BMW Garage BMW Meets Register Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read
M2 Technical Topics > Navigation, iDrive, Audio, Video, Bluetooth, Phone, Cameras, Electronics > Trickle Charging - How To

Post Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
      08-13-2019, 12:15 AM   #23
ried
Captain
ried's Avatar
United_States
792
Rep
817
Posts

Drives: F31, F80
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: SoCal

iTrader: (2)

It was my understanding that the cigarette lighter socket is disconnected from the battery via software-controlled circuit after the car has been switched off for a period of time. The last BMWs you could actually charge through the cigarette lighter 24x7 are the E85/E86 Z4 M Coupe and E46 M3, which are pretty old now.

Please let me know if that's not the case and it's been confirmed that we can indeed use a trickle charger via the cigarette lighter socket. I'd be genuinely surprised if it's supported in any F-series BMW.
Appreciate 0
      08-14-2019, 04:42 PM   #24
BlacMacJac
Private First Class
170
Rep
190
Posts

Drives: AW '20 M2C
Join Date: May 2017
Location: USofA

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by ried View Post
Please let me know if that's not the case and it's been confirmed that we can indeed use a trickle charger via the cigarette lighter socket. I'd be genuinely surprised if it's supported in any F-series BMW.
I can confirm you can NOT
Appreciate 1
ried791.50
      11-20-2019, 03:28 PM   #25
cy88
Registered
0
Rep
1
Posts

Drives: BMW M2, Miata RF
Join Date: Nov 2019
Location: Toronto, Canada

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by longbeachbluem2 View Post
Reviving old thread. In preparing for winter hibernation, I figured I'd post how I wired the CTEK comfort connector. I have it connected in the trunk next to the battery so the IBS isn't bypassed. Hope this helps


Sorry to revive an old thread, but just want to say that this works wonder for me!
Appreciate 0
      12-17-2019, 06:00 PM   #26
Prodigy.
Lieutenant Colonel
Prodigy.'s Avatar
Australia
698
Rep
1,514
Posts

Drives: ///M2
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Australia

iTrader: (0)

Great thread.

Question..can the charger be left connected for an extended period of time, say a month or so, or does it need to be removed once the battery is fully charged?
Appreciate 0
      12-17-2019, 08:00 PM   #27
SlowM2C
Banned
United_States
0
Rep
12
Posts

Drives: 2020 BMW M2 Competition 6spd
Join Date: Dec 2019
Location: Austin, TX

iTrader: (0)

Any decent battery maintainer like Deltran can be left connected to an AGM battery indefinitely. You will need to connect the leads directly to the battery in the trunk.

http://products.batterytender.com/Au...12V-0-75A.html
Appreciate 0
      01-09-2020, 11:25 AM   #28
flybigjet
Remove Before Flight
flybigjet's Avatar
United_States
6618
Rep
1,598
Posts

Drives: M2C & Boeing's light twin
Join Date: Dec 2019
Location: Littleton (Denver), CO

iTrader: (1)

Questions about Trickle Charging 2020 M2C?

Two questions:

1. Is there an "Approved" trickle charger other than the BMW branded one? I'm assuming the BMW one is simply a rebranded one from some other manufacturer, and I'd just as soon go that way.

2. How did you wire in a permanent SAE cable? I believe the manual doesn't recommend going directly to the battery? In a perfect world, I'd like to hardwire in a SAE cable in a position that I can just grab the plug and connect to the tender as needed (e.g. winter storage, etc.)

TIA-- I did Search, but nothing really came up addressing this directly that I could find.

R.
Appreciate 0
      01-09-2020, 04:01 PM   #29
BlacMacJac
Private First Class
170
Rep
190
Posts

Drives: AW '20 M2C
Join Date: May 2017
Location: USofA

iTrader: (0)

https://f87.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh...hlight=trickle
Appreciate 1
flybigjet6617.50
      01-09-2020, 05:29 PM   #30
flybigjet
Remove Before Flight
flybigjet's Avatar
United_States
6618
Rep
1,598
Posts

Drives: M2C & Boeing's light twin
Join Date: Dec 2019
Location: Littleton (Denver), CO

iTrader: (1)

Quote:
Originally Posted by BlacMacJac View Post
I saw that thread already.

