Dead BMW I3 12v Battery Symptoms (BMW I3 12V Battery Dead)

Last updated on June 27th, 2023 at 01:43 pm

As already know, your vehicle’s battery is an important part of your car that provides you with a smooth drive.

However, it has few warning signs which you should look out for that indicate that the battery is dying.

Anytime your battery smells like sulfur, sometimes it means that it is leaking, and this should be inspected.

Having a swelling or bloated battery case, a slow turn-over or engine crank, and a low-fluid level, are all indications that can lead to a BMW i3 12v dead battery.

In this post here are some of the topics that we will discuss, dead BMW i3 12v battery symptoms, Why is BMW i3 battery discharging while stopped, how many years does a BMW last, BMW i3 12V battery dead, and finally how many years does a BMW i3 battery last. With those in mind let’s get started.

BMW I3 12V Battery Dead

Whenever you notice that your battery smells like sulfur or if your bonnet area smell like sulfur occasionally then know that, it means that it is leaking, and this should be inspected immediately.

Having a swelling or bloated battery case, a slow turn-over or engine crank, and a low-fluid level, are all indications that your BMW i3 12V battery is dead.

A BMW I3 12V Battery Dead will cause or prevent your vehicle from starting by making you to putting it in N(negative) which will produce a driver-trains error message.

I recommend routine maintenance. You should refer to the car owner’s manual often to see its routine maintenance schedule, this will only add to the BMW car reliability.

Why Is BMW I3 Battery Discharging While Stopped?

Most modern cars have something called engine Start/Stop features meant to save gas when stopped at a light, it helps in shutting the engine down but doesn’t completely shut off other car battery consumers. But this may be due to the following:

Your battery might be older than 3-4 years, which has reduced capacity
The current has been drained from a module on your car once it is shut down
The battery IBS unit might be faulty
The programming needs to be updated to adjust computer sensitivity.

However, the solution is for you to recognize these problems and adjust the way you drive to allow your battery time to recover. But you can do the following:

Reduce the number of short drives and leave your car to idle for some time during or after a short trip during cold weather.
You should try to install a C-Tek battery conditioning charger to plug the car in
Try to make use of few accessory features as possible
Try shutting off the auto Start/Stop feature of your car to preserve battery usage.

How to fix a car battery that doesn’t hold a charge

Dead BMW I3 12v Battery Symptoms (BMW i3 12V battery dead)

Note that vehicle batteries are an important part of your car that provides you with a smooth drive.

However, it has few warning symptoms which you should look out for that indicate that the battery is dying.

Here are the dead BMW i3 12v battery symptoms you should look out for:

#1. Illuminated Check Engine Light

Note that your check engine light on the dash can mean anything, which includes that your battery is running out of juice.

You can consult the car manual for info regarding the illuminated check engine light to get the battery inspected to know if it’s working at its full capacity.

#2. Car Backfiring

Make sure you don’t miss this warning symptom. This is because a dying car battery has the ability to cause serious sparks, which can lead to fuel accumulating in the cylinders.

Whenever this happens and the fuel is ignited, it has the possibility to increase force, which causes the car to backfire.

#3. Inability To Start The Engine

One of the symptoms of a dying battery is the inability of the engine to start accordingly. Note that after some time, the battery components will wear out, and renders them less effective.

Whenever this happens, it will cause your battery more time than usual to create a charge for the starter, which means that you’ll wait for some time for the engine to turn over.

#4. Having Dim Headlights

In case your car battery is dying, it won’t be able to fully power your car’s electrical system which includes your headlights.

Once you observe that your headlights is been dim and weaker than normal, then take note! Though this reduced light could have a safety problem, it also shows that your car battery is almost dead.

#5. Noticing A Clicking Sound Whenever You Turn The Key

Whenever you insert and turn your key in the ignition, the car battery is supposed to send a current signal to an electrical component, which is called the starter solenoid, to get things going.

However, a failing battery might not perform its function and the electrical current that will be distributed to the starter will be weaker.

Meaning that whenever the starter gets reduced or insufficient power you’re your car battery, it will be making a clicking noise.

#6. Unpleasant Smell

Anytime you smell something like rotten eggs whenever you pop the hood of your vehicle, this might be a sign which shows that your car battery is leaking. When there’s a gas leakage in a battery, it can cause damage to the battery or an internal short.

#7. Slow Crank

Many drivers have become attuned to the normal sounds of their cars. In case you observe that your engine is cranking more slowly or sluggishly than usual whenever you turn the key, it means your battery is already dying.

How Many Years Does A BMW Last?

The truth is that most BMW cars will last for about 200,000 to 250,000 miles with proper maintenance.

Even with regular maintenance, there should also be replacement of common parts like electric windows, coolant system, and battery as the vehicle ages.

So How Many Years Does A BMW I3 Battery Last?

It all depends, BMW once said that their batteries are designed to last for as long as 15 years lifespan and beyond.

They have also guaranteed that the BMW i3 battery will have to last for a minimum of 70% capacity that is after about 8 years or 100,000 miles of usage.

Conclusion

Sometimes your car dying battery might not look like an urgent safety problem to you, but having a completely dead battery will certainly be to you.

So in case you observe any of the above symptoms, make sure to get a replacement battery immediately before it becomes too late!

Just stop by the nearest dealer to get the battery or for a free battery test to find out exactly how much life on the battery.

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Jeffery Ekweghi

Hi dear, my name is Jeffery Ekweghi, and I am a certified mechanic and autobody parts technician. I created this site to share my expertise and experience with car lovers looking to resolve their car-related issues. I am certified in private cars and heavy-duty commercial vehicles. I have worked as a mechanic since 2015 and have experience in vehicle brands like Subaru, Jeep, Toyota, TATA, BMW, Mazda, Honda, Nissan, Kia, TVs, and Others; however, I primarily specialize in Toyota vehicles.