How to jump start?

[nickple]

Just came back from a trip, my 1992 525i will not start, just makes a clicking sound, the engin will not turn over.
How do I jump start it with boster cables?
Also a stupid question, where is the battery? Is it under the back seat? How do I get to it.

Please help, we are expecting a snow storm tonight.

[Tiger]

You can jump start from engine compartment. A positive terminal by the firewall on passenger side. Ground to one of your shock tower nut.

[nickple]

Many thanks, I will go home at Lunch and try it. Should I need to get a new battery, How do I remove the old one?

[Rory]

Many thanks, I will go home at Lunch and try it. Should I need to get a new battery, How do I remove the old one?
1. Open rear door
2. Lift up on bottom seat cushion where it meets the carpeting (in the front)
3. Pull seat cushion out of car
4. Undo the small bolt anchoring the battery in (6 mm maybe??)
5. Disconnect the negative terminal of the battery
6. Disconnect the negative terminal of the battery
7. Undo the bolt at the side/base of the battery holding it in
8. Lift the battery out and disconnect the vent tube.
9. Installation is reverse of removal.

You may need a screw driver to gently pry the cables off of the battery terminals. And if you have a stock radio with out the radio code it is off to the dealer to have them look up the code for you.

Good Luck,
Rory

[nickple]

Many thanks Rory, one last question. I live in Montreal, Canada. What type or brand of battery should I get?

[Rory]

Many thanks Rory, one last question. I live in Montreal, Canada. What type or brand of battery should I get?
Just make sure it wasn't manufactured in Canada!! ;)

Sorry, couldn't resist the jab. I would recommend an AutoZone's Duralast 49D battery ($65 US when I did mine 2 months ago) or an Interstate Battery (MTP-93 or MTP-91). If the parent company of the battery is Johnson Controls then you probably cannot go wrong. And also make sure that you get the vent tube for the new battery.

Good Luck,
Rory

[jjg43]

Just make sure it wasn't manufactured in Canada!! ;)

Sorry, couldn't resist the jab. I would recommend an AutoZone's Duralast 49D battery ($65 US when I did mine 2 months ago) or an Interstate Battery (MTP-93 or MTP-91). If the parent company of the battery is Johnson Controls then you probably cannot go wrong. And also make sure that you get the vent tube for the new battery.

Good Luck,
Rory

...I put my car in a garage for the winter and wanted to get a battery charger (the car will go for at least a month without being driven) On the 535 the battery is under the back seat. It's OK to use the charger on the jumper post under the hood and just ground it to something under there right? I don't have to clip it right to the battery do I?

Thanks,

Phil

[liquidtiger720]

what does the vent tube look like? i dont remember seeing one when i put a new battery in.

[Qsilver7]

what does the vent tube look like? i dont remember seeing one when i put a new battery in.
Sorry, I don't have any pics of the e34...but here are some pics from my e38. I'm going to assume that the vent location in the e34 is similar to the e32...and in my e32 the vent tube went through the floor of the battery location. The OE BMW battery vent hole was at the end of the battery (see 1st pic below)...but if you get one mfg'd by Johnson Controls ( like the Duralast or Interstate)...a kit comes with the battery that includes an adapter and a long tube that can attach to the existing vent hose. (see2nd pic below) If you've lost the vent hose...go to your local Home Depot/Lowes/Bldr Square and purchase about a foot of plastic tubing...they all sell it by the linear foot....just make sure it'll go thru the hole in the floor.

Hopefully you have Autozone where you live...the Duralast is a great replacement battery and comes highly recommended.



BMW OE venting adaptor (black) and hose (gray) in an e38:
http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/1/web/433000-433999/433594_225_full.jpg

this is pic of the vent kit instructions w/the adaptor...the tube that came in the kit is already attached to the hose...I took the pic after installing the battery:
http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/1/web/433000-433999/433594_228_full.jpg

http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/1/web/433000-433999/433594_219_full.jpg
http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/1/web/433000-433999/433594_220_full.jpg

Please , seriously consider venting your battery...it can explode if not vented properly. This has come up on other boards I frequent and someone always says it's not necessary...then someones battery explodes and the naysayers disappear. You do not want this to happen to you...trying to neutralize all that battery acid from under your seat, praying that it doesn't burn up your leather...or eat thru the metal...what a pain!

