Do I need a new battery?

matt100 · 21 Dec 2020 at 10:47

I keep getting a warning of increased battery discharge on my 2009 E81 BMW 1 series.

Hardly surprising since it's barely moved since March but given I've had it for about 7 years and 160k miles and it's never had a new battery is it fair to assume this is the issue?

It's a yellow warning, I've read it's a red warning if it's the alternator?

If so, any suggestions for a battery/fitting company? I daresay I could do it myself but I never have and I have no tools if any are required. Happy to pay a small amount for the service.

ezekial · 21 Dec 2020 at 11:01

Well, you can get it changed at Halfords for £15.

Alternatively it is quite easy to change yourself, just a phillips screwdriver and a 10mm socket / spanner.

Here is a video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o9V50xUOzT8&ab_channel=Mark'sreviewsandtutorials

It certainly sounds like it is the battery.

robj20 · 21 Dec 2020 at 11:01

You don't have a socket set or adjustable spanner. Possibly a screw driver.

Buy the correct battery from Tanya and fit it, ask a neighbor for the tools of you really don't have any. It's beyond easy to do.

matt100 · 21 Dec 2020 at 11:47

I've got screwdrivers etc just not socket sets..

Other than £15 am I losing anything by having halfords do it? Got enough to think about at the moment

dale1uk · 21 Dec 2020 at 12:09

The car will also need coded to say it's had a new battery fitted, so make sure if you do take it somewhere to get fitted that they can do that too.

Will Gill · 21 Dec 2020 at 12:24

Count your lucky stars it's not a li-ion jobbie, my car needed a new one and it was a grand! Rather glad Ocean BMW covered it under warranty

ezekial · 21 Dec 2020 at 12:47

matt100 said:
I've got screwdrivers etc just not socket sets..

Other than £15 am I losing anything by having halfords do it? Got enough to think about at the moment

No, I worked for Halfords for a couple of years and even though a lot of the people there don't know what they're doing, this is a very easy job. The battery won't need coding if it's anything like the one in the video. If there is an extra "box" around the negative terminal then it will. That will be the "Intelligent Battery Sensor"

matt100 · 21 Dec 2020 at 12:49

Oh man I'm going to halfords lol.. surprised how expensive it is tbh.. you can see how many batteries I've had fitted lol.

SSO · 21 Dec 2020 at 22:42

Do you keep the car on a battery conditioner ?

matt100 · 21 Dec 2020 at 22:58

God no. Until march I used to condition it by doing 25k a year in it

brendy · 21 Dec 2020 at 23:41

It will probably get to the point of not starting. Try disconnecting the IBS, my old E60 and wife's current E90 both had that error and disconnecting it fixed the problem. It'll leave an error that obd scanners will pick up but won't flag an error in the dash. I never replaced the module on either car.

ezekial · 22 Dec 2020 at 10:16

matt100 said:
God no. Until march I used to condition it by doing 25k a year in it

Where in surrey are you? I can use trade discount in Farnham, approx 20-25% off last I checked

matt100 · 22 Dec 2020 at 10:24

I'm in farnham

ezekial · 22 Dec 2020 at 10:46

matt100 said:
I'm in farnham

Oh nice, let me know when you're free and I might even fit it for you if you've been good this year

matt100 · 22 Dec 2020 at 11:08

Very charitable thanks! I'll drop you a PM.

Also.. NSFW but for your name..

ezekial · 22 Dec 2020 at 11:11

matt100 said:
Very charitable thanks! I'll drop you a PM.

Also.. NSFW but for your name..

Haha very nice.

Sure thing buddy.