Unofficialbmw.com

[idanity]

noticed a pattern. need to know your knowledge/ history please.

1. ive used a red top OPTIMA battery for years. Yet every 15 months, it has to be replaced. = are optima's wrong for the e30

2. If i park my car for 3-4 weeks, the battery dies, i don't think this happens @ first (when its new) but it always ends up shorter and shorter, now, i can park my car for 3 days, and the battery is dead. (actually now, its more like 1 day).

3. my Yota can be parked for months, and the optima battery it has is fine. and its older.


4. is the gauge cluster a drain on the system (or any other things)

5. recently, i cleaned up my girlfriends' girlfriends car, and tested the battery/ alt with a device that actually flipped its speedo BELOW the zero peg...and it wouldn't go above it, i had to actually remove the peg to get it to work again... has this happened to you , if so, in an e30

and
6. my blinker was being so weak that the overhead lights were reporting dead turn signals and lisence plate lights..but upon inspection, they were just dimmer...still working.


any ideas

a. new voltage regulator -
b. new brushes
c. new cables
d. new/ different battery (i would prefer the gel/ non acidic battery, but ive been through 3 optimas now...(all free replacement btw), what is the best battery to use (besides the dealer )
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[beejay]

Has the charging system been tested and verified it's up to spec?
Has the system been tested for static drain? (ie amperage)
I use the Sears die Hard international line. has the correct breather for the front mounted cabrio's.
It's been in for years with no issues.
Although if I leave the car set for say more than 2 months over the winter it will need a charge. So there is a small drain on the system that is present.
I could lift the ground cable to prevent this I guess.

I like the Optima's and have one in my Tundra, but I'm not too sure if the older charging systems are adequate for the sealed AGM batteries.


http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_02833348000P?vName=Automotive&cName=Batteries+%26+Chargers&sName=Automotive+Batteries&sLevel=3
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Bob
92 325ic gone
14 BRZ ltd
05 Tundra SR5 TRD
01 VFR800fi - 03 DR650S - 83 CB1100F - 82 CB900F - 69 CB750

[m78]

Has your alternator ever been replaced?

Do you have upgraded stereo? and high power amp?

upgraded headlights?



I have the sears international as well, and I've had it replaced twice in 8 years. 4 years or so, is all you can expect from diehards.

I've always read the best is the one the stealer sells. Aside from that, they're all close to the same in quality and expected lifespan.
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Lachssilber Metallic 203 1988 325i sedan with 200,xxx miles

Top Speed 220 km/h

(OO=00=OO)

[idanity]

2 amps ( stereo) and a 1.5 fared cap.

stock ellipsoids
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[beejay]

still need to know what you static amp draw is.
Put an ammeter in series on the pos battery cable and make sure the key is out and see what your amp draw is sitting. should only be in the milliamp range.

here's a quick google search on how to test for parasitic draw.

http://flashoffroad.com/electrical/Batteries/BatteryDrain.html
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Bob
92 325ic gone
14 BRZ ltd
05 Tundra SR5 TRD
01 VFR800fi - 03 DR650S - 83 CB1100F - 82 CB900F - 69 CB750

[dale]

I've been using Interstate batteries in my BMWs for the last 10 years or so with good success. I posted a while ago about which models fit which BMWs, do a search for it if interested.

I use an AGM battery in my motorcycle as it won't go dead just sitting there.

As beejay said, measure your static draw, if it's larger then it should be, it will kill any battery.

Next step, disconnect the stereo cables, I'm sure you've got them going straight to the battery, and measure if your Cap or amp have a static draw when turned off.

Next step is to pull the fuses one by one and measure the milli-amp draw of each of those circuits.

If any of those areas is larger then X milli-amps, that will kill a battery pretty quickly.
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http://www.unofficialbmw.com
UnofficialBMW.com Webmaster
dale@unofficialbmw.com
sold in 2016
87 325 5spd eta

[idanity]

been working overtime everyday, finally got 2 days off.

i bought a (1 y.o.) used interstate battery and will do the tests tomorrow after noon.

thanks for the tips.
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[robert1700]

I would say si batteries.
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1987 325i Convertible
51,000+ miles
Sold to a friend car is now destroyed, such a same.

[idanity]

thanks all, and no to the si batteries, as they held up w/out any battery in the car for weeks.

i got a new(er) interstate 870cca battery and mounted it, set it all up, and will do more tests tomorrow. i am getting shocked when i shut down the car, and touch the door or metal after im on my feet. (so somethings draining it)

started doing lots of other things, (coolant test, well, its staying just above blue on temp. so i think the thermostat is stuck open), had no heat yesterday (fixed that)
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[cmcon98]

I have the exact car you have, right down to the color! I've had the same cheapo Auto Zone battery for three years. It spins the starter as fast as any new car, and the car sat for several months once with the neg. battery cable disconnected, and it started right up when I started driving it again. I'm sure that if I left the battery connected, it would have gone dead, though, just from the drain of maintaining the radio, clock, SI board batteries, etc.

I've never heard of E30s being hard on batteries or anything like that. My friend's '86 eta sat in a parking garage all last winter without being started. In the spring, she had the garage guy jump it, and it's still starting fine. I'll bet that if you just install a battery shutoff and turn it off when the car is going to sit for more than a day or two, you'll be fine.

I'd also test your alternator just to make sure it's charging 14 volts. If it's weak, it could cause the symptoms you describe.
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Cirrusblau '88 325iC 5-speed
Cosmosschwartz '99 M3 'vert 5-speed

[85-325e]

I second that... check your voltage regulator on the alternator, and make sure the brushes are in good shape. If that goes, you'll have no charging... If it's going, your charging will be marginal.

This reminds me to go and put the battery maintainer on the car though! Thanks
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Cosmo - 1985 BMW 325e, Single Owner, 265,000+ ORIGINAL miles and still going strong! But now on the East Coast and the salt air corrosion is eating my beautiful car alive...

[beejay]

[idanity]

well, its slight, and maybe from wearing fleece, honestly i get shocked on buildings, stairway rails, and wonder if its my shoes ?

the rain subsided today, and im going to spend a few hours on the cars today.
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