[dassub]

New battery last year. Damn this car doesn't like the cold. My clutch pedal weighs a ton in it too. At least it easily started the next time. Maybe the oil took a while to flow, since the battery is only a year old.

[maf330xi]

My car didn't start at all

I hope its the battery and not the starter!

[98RACE]

Originally Posted by dassub

New battery last year. Damn this car doesn't like the cold. My clutch pedal weighs a ton in it too. At least it easily started the next time. Maybe the oil took a while to flow, since the battery is only a year old.

Having the same issues with my 1.5 year old battery. I put a trickle charger on it last night so it would start this morning and it worked.

[dassub]

Originally Posted by 98RACE

Having the same issues with my 1.5 year old battery. I put a trickle charger on it last night so it would start this morning and it worked.

Which trickle charger do you use? Do you connect it under the hood, or from the trunk?

[dulak]

Mine turned over really slow but started fine this morning (this is the X3 - the 335 is parked for the winter).

[tchung]

My car just won't start for the past two days. The starter turned but stopped after turning a few times. Then the dash just displayed an exclamation mark and then a snowflake sign. Each time I tried 3-4 times and then gave up for fear of flooding the engine. I will try again tomorrow when the temperature gets warmer.

I am in Ottawa.

[GreekboyD]

Weird. Mine is a diesel and started no problem this morning on my original battery.

I saw -23.5 degrees Celsius on my display.

That was at 5:15am this morning.

[Volasko]

I have been seeing lots of complaints by users with early model year E90's about their starters crapping out. Might be worth looking into that instead of thinking it is the battery.

[98RACE]

Originally Posted by dassub

Which trickle charger do you use? Do you connect it under the hood, or from the trunk?

I just have a cheap Motomaster smart charger got it on sale for $20 to charge the power wheels but doubles for my car now.
Under the hood on the positive jumper and the grounding lug near the passenger fender.

http://www.canadiantire.ca/en/pdp/mo...l#.Usdf8_-A2M8

[e90mbition]

my car struggled to crank on this morning too and i had a new battery put in by the dealer last january under warranty as the original one was crap and apparently this one is more powerful

[335alive]

I was sitting in my car with the accessory mode on so I could have the seat heater on without running the car. After 5 minutes or so, the battery warning light came on. I freaked out knowing I had to get to work the next day, so I started it right away. Took a couple of extra cranks, and hesitated, but it fired. I let it run for about 10 minutes to try and charge it up again.

Started no problem the next morning, albeit with a bit more struggle than usual, but it was also -25.5 according to my display at that exact time, so I was surprised that it started at all.

Not even sure how old my battery is, but it hasn't given me any hesitation since (knock on wood).

[Viktimize]

For you guys having cranking issues with fairly new batteries. Did you have your new battery registered when it was installed? If you just swapped a battery in your driveway and didn't register it, your 1 year old battery could very well be crapped out already.

[TheBingoBalls]

Took 5 tries for my MINI. I think it's just the cold weather. After that cold day, car has started normally.

[dassub]

Originally Posted by Viktimize

For you guys having cranking issues with fairly new batteries. Did you have your new battery registered when it was installed? If you just swapped a battery in your driveway and didn't register it, your 1 year old battery could very well be crapped out already.

Yup, registered. RMP even gave me the little receipt from the machine that says it was the first replacement battery registered in the car (I bought it off-lease when it was 3 years old).

[asianstutter]

Wow. I haven't changed my battery ever since I bought my car used in sept. 2012. Im not sure how old the battery is but after 2 cranks, the car started just fine. I don't understand why you guys had trouble starting the car up.

[KiX1911]

Hmm I'll post pics later but it was -23 here and my early e90 took a while to crack but it did. When I say a while I clicked it once and it turned 6-7 times then started as opposed to the 3 it usually takes.

My mom's 2006 barley started but then I hooked it up to a ctek and the next day (colder) it started no problem.

Maybe invest in a ctek charger (same as a OEM BMW charger) and help your baby start.

Edit: forgot to mention both vehicles are original batteries. I don't know if people have seen my other posts but if people drive less then 20 kms a day I suggest hooking it up to a ctek just to maintain your battery. Our alternator is not like other vehicles where it's always charging our battery when on, kinda weird

B

[dassub]

Originally Posted by Killerx

Hmm I'll post pics later but it was -23 here and my early e90 took a while to crack but it did. When I say a while I clicked it once and it turned 6-7 times then started as opposed to the 3 it usually takes.

My mom's 2006 barley started but then I hooked it up to a ctek and the next day (colder) it started no problem.

Maybe invest in a ctek charger (same as a OEM BMW charger) and help your baby start.

Edit: forgot to mention both vehicles are original batteries. I don't know if people have seen my other posts but if people drive less then 20 kms a day I suggest hooking it up to a ctek just to maintain your battery. Our alternator is not like other vehicles where it's always charging our battery when on, kinda weird

B

Where did you find the ctek charger locally, or online? I see there are quite a few different models on Amazon.

[98RACE]

Originally Posted by Killerx

Edit: forgot to mention both vehicles are original batteries. I don't know if people have seen my other posts but if people drive less then 20 kms a day I suggest hooking it up to a ctek just to maintain your battery. Our alternator is not like other vehicles where it's always charging our battery when on, kinda weird

B

I just talked to a BMW tech that told me the same thing he called it sleep mode.

[KiX1911]

Originally Posted by dassub

Where did you find the ctek charger locally, or online? I see there are quite a few different models on Amazon.

Sorry I'm at work so its hard for me to search but if you search my name, I posted a few times when it went on sale at Canadian tire and amazon and the model. I'm always looking it for deals for Canadian BMW owners

Edit: just found the posts. They are old but I'll keep an eye out for you guys. A ctek charger is not only good fit the winter, but also the summer. My mom does 6 kms a day and most of the time there's a ton of stop starts in there, so I told her to do it once a month.


http://www.e90post.com/forums/showth...highlight=ctek

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showth...highlight=ctek

B

[AdamN52]

Mine struggled to start just before the holidays when we had a cold snap - my battery was 7 years old, so I got it replaced last week - I was on borrowed time anyways. Starts fine now - the slightest hesitation on a cold start at -20C, but that's to be expected.

Anyone here use a battery blanket? Been considering getting one to help take some strain off the battery when it's real cold. Only ~$30 at Canadian Tire, and they sell outlets that turn on below -10C to plug it into.

[GreekboyD]

Gonna be another cold one tomorrow morning.

[dassub]

Wow.. it's insane this morning. My house thermostat is at 26 and I can still feel the cold. I do not look forward to getting in the car soon.

Edit: only two tries, and the first try it almost started. The worst part has to be the clutch feel, before the car is at operating temps.