. Connecting a Liquid Lead-Acid battery to the vent house can stop the vent house’s gasses from accumulating within your trunk if you’re installing one.
- Finally, connect the battery terminals by connecting the positive battery terminal first, then the negative terminal, after cleaning the battery posts with a battery terminal brush.
NOTE: Purchase our Battery Registration service before you ever begin replacing or registering your battery, and choose a preferred date when you could replace and register the battery simultaneously. Make sure you can do everything in one day because battery registration is required following every battery change and needs to be done immediately after battery replacement.
In a BMW 3 Series, where is the car battery located?
The engine compartment does not include the 3 Series battery; it is located in the boot. Remove the floor panel from the boot by raising it. The battery is concealed by a plastic battery cover with three fasteners on the right side of the boot.
Have BMW vehicles two batteries?
Each of them has two batteries. Given that you don’t seem to own an E31, it’s kind of ironic that you titled your piece “You Own,” emphasizing the word.
Why are there two batteries in BMWs?
The smaller 50mah battery in the first battery powers the starter during a cold start, while the larger battery heats up the e-CAT and all other electronics.
How can I tell if my BMW needs a new battery?
- lowering the headlights.
- a greater demand for jump starts or engine revving.
- When you turn the key or press the button, the engine starts more slowly.
- abnormal power variations
BMW batteries are they covered?
The Basic New Vehicle Warranty that comes with every BMW includes coverage for the car’s battery among other things. If the battery is defective, you are covered by this guarantee for a free replacement for four years or 50,000 miles.
If the battery is harmed for reasons other than material faults, such as in a car accident, this guarantee will not protect you. In that situation, filing a claim to pay for battery repairs would require collision insurance.
You might be able to get a new battery installed before the Basic New Vehicle warranty expires because the normal BMW battery lasts three to five years.
What about batteries for EVs? Your lithium-ion battery should last a lot longer than a regular car battery. BMW anticipates the high-voltage electric vehicle batteries to last at least 10 years (possibly up to 20 years depending on usage).
Here is a breakdown of BMW’s warranties:
includes factory-recommended maintenance such as brake service, fluid adjustments, wiper blade replacement, and oil changes.
Key Learnings For the first four years or 50,000 miles that your car is on the road, your BMW car battery can be changed without charge if it is defective.
The trunk has BMW batteries—why?
Instead of the more conventional engine-bay-mounted battery, the majority of BMW vehicles use a trunk-mounted battery. Because of the constrained engine bay space (a powerful engine must fit into a tiny space) and the need to maintain a weight distribution that is as close to 50/50 as possible.
What is the price of a BMW battery?
What is the Price of a BMW Battery? Depending on the model, parts and installation fees will vary, but the cost of replacing your BMW battery is likely to range from $300 to $500.
Can I change the battery in my BMW myself?
Do you not adore your BMW? And you intend to continue using it for as long as possible, right? Change your oil, replace your air filters, and do other routine maintenance on your BMW as needed to ensure its longevity. Maintaining the battery in your BMW, however, is the one item that contributes the most to flawless operation of your vehicle.
However, a lot of individuals ponder whether BMW battery replacement and registration are straightforward do-it-yourself tasks or require the services of a qualified specialist. We affirm that you can manage the replacement on your own. However, if you lack computer literacy, let us handle the registration process on your behalf.
Here, we’ll go over how to install a battery in a car, examine BMW battery registration in further detail, and provide additional information on the BMW battery reset process.
Do BMW batteries self-charge?
When the automobile is parked and turned off, a BMW battery won’t start to recharge itself. Only when the engine is operating and there is an energy source (alternator) available will the battery be able to recharge. The battery will ultimately run out of power and need to be recharged if you have plugged-in equipment that is using the battery while the automobile is switched off and parked.
Additionally, the car contains a mechanism for recharging itself, however this function is dependent upon the engine being operating. When the car is parked, just a battery with a finite capacity is being used as an energy source. Additionally, the plugged-in device is the sole item drawing power from the battery; the battery is not being recharged at all.
A BMW might function without a battery.
With a dead alternator and a depleted battery, a modern car CANNOT run. Without the battery, the alternator will continue to function normally.
What is the time required to replace a battery in a BMW?
A battery replacement can be finished by our BMW service specialists in around 15 minutes. Expect the appointment to take longer, possibly up to an hour, if you have additional services like a brake check or tire rotation booked.