Here's an example of a non vented battery that exploded in the trunk of an e38:
http://members.aol.com/bmw740ij/batt.jpg

[525SEI BRIT]

How did you upload such large pics I’m limited to 39kb!


Sorry, I don't have any pics of the e34...but here are some pics from my e38. I'm going to assume that the vent location in the e34 is similar to the e32...and in my e32 the vent tube went through the floor of the battery location. The OE BMW battery vent hole was at the end of the battery (see 1st pic below)...but if you get one mfg'd by Johnson Controls ( like the Duralast or Interstate)...a kit comes with the battery that includes an adapter and a long tube that can attach to the existing vent hose. (see2nd pic below) If you've lost the vent hose...go to your local Home Depot/Lowes/Bldr Square and purchase about a foot of plastic tubing...they all sell it by the linear foot....just make sure it'll go thru the hole in the floor.

Hopefully you have Autozone where you live...the Duralast is a great replacement battery and comes highly recommended.



BMW OE venting adaptor (black) and hose (gray) in an e38:
http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/1/web/433000-433999/433594_225_full.jpg

this is pic of the vent kit instructions w/the adaptor...the tube that came in the kit is already attached to the hose...I took the pic after installing the battery:
http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/1/web/433000-433999/433594_228_full.jpg

http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/1/web/433000-433999/433594_219_full.jpg
http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/1/web/433000-433999/433594_220_full.jpg

Please , seriously consider venting your battery...it can explode if not vented properly. This has come up on other boards I frequent and someone always says it's not necessary...then someones battery explodes and the naysayers disappear. You do not want this to happen to you...trying to neutralize all that battery acid from under your seat, praying that it doesn't burn up your leather...or eat thru the metal...what a pain!

Here's an example of a non vented battery that exploded in the trunk of an e38:
http://members.aol.com/bmw740ij/batt.jpg

[Qsilver7]

How did you upload such large pics I’m limited to 39kb!
My pics are already uploaded and are stored on a server. This means they have a URL address and all I do is click on the yellow icon above this message box (its yellow and looks like a postcard with a pic of mountains on it)...and paste my pic's URL address into the dialog box.

If you are uploading pics from your cpu...then you are limited to the 39k rule. You are attaching a file...whereas I attached a link.

[525SEI BRIT]

cheers for the tip just need to find a server to store them now.

[Rory]

...I put my car in a garage for the winter and wanted to get a battery charger (the car will go for at least a month without being driven) On the 535 the battery is under the back seat. It's OK to use the charger on the jumper post under the hood and just ground it to something under there right? I don't have to clip it right to the battery do I?

Thanks,

Phil
Hi Phil,

A positive terminal is a positive terminal and a ground is a ground. It is very acceptable to use the (+) Terminal under the hood and any ground you can find. Good luck and remember that a car was made to be driven.

Good Luck,
Rory

[Mobius]

Here's an example of a non vented battery that exploded in the trunk of an e38:It's worth noting that this likely happened because that one exploded cell was low on water. If there isn't enough water to cover the plates in the battery, it's possibly for them to arc on heavy loads (like starting) - igniting the hydrogen in the cell.

As a part of regular maintenance, you should always check the water level in your battery. It's not just a battery life concern, it's a safety concern.

[winfred]

that is one big ass battery they stuck into the e38, i wonder why they thought they needed something bigger then the mb55 (or whatever the current # is) which is what i run in all of my cars (the black battery in the pic) i get a good 5 years outta one in a diesel and am probably close to that on my 325 which is easyer on them


http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/1/web/433000-433999/433594_220_full.jpg
http://members.aol.com/bmw740ij/batt.jpg

[PhilipJCaputo]

I just dropped 70 bones (after tax) for a new battery... I mean, as long as I never have to take the thing out, I'm glad it is under the back seat.... but whoever thought of the idea to put the battery there needs to be kicked....

So this new battery I vented it with the little tube attached to the car... but what goes through that "vent" tube?? over flow acid, some kind of vapor??


Let me say this, prior to the new battery, the car started fine (minus this morning, and when I left the lights on), but HOLY COW, the car turns over 3-4 times faster than before...

End of story