If you’ve ever hopped into your car and saw the ‘Increased Battery Discharge’ message, you’re not alone.
In this article, we will discuss everything from what it actually means when your BMW tells you the battery discharge rate is higher than normal, to why it happens, and most importantly, what you can do about it.
Quick Answer: Why does your BMW show an ‘Increased Battery Discharge’ message?
BMW Increased Battery Discharge means that your BMW’s battery is losing power faster than it should be when the car is off. It is most often caused by a deteriorated battery, cold temperatures, or parasitic battery drain due to faulty car modules or wrongly installed accessories.
What does BMW Increased Battery Discharge mean?
Increased battery discharge on a BMW means that the battery is losing power faster than it should be when the car is not in use.
If a BMW battery is healthy and all systems are off, it should hold a charge for several weeks without issue. However, if there’s an underlying issue such as a parasitic drain (where something continues to draw power even when the car is off), the battery could drain in a matter of days.
Once your BMW’s DME recognizes this problem, it will light up a battery symbol on your dashboard as well as a warning message on the iDrive screen.
The BMW increased battery discharge message often appears while you’re stationary or stopped because the engine is turning over at lower RPMs, thus giving less power to the alternator (which in turn charges the battery).
While you shouldn’t be too worried about an increased battery discharge message, it is recommended to look into it before it escalates.
4 Causes of increased battery discharge
Here are the four main causes of increased battery discharge on a BMW, sorted from most to least common:
- Bad battery
- Extreme cold
- Battery drain
- Faulty battery IBS unit
1. Bad battery
When we say a “bad battery,” we’re talking about a battery that’s nearing the end of its life cycle or has already reached it.
A BMW battery is typically expected to last between 3 to 5 years. As a battery gets older, its ability to store and provide power diminishes.
This deterioration can lead to increased battery discharge because the battery can’t hold onto the charge it receives.
So, how do you figure out if your BMW is suffering from a bad battery?
There are a few tell-tale signs and simple checks you can perform:
- Age of the battery. If your battery is approaching the 3-year mark, it’s time to start paying closer attention to its performance. By the time it hits 5 years, it’s likely in need of replacement.
- Check the voltage. You can use a multimeter to check your battery’s voltage. A healthy battery should read around 12.6 volts or above when the car is turned off. If it’s below 12.4 volts, your battery is not fully charged, and anything under 12.0 volts indicates a significant discharge problem.
- Look for physical signs. Inspect your battery for any noticeable signs of wear or damage, such as corrosion on the terminals, a bloated battery case, or leaks.
- Observe the car’s behavior. Slow engine cranks, dimming headlights when the engine is off, or electronic components acting weirdly can all hint at a battery struggling to maintain a charge.
- Professional battery test. Many automotive shops offer a more thorough battery testing service. This test can check the battery’s ability to hold a charge and its overall health.
A healthy battery should not lose more than 0.05 volts per day. If you’re noticing a faster discharge rate, it’s a sign that something might be wrong
2. Extreme cold
The second common cause of increased battery discharge on BMWs is extreme cold.
Cold weather is notorious for its harsh impact on car batteries, and BMWs are no exception.
But why does cold weather have such a dramatic effect on your vehicle’s battery?
In cold conditions, the chemical reactions within a battery that generate electrical power slow down significantly.
This slowdown means the battery can’t produce its usual amount of energy, making it harder for your car to start and effectively reducing the battery’s overall performance.
Moreover, the cold increases the electrical resistance and thickens the engine oil, requiring more battery power to crank the engine.
Here’s a closer look at how extreme cold affects your BMW’s battery and what you can do about it:
- Reduced capacity. At 32 degrees Fahrenheit (0 degrees Celsius), a typical car battery loses about 20% of its capacity. As the temperature drops further, the loss in capacity can be even more significant. For a battery that’s already nearing the end of its life or is in a weakened state, cold weather might be the final straw that leads to a no-start condition.
- Increased demand. Cold weather also increases the demand on the battery. Your vehicle’s engine oil becomes thicker at lower temperatures, which means your car requires more battery power to turn over the engine. Additionally, the use of heaters, defrosters, and lights in winter further drains the battery.
If you’re experiencing a BMW increased battery discharge message in extremely cold temperatures, the following tips can help:
- Keep your battery charged. A fully charged battery is less susceptible to freezing than a partially charged one. Keeping the battery fully charged ensures it has the best chance of starting your car in cold weather.
