Battery Tender or Trickle Charger

[Kzang]

I don't drive my X5 daily and sometimes it sits in the garage for several weeks.
Last fall, I had a low battery warning, so I think it would be a good idea to get either a Battery Tender or Trickle charger.

My limited understanding of both is that the tender only maintains the battery level and auto shuts off/on and the trickle charger can charge a dead battery to full and keeps charging?

Please recommend me what you guys are using. Thanks in Advanced.

[CatalinP]

I use CTEK. BMW sells a render mare by CTEK.

[Tusk]

I use a CTEK for my '67 Shelby. I used to use a Battery Tender on it but I switched to the CTEK last year.

[fosterelli]

CTEK is the OEM supplier for private label BMW accessory of the same. CTEK is great.

[SCA]

I formerly used Deltran Battery Tenders whom were also a supplier to BMW at one time. Now I strictly use CTEK chargers on five BMWs. As aforementioned CTEK is now a charger supplier to BMW as well as several other European manufactures.

Amazon is an acceptable source to purchase the MUS 4.3 from unless you simply want to overpay for a unit the says “BMW” on it.

CTEK (56-864) MUS 4.3 12 Volt Fully Automatic 8 Step Battery Charger https://www.amazon.com/dp/B006G14FK8..._zGEHAb8BD0485

[Kzang]

Originally Posted by SCA

I formerly used Deltran Battery Tenders whom were also a supplier to BMW at one time. Now I strictly use CTEK chargers on five BMWs. As aforementioned CTEK is now a charger supplier to BMW as well as several other European manufactures.

Amazon is an acceptable source to purchase the MUS 4.3 from unless you simply want to overpay for a unit the says “BMW” on it.

CTEK (56-864) MUS 4.3 12 Volt Fully Automatic 8 Step Battery Charger https://www.amazon.com/dp/B006G14FK8..._zGEHAb8BD0485

Yeah just saw on my dealers website... $140.00 versus amazon's $62.99. That BMW lettering must be the $78.00

Does the Cteck also charge the battery when it is dead along with keeping it fully charged?

Thank you guys.

[SCA]

Originally Posted by Kzang

Yeah just saw on my dealers website... $140.00 versus amazon's $62.99. That BMW lettering must be the $78.00

Does the Cteck also charge the battery when it is dead along with keeping it fully charged?

Thank you guys.

Yes, it can bring a “good battery” back from being dead as well maintain it.

Out of the five CTEKs I own, I picked up one of these as few months ago. It is the same as the model I posted above with the expection that it also has the ability to test the battery as well as the alternator.

CTEK (56-959) MUS 4.3 TEST&CHARGE 12 Volt Fully Automatic Charger and Tester https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00GODGN9E..._cUEHAbJWGAP59

Edit: Not that it matters, but I have recently noticed that Jay Leno uses CTEK chargers in his garage on a large majority of his collection.

[fosterelli]

Originally Posted by SCA

Edit: Not that it matters, but I have recently noticed that Jay Leno uses CTEK chargers in his garage on a large majority of his collection.

Not that it matters, but I really hate seeing TN in your bio...because I really wish I was in middle TN instead of SE TX! We've taken three trips there in the past two years. Primarily Brentwood/Franklin hotels but did stay at Opryland one of the trips.

Wife shows me houses online, casted to our TV, about once a week.

[SCA]

Originally Posted by fosterelli

Not that it matters, but I really hate seeing TN in your bio...because I really wish I was in middle TN instead of SE TX! We've taken three trips there in the past two years. Primarily Brentwood/Franklin hotels but did stay at Opryland one of the trips.

Wife shows me houses online, casted to our TV, about once a week.

The Nashville area is a growing dramatically and the real estate marketing is booming. I though am located 150+ miles east in Knoxville. Home to the University of Tennessee, among other things... The 1982 Worlds Fair was held here too (woo hoo...lol) We are 15 mintures from the Tennessee River and 30 minutes from the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, plenty to do here if you are the outdoor type.

[fosterelli]

Yeah, not thread jacking or anything, but just watched Aerial America on Tennessee the other night with the kids (streamed on YouTube TV). Awesome. Knoxville looked nice, go Vols! And Mt. Dew is from there, maybe it gets its name from dew off the Smoky Mtns? Of course the Great Smoky Mtns - had no idea it was the most visited National Park in the USA!

Wife wants to go to Gatlinburg & Pigeon Forge on our next trip, so we'll definitely be checking out the Knox.

[yewlock]

[QUOTE=Kzang;22789230]I don't drive my X5 daily and sometimes it sits in the garage for several weeks.
Last fall, I had a low battery warning, so I think it would be a good idea to get either a Battery Tender or Trickle charger.

My limited understanding of both is that the tender only maintains the battery level and auto shuts off/on and the trickle charger can charge a dead battery to full and keeps charging?

Please recommend me what you guys are using. Thanks in Advance

After the car sits for several weeks, do you feel the car woble or float when you drive during the first miles?
I do not drive my car every day too. When my car park for 4-5 days, I feel slightly woble or have very minor float feel during the first miles.

