Battery

F.Brossaud · Post by **F.Brossaud** » Tue 11 Apr, 2006 17:53

Hello,

I use "car disconnect" to disconnect all power, because anti-theft system + clock + radio + various electric devices are enough to drain the battery in few weeks

I store my car with doors down, and I never had any troubles with this.

Frederic

TJS · Post by **TJS** » Tue 11 Apr, 2006 18:00

Seems it's time for a new battery. The car has been sitting in the garage under a dust cover with a battery conditioner attached. Problem is the battery fails to hold any charge for longer than 48 hrs. Not sure how old it is ... no markings/brand but certainly looks vintage so can't complain. A trip to Halfords looms.

I am intending to fit the terminal with a "dis-carnect" batery switch which allows, radio and clock to draw current but otherwise disconnects the power. I think the connection is 5 amps. Anyone used one of these on a Z1? If so can you still operate the doors in disconnect mode?

I recently had to lower the door manually due to a flat battery, good grief ! ... they certainly are heavy. Is it better to store the car with doors down or up relative to tension on the drive belts?

felix · Post by **felix** » Tue 11 Apr, 2006 20:32

Just make sure you're using a battery conditioner that isn't a trickle charger in disguise. Some just constantly trickle charge the battery whether they need it or not; this will eventually overcharge the battery. A real battery conditioner will stop charging when the battery's fully charged but then switch back on after the battery slightly discharges.

Not sure what a discarnect (or whatever it's called) achieves other than anti-theft properties. The battery is still connected through a 5 amp fuse so it will discharge.

SCORPION · Post by **SCORPION** » Wed 12 Apr, 2006 19:03

I bought a Bosch battery from Costco a couple of years ago. It was a resonable price, about £30 I think. It even has BMW Z1 listed on the battery.

TJS · Post by **TJS** » Thu 13 Apr, 2006 11:39

Many thanks for the feedback.

I have fitted a new battery plus changed the battery terminals to the lever action quick release type to assist in battery disconnection when the car in not being used (it's only covered 14k km from new so it's used to it !). The 60 seconds re-entering the radio code and adjusting the clock is much easier than the hassle of a flat battery.

The conditioner is the Airflow type so it shouldnt have "cooked" the old battery.

Doors left in the down postion also.

Thanks again

TJS

Paul Drawmer · Post by **Paul Drawmer** » Fri 14 Apr, 2006 08:10

There's no mechanical need to store the car 'doors down' The door belt only takes the door weight when it is actually moving the door.

When fully up, the door is hanging from the door latches front and rear.

Racing Tortoise · Post by **Racing Tortoise** » Wed 26 Apr, 2006 11:54

Because my Z1 spends long periods asleep in the garage I am planning to have a battery cut-out switch fitted when it is next serviced (will be due pretty soon on mileage grounds). It seemed logical to mount it in the boot though so that I can access it via the bootlid and therefore not need to leave the doors open (unwise since it is a communal garage for the apartment block).

Anyone got any good suggestions for a location - I was thinking possibly in the side cubby where the toolkit lives.