It's for an X6, and it's a temporary attachment to the charging port under the hood.

I'm looking for a) something more permanent and b) what the OEM branded charger (a C-Tek?) is that would work on a M2C battery.

Thanks though.

R.
Appreciate 0
      01-09-2020, 08:35 PM   #31
KevinM
Brigadier General
KevinM's Avatar
2931
Rep
3,285
Posts

Drives: 2002 M5;2007 M Coupe;2020 M2C
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Tucson

iTrader: (0)

Garage List
2020 M2 Competition  [10.00]
2007 E86 M coupe  [8.38]
2002 E39 M5  [9.00]
I can't help you with the hard wiring, but most people use CTEK tenders. However, any standard battery charger that charges AGM batteries will work with the M2/M2C. BMW branded battery chargers come from a few different companies, but their latest are from CTEK. I bought BMW's latest CTEK charger because it has dual AGM and lithium batter settings, and I couldn't find this on a CTEK branded battery charger. (At the time I had an F80 M3, which has a lithium battery, but I figure as more cars switch to lithium batteries it is nice to have a charger than can be used for both AGM and lithium batteries).

https://www.ecstuning.com/b-genuine-...r/61432408594/
__________________
2020 F87 M2C Hockenheim Silver/MT
2002 E39 M5 Sterling Gray/Caramel
2007 E86 Z4M Coupe Silver Gray/Black
2021 Kia Telluride (hauler)
Appreciate 0
      01-10-2020, 09:26 AM   #32
BlacMacJac
Private First Class
170
Rep
190
Posts

Drives: AW '20 M2C
Join Date: May 2017
Location: USofA

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by flybigjet View Post
I saw that thread already.

It's for an X6, and it's a temporary attachment to the charging port under the hood.

I'm looking for a) something more permanent and b) what the OEM branded charger (a C-Tek?) is that would work on a M2C battery.
I'm not sure how much more permanent you're looking for than what is explained and photographed as you scroll down in that thread.

This, in the trunk with a pigtail, is how I do my trickle charging and I'm actually using a Mercedes Benz branded CTEK I had from a previous MB. They're all the same, but with different features.
Appreciate 1
flybigjet6617.50
      01-10-2020, 11:48 AM   #33
GeorgeR
Second Lieutenant
United_States
258
Rep
214
Posts

Drives: 2016 X6 XDrve35i 2009 335i E92
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Seattle, WA

iTrader: (0)

Not sure about Lithium mode or if it is different than AGM mode but the latest CTEK model has an AGM mode. The older MUS 4.3 TEST & CHARGE model is required if you want the test feature.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Quote:
Originally Posted by KevinM View Post
I can't help you with the hard wiring, but most people use CTEK tenders. However, any standard battery charger that charges AGM batteries will work with the M2/M2C. BMW branded battery chargers come from a few different companies, but their latest are from CTEK. I bought BMW's latest CTEK charger because it has dual AGM and lithium batter settings, and I couldn't find this on a CTEK branded battery charger. (At the time I had an F80 M3, which has a lithium battery, but I figure as more cars switch to lithium batteries it is nice to have a charger than can be used for both AGM and lithium batteries).

https://www.ecstuning.com/b-genuine-...r/61432408594/
Appreciate 1
flybigjet6617.50
      01-10-2020, 01:16 PM   #34
KevinM
Brigadier General
KevinM's Avatar
2931
Rep
3,285
Posts

Drives: 2002 M5;2007 M Coupe;2020 M2C
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Tucson

iTrader: (0)