- Use a battery maintainer. If you know your car will be parked for an extended period during cold months, consider using a battery maintainer. This device keeps your battery at an optimal charge level without overcharging it.
- Park in a garage. Whenever possible, park your vehicle in a garage to protect it from the coldest temperatures. Even an unheated garage can provide enough insulation to make a difference in battery performance.
3. Battery drain
If it’s not a bad battery or extreme cold causing an increased battery discharge, then it’s likely a module that keeps drawing current from the battery while the car is off.
Unfortunately, battery drain is a bit more complex as there are many things that can draw power from your BMW’s battery even when you think everything is turned off.
It can be everything from your car’s dashboard systems to a faulty door handle from the comfort access system or even a connected accessory like a dashcam that doesn’t power down correctly.
What drains the battery in a BMW?
Here is a list of modules that drain the battery in a BMW:
- Infotainment and navigation systems. These can continue to draw power even when the vehicle is off, especially if not properly shut down.
- Comfort access system. This keyless entry system remains active to detect the key fob’s signal, leading to continuous battery draw.
- Climate control systems. Automatic climate control systems can draw power to maintain temperature settings.
- Interior and exterior lighting. Including glove box lights, trunk lights, and door handle lights that may not turn off due to malfunction.
- Seat heating and cooling. If left in the on position, these systems can draw power unnecessarily.
- Dashboard and instrument cluster. These remain active for a period after the car is turned off, drawing minimal power. Faulty sensors can increase this drain.
- Alarm system. Continuously monitors the vehicle for unauthorized entry attempts, drawing power in the process.
- On-board computers and memory functions. These manage various vehicle settings and require power to retain information.
- Power seats and mirrors with memory function. Adjustments and settings can draw power as the system maintains positions.
- Mobile phone connectors and wireless charging pads. Can draw power if a device is connected or if the system remains active.
- Dashcams and aftermarket accessories. Especially those wired directly to the battery or incorrectly installed, leading to continuous operation.
- Battery charging system (IBS). The Intelligent Battery Sensor itself, though designed to manage battery health, draws a small amount of power to function.
- Remote control parking. Available in some models, this feature can draw power as it maintains readiness for remote commands.
4. Faulty battery IBS unit
Although uncommon, a faulty Intelligent Battery Sensor (IBS) can be another cause for increased battery discharge.
The IBS is attached directly to the negative battery terminal and has several important functions, like monitoring the battery condition, energy management, and fault detection.
When the IBS unit fails, it can incorrectly assess the battery’s state, leading to improper charging strategies and increased discharge rates.
How do you fix it and avoid more battery discharge issues?
Having discussed the common causes of increased battery discharge in BMWs, let’s now focus on how to fix these issues and prevent future battery discharge problems.
Immediate fixes for increased battery discharge
- Replace the battery. If your battery is old or failing, replacing it with a new one is often the simplest and most effective fix. Note that after a battery replacement, you should register the new battery. You can do this yourself using an OBDII device such as OBDeleven:
- Address extreme cold. In cold climates, consider using a battery warmer or parking your vehicle in a garage to protect it from extreme temperatures. Keeping the battery charged above 50% can also help mitigate the effects of cold on battery performance.
- Eliminate parasitic drains. Identify and fix any electrical faults or aftermarket installations that may be causing battery drain. This might involve professional diagnostics to trace and rectify issues such as faulty wiring, malfunctioning sensors, or improperly installed accessories.
- Replace faulty IBS unit. If diagnostics indicate a faulty Intelligent Battery Sensor (IBS), replacing this unit can resolve issues related to improper charging and energy management, thus preventing increased battery discharge.
Preventive measures to avoid future issues
- Vehicle use and storage. Regularly driving your BMW helps maintain the battery’s charge level. If you’re mainly driving for short trips, allow the car to idle for 10-15 minutes to let the battery recharge. If storing your vehicle for extended periods, consider using a battery maintainer to keep the battery fully charged without overcharging.
- Manage electrical load. Be mindful of using electrical accessories when the engine is off. Minimize the use of features like the radio, lights, or climate control when the car isn’t running to conserve battery power.
Conclusion
We’ve seen how a range of factors can lead to that frustrating moment when your BMW just doesn’t want to start.
But here’s the good part: now that you know what’s what, dealing with these issues can be a whole lot simpler.
Thanks for sticking with us through this guide!
Source link
