is this a symptom of dying battery?

[omodos]

sorry if this sounds like a repeat post but on starting the X5 this a.m and it did start I noticed what sounds like a 1 second clicking/crackling sound not sure where from though (a sound like you have radio interference) happens just before start-up when I crank key to ignition position, could this be a symptom of a weak battery too? any feedback great

History is as follows


X5 wouldn't start for first time, and when did start wasn’t the instant firing up, more of a slightly laboured ignition which I noticed happening as the temps have gone down from 19c to 7c in the last few days....battery is the oem about 8 years old and probably lasted this long as temps out here very very rarely get below +10C

[TerminatorX5]

battery.. nothing else at this point - the 8 year old battery is a veteran by all accounts... you need some fresh one...

[bgsquad]

It needs replacement anyway...

[Qsilver7]

Are you still checking your battery's voltage by running OBC TEST 9 just before starting the car? If so, this 15 second test will give you a heads up if your battery is going to have enough juice to start the car.

If Test 9 is showing below 11.89 volts (ignition in position 1 or 2 just before starting the car)...your battery is at or below 0% state of charge...which means that it will be calling on its reserve capacity & cold cranking amps to get the car started.

If the battery is old and deeply discharged...you will usually hear a familiar "click, click, click" from the starter as it sputters to try to bring the car to life...but that "click, click, click" sound is a sure bet that the attempt is going to fail.

[Bimmer Tool Rental]

If you have a need, Harbor Freight has an excellent digital battery analyzer that goes on sale here and there. You can get it and bring it back even. They are good about that.

I just repaired an E90 that had a bad original battery. I got a new one and the car still wouldn't start. Same symptoms. I started ripping the electrical system apart and said, well what are the chances the new battery is bad. Indeed it was. 75 cca fully charged. 2nd new one was over 1050 cca as tested. No more issues

[TwinsPoppa]

Dang, 8 years on a battery must be some kind of record? Regardless, it needs to be replaced.

[omodos]

Originally Posted by TwinsPoppa

Dang, 8 years on a battery must be some kind of record? Regardless, it needs to be replaced.

hahahah ok true, crazy thing is as i mentioned before the temps have jumped from the 8c-9c when i experienced to the issue of cold start to about 17-18c and my issue has gone (so pretty sure its battery), whats more something funny has happened with my key...when i had the failed start i turned key back to position 0 and then waited and cranked to on position again and car started....and i noticed that on using the key from then onwards my ventilation blower would not come on automatically as it did every time I started prior to the start issue....

I swapped to the spare key and noticed on starting engine blower fan comes on, somehow think i reset key....didn't know that this could be done

[Ricky Bobby]

THREAD BUMP: Want to clarify. I've had a couple wonky things act up on me in the past few months - suspect a dying battery slowly as mine is 4 years old now and the X is not daily driven.



According to this chart, my OBC test 9 after letting the X sit for 4 hours in the parking lot, and with key in positon 1 it was showing 12.0 volts which is right around the 25% mark.

Should I go ahead and get a fresh battery before I get myself a winter headache?

[TiAgX5]

I change the battery when it gets to 12.2v (50%) after sitting for 8 hrs.

BMWs are know to do crazy things with low voltage.

[Serb404]

time for a new battery, props for 8 years of use!