Hi

I last drove my MINI S 2003 which I bought March 19, 2003 last Friday, and I was out of town all week. I got back yesterday, and got in it and the battery was 100% dead while the car had been sitting in the garage. I put the charger on it for a couple of hours, and started it barely. The light was on saying service engine soon, and the flat tire indicator was on after a quick trip around the block and as soon as I started the engine. I put it up promptly and put the battery charger on it all night at 2amps, and this morning, the battery was only at 65%, so It appears to me that I have a bad battery. The battery was 100% dead, could not even get the radio to come on or any lights. Is this what caused the service engine light soon to come on? How do I get the light off, if this is the case. I know how to get the flat tire indicator off, but I didn't try to do that. It would seem that 2 years and a few months is pretty short life with a battery. Can I buy a battery at the local BMW dealer or at an auto parts store? Do you think anything other than a bad battery is wrong with the car? Please give me guideance this morning, as I am somewhat concerned because of the stupid service engine soon light. The car has about 17,000miles on it, and I just had it serviced in March about 2500 miles ago.

thanks for the help in advance!

jc

 

Thats probably early for the battery to die but doesn't surprise me if it sat for a week. Dunno. I think most new batteries in cars are cheapo, maybe last 3 winters. In any case, forget about MINI dealer, it will cost you about $160.

Try Sears, a good old diehard is $99 and fits your 2002. Any sears automative store should sell them

good luck

 

Unless it's a deepcycle battery once it drains all the way like that the battery will not recharge to full.

You should just buy a new battery at Sears or autoparts store.

My 03 MCS is rarely driven during the week, but it's still holding charge
very well.

 

Now is a great time for the lightweight battery upgrade...try a search for more info. Mine is working out great and it saved 25 or so pounds.

 

it sucks , but all BMWs and MINIs have a crazy comp system thats on battery power for memory which is being used with the car off , you need to use a battery tender if your not using the car for more than a week. i get this all the time at work and always selling new batteries to my cust which is NOT covered under your warranty. just make sure you dont tell em you let the car sit.

 

Wouldnt one want a more Powerful battery, one that would last longer and have more power in it than lighter one???? Or, are the lighter ones just as powerful than OEM?

 

I have not driven my MCS for months at a time without issue, so a week should be no problem unless the battery is bad/there is a short.

I have a nine year old Optima battery that I only use ~once a year (no trickle charger) and it always starts that vehicle right up each year.

Most computer controlled vehicles seem to require more voltage under load during cranking than old carbureted ones; the ignition may spark even at low voltage but my guess is the computer can't run the injectors. I noticed this when the engine would "catch" and start as soon as the starter was released (and the engine still turning from inertia), but it could never start during cranking--no matter how long. I put that old battery (read 7.2v during cranking) into an older car and it worked fine for 5 more years even in winter:smile:.