Can anyone recommend a BMW compatible battery charger

Addsy · 04-23-2014, 03:27 PM

Hi all.....my automatic stop/start stopped working.Took it to the dealer,they diagnosed the fault as a low level battery.(have only been doing relatively short driving distances lately)They kept it overnight,charged it for me and I got it back earlier.After a 20 mile trip home the a.s.s. still didn't work.(will ring them tomorrow).
Anyway they recommended that I trickle charge the battery every now and then.
Can anyone recommend a decent BMW compatible battery charger.

....,,,,..,,.. · 04-23-2014, 03:34 PM

BMW do their own one

http://www.amazon.co.uk/BMW-Genuine-...rickle+charger

Hprice1099 · 04-23-2014, 03:35 PM

Have you got any other devices hardwired in? Speed camera detector/in car cam etc

Mattt1 · 04-23-2014, 04:18 PM

That looks like a rebranded CTek.

....,,,,..,,.. · 04-23-2014, 04:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mattt1

That looks like a rebranded CTek.

It likely is

Addsy · 04-23-2014, 04:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hprice1099

Have you got any other devices hardwired in? Speed camera detector/in car cam etc

No,its bog standard!I have only been doing short journeys lately so BMW are probably right in what they say about the need to trickle charge.

Addsy · 04-23-2014, 04:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brigand

BMW do their own one

http://www.amazon.co.uk/BMW-Genuine-...rickle+charger

Thanks Brigand looks a good one.

RalphyBMW · 04-24-2014, 03:46 AM

The ones with original CTek branding will probably be cheaper. I've got one and its great; unless the battery is totally flat.

IoWfan · 04-24-2014, 04:46 AM

The BMW charger IS a CTEK rebranded... I bought a CTEK off Amazon for a tenner less than that price quoted on an earlier reply.

It's a really good charger, I'm very pleased with it & now use it on both cars and the lawn tractor (it has a "small battery" mode ideal for that)

ie I recommend it!

Buster Blue · 04-24-2014, 05:57 AM

Yep its a Ctek intelligent charger. I keep my MV on it most of the time really works well

Steven1077 · 04-24-2014, 06:54 AM

I bought one of these, Ctek as well
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Addsy · 04-24-2014, 02:08 PM

Thanks everyone for taking time to reply.

More questions.

What's better the 5amp or 3amp charger?(does it make much difference?).

Will I need any additional cables to what's shown in the Amazon pictures to connect the charger to the battery?

Is it possible to connect the charger to the battery then charge with the bonnet closed?

Is the cigarette lighter live with the ignition off? (thinking of buying the cigarette lighter adapter cables.)

Sorry for all the questions especially if the answers should be obvious!!!!

IoWfan · 04-24-2014, 02:32 PM

5amp / 3 amp -- I guess 3amp will take longer... mine's a 5.

additional cables - no, the clips will fit the battery points under the bonnet, BUT depending on where you connect the charger to the mains electricity you might want the CTEK extension cable. I have my charger mounted on the wall of the garage and use the CTEK extension cable to ensure an easy reach into the bonnet.

re bonnet closed query ... YES that is feasible... either drop the cables down through the engine bay and out from under the car (a pain methinks) OR just make sure the cables to the battery are not taut and then shut the bonnet. I have done this and it's perfectly safe... Don't forget the charger is connected tho & drive off without removing!!

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

04-23-2014, 03:27 PM	#1
Addsy Enlisted Member 9 Rep 40 Posts Drives: Sunset Orange F30 318i Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: Cleveland UK iTrader: (0)	Can anyone recommend a BMW compatible battery charger Hi all.....my automatic stop/start stopped working.Took it to the dealer,they diagnosed the fault as a low level battery.(have only been doing relatively short driving distances lately)They kept it overnight,charged it for me and I got it back earlier.After a 20 mile trip home the a.s.s. still didn't work.(will ring them tomorrow). Anyway they recommended that I trickle charge the battery every now and then. Can anyone recommend a decent BMW compatible battery charger.
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04-23-2014, 03:34 PM	#2
....,,,,..,,.. General 6733 Rep 20,651 Posts Drives: xxxx Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: xxxx iTrader: (0)	BMW do their own one http://www.amazon.co.uk/BMW-Genuine-...rickle+charger
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04-23-2014, 03:35 PM	#3
Hprice1099 Lieutenant 39 Rep 588 Posts Drives: F31 330d M Sport Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Liverpool iTrader: (0)	Have you got any other devices hardwired in? Speed camera detector/in car cam etc
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04-23-2014, 04:18 PM	#4
Mattt1 Lieutenant 81 Rep 568 Posts Drives: 335d xDrive Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Lincs iTrader: (0)	That looks like a rebranded CTek.
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04-24-2014, 03:46 AM	#8
RalphyBMW Captain 165 Rep 942 Posts Drives: F31 330d xDrive MSport Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: West Yorkshire iTrader: (0)	The ones with original CTek branding will probably be cheaper. I've got one and its great; unless the battery is totally flat. __________________ 2016 F80 M3
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04-24-2014, 04:46 AM	#9
IoWfan Enlisted Member 17 Rep 34 Posts Drives: 2013 F31 328i Msport auto Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Isle of Wight iTrader: (0)	The BMW charger IS a CTEK rebranded... I bought a CTEK off Amazon for a tenner less than that price quoted on an earlier reply. It's a really good charger, I'm very pleased with it & now use it on both cars and the lawn tractor (it has a "small battery" mode ideal for that) ie I recommend it!
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04-24-2014, 05:57 AM	#10
Buster Blue Lieutenant 77 Rep 557 Posts Drives: F30 EB11 320i MSport Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: Dorset England iTrader: (0)	Yep its a Ctek intelligent charger. I keep my MV on it most of the time really works well __________________ E46 325is MV Augusta Previously-E30 318is E36 323i
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04-24-2014, 06:54 AM	#11
Steven1077 Lieutenant Colonel 240 Rep 1,756 Posts Drives: M140i Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: London England iTrader: (0)	I bought one of these, Ctek as well http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B...?ie=UTF8&psc=1
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04-24-2014, 02:08 PM	#12
Addsy Enlisted Member 9 Rep 40 Posts Drives: Sunset Orange F30 318i Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: Cleveland UK iTrader: (0)	Thanks everyone for taking time to reply. More questions. What's better the 5amp or 3amp charger?(does it make much difference?). Will I need any additional cables to what's shown in the Amazon pictures to connect the charger to the battery? Is it possible to connect the charger to the battery then charge with the bonnet closed? Is the cigarette lighter live with the ignition off? (thinking of buying the cigarette lighter adapter cables.) Sorry for all the questions especially if the answers should be obvious!!!! Last edited by Addsy; 04-24-2014 at 02:16 PM..
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04-24-2014, 02:32 PM	#13
IoWfan Enlisted Member 17 Rep 34 Posts Drives: 2013 F31 328i Msport auto Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Isle of Wight iTrader: (0)	5amp / 3 amp -- I guess 3amp will take longer... mine's a 5. additional cables - no, the clips will fit the battery points under the bonnet, BUT depending on where you connect the charger to the mains electricity you might want the CTEK extension cable. I have my charger mounted on the wall of the garage and use the CTEK extension cable to ensure an easy reach into the bonnet. re bonnet closed query ... YES that is feasible... either drop the cables down through the engine bay and out from under the car (a pain methinks) OR just make sure the cables to the battery are not taut and then shut the bonnet. I have done this and it's perfectly safe... Don't forget the charger is connected tho & drive off without removing!! http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B...?ie=UTF8&psc=1
	Appreciate 0 Quote