With winter months coming, cars tend to suffer, the most general situation is to have difficulties starting your BMW 3 Series in the morning with very low temperatures. Generally this is related to problems recharging the battery of your BMW 3 Series . There are several causes that can show you why your battery does not recharge properly anymore, and in this article we will try to help you to fix this issue that can prevent you from using your motor vehicle. To do this, first we will show you how recharging your car battery functions, then the different problems of recharging a BMW 3 Series, and at last how to recharge an empty car battery.
How does recharging the battery of a BMW 3 Series work?
Before we summarize the different problems of recharging the battery on a BMW 3 Series , we will show you to you how its recharging system operates so that you can figure out the problems you are struggling with. A motor vehicle battery functions like a phone battery, it will store energy to start your BMW 3 Series , turn on your headlights, enjoy music, lower your power windows… However all these actions will consume energy and it may deplete the energy reserve that your battery can store. To get over this issue, the engineers have produced a component called the alternator , this component will use the energy developed by the engine unit of your BMW 3 Series to produce energy thanks to a copper coil and a magnet. This energy will recharge the battery of your motor vehicle . However, take into account that this process can only work when your car is running, using electrical components of your motor vehicle when it is stopped will decrease the energy reserve of your motor vehicle. It is considered that a battery of a xxx has a life span of 3 to 5 years.
Problems recharging a BMW 3 Series’s battery
We will now describe the different battery charging problems on a BMW 3 Series you might be victim of. If your battery is not recharging because there is actually a issue in your electrical installation, we will now see the different situations.
Battery charging problem on BMW 3 Series: My battery is discharging regardless if I am recharging it with a specific charger
In this first case, it is quite possible that your alternator is dead , in fact, if you manage to recharge your battery with a charger and your BMW 3 Series to start, the problem certainly comes from your alternator which should not be able to produce any more current.
Battery charging issue on BMW 3 Series: My motor vehicle shuts off and does not start regardless if I have charged the battery
If you have recharged your battery and you have managed to start your BMW 3 Series but it switches off although you are driving and then does not start, the issue with recharging the battery of your BMW 3 Series is that your battery no longer holds the charge .
Battery charging issue on BMW 3 Series: My battery is discharged although it is new
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If you’ve just bought a battery and it discharges although you’re driving, the issue most likely comes from your alternator. It cannot result from your battery, which is new and therefore holds the charge. The second possibility is that you have a ground somewhere in your electrical system.
How to fix the issue of battery charging on BMW 3 Series?
We will now give you the solutions according to the issue you are struggling with. Here are the different problems and their solutions:
- Defective alternator: You can try with simple mechanics to check it with a pressure gauge to see if it’s producing power. If it doesn’t, replacing it is the best remedy, depending on your motor you will pay a few hundred euros. This repair is feasible in case your alternator is accessible.
- Battery that no longer holds the charge: In this case, the purchase of a new battery is the only realistic remedy. In fact, if you have already recharged it but it is still empty because it is good to be changed, count between 60 and 100 euros depending on your engine.
- Ground in the electrical circuit: If you cannot start your BMW 3 Series but your alternator and battery are in good condition, it is possible that you have a ground on your wiring harness and that you lose energy, a check by a motor vehicle electrician is in such a case required.
How to recharge an empty battery of a BMW 3 Series
At last, to recharge the empty battery of a BMW 3 Series there are only few solutions, using a battery charger is the most efficient remedy, you can find some for 50 to 100 euros at vendors like Oscaro. In any other case you can use cables that will only provide the energy needed to begin.
If you wish more tutorials on the BMW 3 Series, go to our BMW 3 Series category.