Garage List
2020 M2 Competition  [10.00]
2007 E86 M coupe  [8.38]
2002 E39 M5  [9.00]
Quote:
Originally Posted by GeorgeR View Post
Not sure about Lithium mode or if it is different than AGM mode but the latest CTEK model has an AGM mode. The older MUS 4.3 TEST & CHARGE model is required if you want the test feature.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Yes, that one will work with the M2C or any AGM battery, but it won't work for cars with a lithium ion battery.
__________________
2020 F87 M2C Hockenheim Silver/MT
2002 E39 M5 Sterling Gray/Caramel
2007 E86 Z4M Coupe Silver Gray/Black
2021 Kia Telluride (hauler)
Appreciate 1
flybigjet6617.50
      01-10-2020, 03:39 PM   #35
F87source
Major General
F87source's Avatar
No_Country
7178
Rep
7,342
Posts

Drives: Bmw M2
Join Date: Aug 2018
Location: .

iTrader: (1)

I personally use the Ctek MUS7002 which has a snowflake mode for winter trickle charging and is also the standard mode for AGM batteries.

Make sure you connect it to the terminals under the hood and not directly to the battery.
__________________
Click on the link below to see a compiled list of every review I have ever written:
https://f87.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh...2#post30368242
Appreciate 1
flybigjet6617.50
      02-09-2020, 01:23 PM   #36
DGR TSR
New Member
2
Rep
13
Posts

Drives: 2020 M2 Comp; 2015 M235i Coupe
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Sonoma Coast

iTrader: (0)

On a 2020 M2 Competition, if I am using a battery tender, I use the connections under the hood. Does leaving the M2C hood up and open drain the battery in any way during the slow charging?

Thanks!
Appreciate 0
      02-09-2020, 03:23 PM   #37
F87source
Major General
F87source's Avatar
No_Country
7178
Rep
7,342
Posts

Drives: Bmw M2
Join Date: Aug 2018
Location: .

iTrader: (1)

Quote:
Originally Posted by DGR TSR View Post
On a 2020 M2 Competition, if I am using a battery tender, I use the connections under the hood. Does leaving the M2C hood up and open drain the battery in any way during the slow charging?

Thanks!
No it shouldn't, the car will go into sleep mode eventually and you'll be fine.

You can run the cable up by the widpers and out of the engine bay if you want, that way you can keep the hood shut.
__________________
Click on the link below to see a compiled list of every review I have ever written:
https://f87.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh...2#post30368242
Appreciate 0
      02-09-2020, 09:28 PM   #38
cb804
Captain
cb804's Avatar
2347
Rep
936
Posts

Drives: 340 xDrive, M2C
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Chicago

iTrader: (0)

I didn't like the idea of opening the hood each time to use a battery tender so instead of using the clips on the charging points I used the rings. Charging point screws remove easily using a METRIC allen wrench.

Found an extension cable for use with the BMW charger on Amazon... I ran the extension along the hood up the base of the wipers. The end of the extension is capped so it's waterproof when not in use.

Extension cable...

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

BMW brand charger...

https://www.amazon.com/Bmw-Advanced-...e%2C162&sr=1-6
Attached Images
 

Last edited by cb804; 02-09-2020 at 09:34 PM..
Appreciate 0
      02-18-2020, 04:02 PM   #39
mscdman
Private First Class
22
Rep
167
Posts

Drives: 335xi
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Denver

iTrader: (0)

Does the hood of the car have to be open or can I shut it?
Appreciate 0
      02-18-2020, 05:23 PM   #40
Altra
First Lieutenant
266
Rep
307
Posts

Drives: 2016 AW M2
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: Orange County

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by mscdman View Post
Does the hood of the car have to be open or can I shut it?
You can shut it, not the whole way. Just gently lower the hood until it latches once and you're good to go.
Appreciate 0
      02-21-2020, 01:17 AM   #41
V.Smurf
Second Lieutenant
V.Smurf's Avatar
Australia
162
Rep
259
Posts

Drives: M2 LBB DCT (LCI) | X3 30i
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: Melbourne

iTrader: (0)

Hi Prodigy,
Quote:
Originally Posted by Prodigy. View Post
Question..can the charger be left connected for an extended period of time, say a month or so, or does it need to be removed once the battery is fully charged?
Sorry for the delay - only just seen your question now

The answer is that you can leave this for an extended period of time: I have the CTEK charger as you know from the pictures/process and it's designed to remain connected almost indefinitely.

