BMW 61217586962 Battery, Manuf.: Exide (Warranty Only)

Always disconnect the cable from the negative battery terminal first and hook it up last to avoid shorting the battery. The negative cable connector of the battery has an Intelligent Battery Sensor (IBS), so do not pry under it or attach any other ground wires to the negative cable end. Some systems on the vehicle require battery power to be available at all times, such as the alarm system, power door locks, or to maintain control unit memory. When the battery is disconnected, the power that maintains these systems is cut. Therefore, remove the key from the ignition and keep it with you to avoid it getting locked inside. Devices known as "memory-savers" can be used to avoid some of these problems. The typical memory saver is plugged into the cigarette lighter and is connected to a spare battery. Then the vehicle battery can be disconnected from the electrical system. To disconnect the battery, loosen the cable end bolt and disconnect the cable from the negative battery terminal. Isolate the cable end to prevent accidental contact with the battery terminal. After reconnecting the battery, several of the vehicle's electronic control modules will require time to relearn certain values. This will normally be complete within a normal driving pattern of 15 miles. In addition, several systems may require re-initialization. For the sunroof, press the sunroof operating switch into the tilt position and hold it there. Once the sunroof has reached the fully tilted position, hold the switch in that position for approximately 20 seconds. Initialization is complete when the sunroof briefly lifts at the rear again. For electric windows, operate the button to fully close the window, then continue to hold the button for at least 1 second to normalize the auto stop function.

Quick, reliable starting of one's vehicle necessitates a routine preventative maintenance program for the battery. Prior to performing any battery maintenance, make sure you have proper equipment for safe operation, such as face shield/safety goggles, rubber gloves, battery post/cable cleaner, treated felt washers and baking soda with petroleum jelly. A cover is placed over the battery in the rear of the car trunk. By turning the cover fasteners counterclockwise it will be released (CD). Precautions should be taken while servicing this battery such as turning off engine and all accessories and disconnecting cable from negative terminal (OK). Always remember that the hydrogen gas produced by a battery is flammable and explosive, so avoid sparks or matches near it (OK). Additionally, electrolyte contains poisonous corrosive sulfuric acid; hence wear protective safety glasses and keep it away from your eyes skin or clothes (CD). Inspect outside of battery for damage or loose connections. To clean corrosion present on the battery remove them by loosening cable clamp bolts; then slide them off terminals (PQ). Take care not to let solution enter into battery when cleaning cable clamps terminals and case with a warm water/baking soda solution (LMN), Make sure that hold-down clamp fasteners are tight and also ensure that tray needs no repair. After cleaning terminals apply some petroleum jelly to them to prevent future corrosion. Hold down components can have their corroded parts removed using a water/baking soda solution followed by rinsing with plain water, And any metal parts damaged by corrosion should be covered with zinc based primer & painted, Charging a vehicle's power supply is recommended instead of using traditional transformer-type charger in charging batteries; when charging batteries in general one is better off charging slowly at 1-2 amp rates since good charging rate would restore discharged batteries or even maintain charge in batteries of vehicles driven short distances, Avoid chargers rated at more than 1/10th the amp/hour rating of the battery, and be cautious with rapid boost charges that claim to restore battery power quickly, Usually a trickle charger will charge a battery in 12 to 16 hours.

Other than the Warnings and Cautions contained in this repair group and in 001 Warnings and Cautions, there are some things to do when a battery is disconnected or accidentally discharged then reconnected. The clock has to be reset, radio presets must be entered and the steering angle sensor should be calibrated using a BMW scan tool or equivalent. For power window regulator motors, there is an appropriate initialization process that must be followed which entails closing and opening the window completely several times while pressing down on the switch. It is important also to check one-touch control, anti-trapping, and comfort functions where applicable. When initializing sunroof it might require you to hold up the switch for some time. In order to calibrate compass in interior mirror you have to press push button until letter C appears on compass display, then drive vehicle at certain speed in a circle. Calibration is done when direction display comes on.

There is a battery under the rear cargo area's floor trim panel that provides CCA and AH, which are important specifications to guarantee an accurate replacement. Battery testing requires verifying clean and corrosion-free connections. It should be done based on manufacturer's recommendations and temperature. For instance, if the starting power of the battery is not sufficient while its specific gravity is at or above 1.225, then a load voltage test can be conducted in such cases. The battery has to be taken out and recharged if the average specific gravity of six cells drops below 1.225. To test open-circuit voltage, one needs to put some loads across the battery terminals before measuring voltage; if it reads less than 12.4 volts you will have to recharge it again. Battery load voltage testing should be performed with disconnected battery cables using high resistive loads for accurate results and a fully charged battery must be used for this purpose only. Parasitic draw testing on batteries involves steps like using multimeter and disconnecting both vehicle's negative cable from the terminal and attaching them through a switch isolator on the positive side of the charger(s). When charging batteries, use a low current charger taking into consideration that spilled car electrolyte may spoil your car parts.. Lastly, replacing safety terminal (BST) requires routing new positive cables of batteries beneath vehicle carpet by removing certain components for access purposes alone.

A maintenance free battery is mounted in the cargo area below the spare tire and air suspension compressor, if equipped. BMW batteries are rated by ampere hours (Ah) and cold cranking amps (CCA), which are listed on the battery. The Ah rating indicates the average amount of current the battery can deliver over time without dropping below a specified voltage, while the CCA rating reflects the battery's ability to provide starting current at 0°F (-18°C) without falling below a specified voltage. It is essential to replace the battery with one that has the same or higher ratings.

The original equipment BMW battery features a built-in hydrometer known as a "magic eye," which indicates battery condition based on eye color, green signifies adequate charge, black indicates inadequate charge requiring a recharge, and yellow denotes a defective battery that needs replacement.

The most common method involves checking the specific gravity of the electrolyte with a hydrometer.

The battery is located in the cargo compartment.

Loosen the clamp nut and disconnect the clamp from the battery negative terminal, making sure to position the negative cable away from the battery.

The test is conducted by applying a high resistive load to the battery terminals and simultaneously measuring battery voltage.

You should loosen the fastener and disconnect the negative cable first, followed by unlocking the battery safety terminal plastic cover and loosening the positive cable fastener.

The CCA rating indicates the battery's ability to deliver starting current at 0°F (-18°C) without dropping below a specified voltage.

Remove the negative cable and install a battery isolation switch (OTC tool 7645 or equivalent).

Before testing, the battery should be loaded with 15 amperes for one minute using a battery load-tester or by switching the headlights on for about one minute without the engine running.

The second cable is used to supply power to engine electronics (DME and Vaivetronic).

If battery electrolyte is spilled, the area should be cleaned with a solution of baking soda and water to prevent damage to the car.

It is important to avoid charging the battery with a conventional charger.

Regular maintenance of the battery and its terminal connections ensures maximum starting performance, especially in winter when colder temperatures reduce battery power.

Recharge batteries using a battery charger, ensuring to remove the battery from the trunk during the process.

The battery is secured in place by a hold-down plate, which is crucial for preventing vibrations and road shock from damaging the battery.

If the electrolyte level is low, replenish it with distilled water only, using a battery filler bottle, and take care not to overfill, as overfilled batteries can boil over, while too little electrolyte reduces service life.