How to Jumpstart a BMW
Wondering how to jumpstart a BMW? Since BMW batteries sit towards the rear of the vehicle, we can’t blame you for expecting a more laborious or mechanically-involved process. However, the truth is that if you know how to jumpstart a car, you know how to jumpstart a BMW. That’s because you just have to pop the hood to reach the terminals that are connected to your battery.
How to Jumpstart a Car the Right Way
How do you jump-start a car that doesn’t have a battery right under the hood? You just need to find the terminals, which are usually located just to the side of the engine. With this in mind, you can gather your jumper cables, find another driver who’s willing to help out, and get started by taking the following steps.
How to Jumpstart a BMW: Connecting Your Cables
Have the driver of the booster vehicle pull up to face the BMW with a dead battery. The two vehicles shouldn’t touch, but they should be close enough that the jumper cables aren’t too tight. Turn the assisting vehicle’s engine on, and turn off or unplug all electrical components in your own BMW. Then, pop each vehicle’s hood and attach the cables in the following order:
- Attach one of the red clamps to your own BMW vehicle’s positive (red) terminal.
- Attach the other red clamp to the positive (red) terminal on the assisting vehicle
- Attach the black clamp to the assisting vehicle’s negative (black) terminal.
- Attach the other black clip to any unpainted metal surface on your vehicle.
During this process, make sure the clamps don’t touch one another! This could generate sparks, which can be dangerous when you’re working under the hood.
How to Jumpstart a BMW: Charging the Battery
Wait a couple of minutes for your battery to receive the charge, and then get into the vehicle and start the engine. If it doesn’t turn on right away, give it a few more moments. After it starts, you’ll want to remove the jumper cables, making sure that the clamps never touch! After the cables are disconnected, don’t turn your vehicle off right away. Drive for about 30 minutes and let the alternator go to work.
How Does the Cold Affect Car Batteries?
Cold temperatures cause molecules to compress, which makes solids denser and chemical reactions slower. This puts quite a bit of stress on your battery, causing it to discharge anywhere from between 30% to 60% of its electrical current in the process of supplying your vehicle. If you have an old car battery that’s already worn down and inefficient, cold weather may push it over the edge. But how do you know if your BMW battery is dying?
How Do You Know If Your BMW Battery is Dying?
How long do BMW batteries last? Average BMW life expectancy runs from 3 to 5 years, but if you frequently drive in brutally cold temps, it’s important to know the signs of a dying battery. Here are just a few of the tell-tale signs to look out for:
- Your ignition clicks or falters.
- Your headlights are dim.
- The “Check Engine” or “Check Battery” lights on your dashboard turn on.
- Your battery terminals are corroded.
- There’s a rotten egg smell coming from under your hood.
Service Your Vehicle with Rallye BMW!
Whether you’re wondering how to jumpstart a BMW 328i, or you’re trying to recharge the battery in a BMW X3 xDrive30i, these instructions should be all you need! If you have trouble with the process, or you’ve had to perform multiple jumpstarts recently, it may be time for a new battery. Hoping to save on genuine equipment? Visit Rallye BMW for exciting BMW parts specials, and schedule your service today.