[Kzang]

[QUOTE=yewlock;22790965]

Originally Posted by Kzang

I don't drive my X5 daily and sometimes it sits in the garage for several weeks.
Last fall, I had a low battery warning, so I think it would be a good idea to get either a Battery Tender or Trickle charger.

My limited understanding of both is that the tender only maintains the battery level and auto shuts off/on and the trickle charger can charge a dead battery to full and keeps charging?

Please recommend me what you guys are using. Thanks in Advance

After the car sits for several weeks, do you feel the car woble or float when you drive during the first miles?
I do not drive my car every day too. When my car park for 4-5 days, I feel slightly woble or have very minor float feel during the first miles.

Yeah that's probably the part of your tire/rubber that contacts the ground. It is flattened when it sits for a little by period of time and takes a few moments to smooth out. You will notice this mostly on heavier cars as our SUVs and more noticeable on type of tires.

[yewlock]

Got it. I will drive it every 3-4 days. Thanks.

[deutsch100]

CTEK as well. On my previous E70 X5s and my last two 7 Series...if i I did not drive it for even 3-4 days, I would get the low battery warning (BMW is still dealing with battery lawsuits). When I would charge it, it would take almost a full cycle and many, many hours!'

F15 seems to have solved the battery problem entirely, with the battery regeneration whilst braking. They few times I even hooked my '17 40e or now '17 35d to the CTEK charger after not driving for 3, 4, 5+ days, the batteries were still at a very respectable charge, and only took a few hours to fully turn "green" on the charger.

NOW....our '17 M6 is the "old" BMW battery design, and honestly if our M6 sits for days w/o driving it, the battery discharge warning comes on.

Kind of like with the crappy X5 Auto HVAC, I cannot understand why BMW and Rolls-Royce have such battery issues. HVAC and batteries are such basic issues! We have had 8 G-Classes, 4 Range Rovers, 3 Porsches, 5 Bentleys, 2 Ford Raptors, Lexus, Audi, Jeep, etc, etc and only our BMWs and Rolls-Royce cars had battery issues. SMH!

[Kzang]

Originally Posted by deutsch100

CTEK as well. On my previous E70 X5s and my last two 7 Series...if i I did not drive it for even 3-4 days, I would get the low battery warning (BMW is still dealing with battery lawsuits). When I would charge it, it would take almost a full cycle and many, many hours!'

F15 seems to have solved the battery problem entirely, with the battery regeneration whilst braking. They few times I even hooked my '17 40e or now '17 35d to the CTEK charger after not driving for 3, 4, 5+ days, the batteries were still at a very respectable charge, and only took a few hours to fully turn "green" on the charger.

NOW....our '17 M6 is the "old" BMW battery design, and honestly if our M6 sits for days w/o driving it, the battery discharge warning comes on.

Kind of like with the crappy X5 Auto HVAC, I cannot understand why BMW and Rolls-Royce have such battery issues. HVAC and batteries are such basic issues! We have had 8 G-Classes, 4 Range Rovers, 3 Porsches, 5 Bentleys, 2 Ford Raptors, Lexus, Audi, Jeep, etc, etc and only our BMWs and Rolls-Royce cars had battery issues. SMH!

My guess would be due to the overwhelming electronics/computer that are running in the background while the car is locked and parked.

As far as hooking up/setting up the charger, do I just open the hood ( even though the battery is located in the trunk ) and connect the red gator clamps to the hot and black gator clamps to negative and then plug the charger into the wall outlet? Simple as that?

Thanks

[SCA]

Originally Posted by Kzang

As far as hooking up/setting up the charger, do I just open the hood ( even though the battery is located in the trunk ) and connect the red gator clamps to the hot and black gator clamps to negative and then plug the charger into the wall outlet? Simple as that?

Thanks

Exactly...

[deutsch100]

Originally Posted by Kzang

My guess would be due to the overwhelming electronics/computer that are running in the background while the car is locked and parked.

As far as hooking up/setting up the charger, do I just open the hood ( even though the battery is located in the trunk ) and connect the red gator clamps to the hot and black gator clamps to negative and then plug the charger into the wall outlet? Simple as that?

Thanks

Yes, re: battery hookup for charging.

I cannot buy, not accept the overwhelming electronics/computer running thing. Bentley, Mercedes, Porsche, Audi, Range Rover...they too are tech laden and ONLY BMW and Rolls have battery issues.

[Kzang]

Just got the charger and check out the health of my battery. Glad I got this. Thanks for all the suggestions.

[admranger]

Originally Posted by fosterelli

Mt. Dew is from there

Damn. That's compelling enough right there. Little known fact about Mt. Dew: it's not just for breakfast anymore! You can drink it any time of the day.

Back on topic: you need a battery maintainer that is compatible with AGM batteries. That's all BMW puts in our cars anymore iirc.

[BookerTom51]

Hi everyone.
Will the CTEK do on diesels? I have a NOCO G3500 from a previous car and it specifically states not for diesels. I have read excellent reviews for Ctek.
Which one would do?
Thanks
Tom

[SCA]

Originally Posted by BookerTom51

Hi everyone.
Will the CTEK do on diesels? I have a NOCO G3500 from a previous car and it specifically states not for diesels. I have read excellent reviews for Ctek.
Which one would do?
Thanks
Tom

Do not know why you could not use the CTEK on a diesel.