61 00 ... Battery

WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2005 BMW 545i and 2004 BMW 545i. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.

NOTE: Important notes and instructions for handling batteries can be found in:

Disconnecting battery. Refer to 12 00 ... INSTRUCTIONS FOR DISCONNECTING AND CONNECTING BATTERY .
Battery charging. Refer to 61 00 ... BATTERY CHARGING .
External jump-starting aid. Refer to 12 00 ... INSTRUCTIONS ON STARTING AID.

Battery Care And Maintenance:

In low-maintenance batteries, check the acid level at least once a year. If necessary, top up with distilled water up to the top marking.

The increasing number of electronic control units in the car reduces the self-discharging time of the battery (even in standby mode). To maintain the battery service life and to avoid exhaustive discharging, recharge laid-up vehicles every 6 weeks at the latest. The time for self-discharging depends on vehicle type and equipment specification.

Battery Test:

The battery acid density can be used to measure the charge state. However this test produces uncertainty caused by a design-related range of variation. The acid density e.g. for a charged battery is 1.28 kg/l (in the tropical version the acid density is 1.23 kg/l).

Another interference factor is the acid lamination immediately after filling with distilled water.

Battery wear with partially sulfated and/or heavily contaminated plates will also lead to incorrect acid density test results.