Once it reaches "full" charge, it performs a regular top up pulse to keep the charge full on the car. The manual mentions that it continues to monitor the battery to keep the charge between 95% & 100%, providing a pulse every now and then to maintain this.

The usual caveats on this advice apply: car & battery should be in good condition, and its best to try charging a couple of time while you are around to monitor it and make sure that there are no issues

I've left both my BMW's on extended charge for over a month a few times (when I've been away on holidays) and the cars have been fine when I've returned.

Hope this helps!

Cheers,
David
Appreciate 0
      02-21-2020, 03:32 PM   #42
mscdman
Private First Class
22
Rep
167
Posts

Drives: 335xi
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Denver

iTrader: (0)

I just bought the CTEK. Can we use the recondition feature on the M2 AGM battery
Appreciate 0
      03-10-2020, 05:30 PM   #43
Westway
New Member
6
Rep
26
Posts

Drives: M2C
Join Date: Feb 2018
Location: Westcoast

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by F87source View Post
I personally use the Ctek MUS7002 which has a snowflake mode for winter trickle charging and is also the standard mode for AGM batteries.

Make sure you connect it to the terminals under the hood and not directly to the battery.
How is the MUS7002? Would you recommend?

I am debating between that model and the ctek MXS 5.0. Does the 7002 have features that I absolutely need for the M2C?

Generally with these ctek tenders, do they all have the ability to stop charging once the battery is full?

Never owned one or used one but in need of one. I find the BMW branded ctek charger to be way overpriced compared to amazon.
Appreciate 0
      03-10-2020, 05:39 PM   #44
F87source
Major General
F87source's Avatar
No_Country
7178
Rep
7,342
Posts

Drives: Bmw M2
Join Date: Aug 2018
Location: .

iTrader: (1)

Quote:
Originally Posted by Westway View Post
How is the MUS7002? Would you recommend?

I am debating between that model and the ctek MXS 5.0. Does the 7002 have features that I absolutely need for the M2C?

Generally with these ctek tenders, do they all have the ability to stop charging once the battery is full?

Never owned one or used one but in need of one. I find the BMW branded ctek charger to be way overpriced compared to amazon.
Yes I absolutely love and recommend the CTEK MUS7002.

The 7002 has more features like a high amperage supply mode, winter mode, more charging voltages etc. But overall none of the additional features on the 7002 would really be a must have for a m2c owner who just wants a trickle charger. I'm just an overkill type of person, so that's why I bought the 7002. IIRC the m2C has a standard AGM battery, if that's the case then the msx 5.0 has an AGM mode and would be perfect. If it is lithium then you would need a lithium charger like the one CTEK sells.

Yes they monitor voltage and battery state, so they can pulse charge until it is "full" then stop. Technically speaking though it charges to 80-90% and stops, then after that it monitors voltage drop over a period of 48 hours and based on battery condition charges to 100%. Then it monitors and maintains the battery over the course of usage. The charger also has extremely low ripple compared to other chargers, which is great for the protection of electronics within the car. Ctek has been known to make the best intelligent battery chargers on the market, and in my experience they make a solid product and have alot of additional accessories.

The OEM bmw charger, and OEM charger for many other manufacturers are just rebranded CTEK's, which goes to show you how good they really are to be the supplier for an OE.
__________________
Click on the link below to see a compiled list of every review I have ever written:
https://f87.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh...2#post30368242
Appreciate 0
Post Reply

Bookmarks

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 07:55 AM.




m2
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
1Addicts.com, BIMMERPOST.com, E90Post.com, F30Post.com, M3Post.com, ZPost.com, 5Post.com, 6Post.com, 7Post.com, XBimmers.com logo and trademark are properties of BIMMERPOST