Electrical drain

[Borg561]

So, I've heard that BMWs are known to continuously pull a charge from the battery, and if you're going to let them sit for an extended period of time you need to keep some outside charge hooked up or disconnect the battery to avoid draining the battery. Since my car is probably going to be sitting for a while waiting repairs, how often should I go out and start it up and let it run? Right now I've been starting it every other day and letting it run for about 5 minutes. Is this enough, not enough, more than enough? I just don't want to get stuck with a dead car before getting it fixed.

Justin

[Mallard]

take the battery off mate..

hook it up only when needed if the cars out of service for so long.

[tiFreak]

+1, if you don't feel like taking the battery out though, you could just hook up a trickle charger, is the car sitting indoors?

[aceyx]

Originally Posted by Borg561

how often should I go out and start it up and let it run?

This is actually bad for your car. Hook it up to a battery charger (I use a Battery Tender) or remove it and bring it inside.

[Borg561]

Originally Posted by tiFreak

+1, if you don't feel like taking the battery out though, you could just hook up a trickle charger, is the car sitting indoors?

Car is outside. It's been less than a week since the accident, and I should find out in the next day or so if I'm approved for the loan to get it fixed. If I'm not, I'm probably going to have it towed home (it's at my aunt's right now, a couple blocks from the body shop) and put in our garage (not connected to the house). If I end up dropping it in the garage, I'll pull the battery. If that's the case, what all needs to be reinitialized when I put the battery back in, power windows, sunroof, radio code? Anything else I should be aware of before pulling the battery if I have to? Thanks again.

Justin

[tiFreak]

just enter the radio code and you should be fine