My battery has died twice now in the last 3 months - some thing I've never had happen before in any of my other cars. I did some reading here regarding dead batteries, but I'd like some additional info, maybe some one can help. I have an 05/05 build.

Back in December, my MINI sat in the garage for about 1 month while I was on a business trip. It was really cold here in Chicago, so I figured that is what caused the loss. But just yesterday, after only 10 days, my battery was dead again. This time it's been fairly warm here in Chicago, so weather shouldn't have been the major cause.

The first time the battery died, I was able to jump start it with the help of our Saab. Yesterday however, the Saab was no help, and nothing turned over. I had to call MINI RSA. Two hours later a tow came out and with a jump start box, we were able to start the car no problem the first try. I went right to the dealer (which is where I was going anyway when I discovered the dead battery) and they gave my MINI a clean bill of health, except for a low, but willing to charge battery.

My questions are the following:

1) How bad is jumping a MINI? Will it kill the electronics, or will the fuses just blow if some thing goes wrong? Will jumping to often do bad things?

2) Is jumping the MINI via the posts under the bonnet recommended or not? The tow driver was more comfortable connecting direct to the battery.

3) I told my MA that my MINI wouldn't even take a jump from our Saab, and he told me that if I turn on the headlights, the fan, etc, the MINI will start when being jumped from another car. He explained why this works, but my brain doesn't comprehend that sort of information so well Can some one tell me again?

4) I have an icelink with the latest firmware. Could that be draining the battery? My MA and one of the parts counter guys both say that BMW and MINI electronics are huge parasites and dead batteries after 3 days of sitting are more common than not. My MA said he very much doubted the icelink was the problem here.

5) We also all agreed that Honda cars, can all start after sitting under 5 ft of snow for several months (all three of us had owned Hondas) Of course this isn't even a remote reason for giving up my MINI

So on my way home from the dealer, I went to Sears and purchased the $25 battery charger maintainer with float mode monitoring. This morning, the light on the charger was green telling me the battery was fully charged. My MINI started faster than I can ever remember this morning

I'd like to get a more permanent solution and want to order the following (I saw this info on http://www.bmwdiy.info/battery-maint/ ):

BatteryMINDer PLUS - Charger-Maintainer-Conditioner (Desulphator)
SureGuard - Battery + Alternator Condition Indicator with Voltage Spike Protector

With this solution, I install both either under the bonnet or in the trunk. And on weeks when I'm not around, I just plug it in to the wall.

Thanks a lot for reading this!

 

yea i had a similar problem...
you can jump a MINI normally using the points under the bonnet. its whats recommended...
let us know what is the REAL problem!
(we never figured it out with my car... i gave up and traded her )

 

my MCS hibernates during the salty winter. Every once in a while I get
lucky and get a rainy day before a dry day so that I can take the car out
to circulate everything. but unless that happens, i just charge the
battery every 3 weeks. The car starts fine after 3 weeks, but the
voltage and amperage is quite low... it would take a good
15hrs at 2A to get the battery topped off...which i think is almost a full
charge from about 65% or so power left in the battery. (vs no need to
re-charge my G35C's battery unless over 5weeks).

i was warned by the Back to the Future driver that it's not safe to keep
the battery in float mode as not all battery chargers are precise. this is
another reason why i do not let my chargers stay in float mode for more
than a few hours and just re-charge every so often.

 

'scuse my ignorance but what is float mode and how is it unsafe?

 

Float mode applies a small charge to the battery with out killing it. I think some older (dumber) chargers will damage a battery if left charging for long periods of time.

 

Thanks for the info. I don't leave it plugged in all the time, but it sounds like I am safe with this then: http://store.mm411.com/catalog/index...heParentId=176

 

"Back to the Future driver", hmm well I hate to break it to you but my DeLorean is stock. Those flux capacitors are expensive!

The whole reason to have a tender on a battery during storage is that it has a slight internal resistance. This resistance is what slowly drains the battery, even when nothing is connected to it. The problem with some slow/float chargers is they still provide too much current. You only need enough to compensate for the internal resistance.

paulr,
You might want to consider just replacing the battery soon. They aren't deep cycle, so being fully drained several times [FONT=&quot]severely[/FONT] shortens their life span and capacity.

 

Thanks! This is the info that I was looking for.

eVal - Thanks for the link. I assume you have this item? How often have you used it? It's nice that it includes the cigarette lighter connector.

 

We have used it a lot and its been a lifesaver. If we know that we are not going to drive a car (or motorcycle) for awhile we just hook them up - we actually have two Battery Docs. You need to know that for whatever reason the Mini does not recharge via the cig lighter (at least with this), so we just hook it up to the battery in the boot.

I don't know if that place is the best price or anything, I just used it to link to. Before we purchased the Battery Doc we also looked at the Battry Tender and ended up with these as they seemed as good, has the 2 hook-ups, and cost less. Local motorcycle shops seemed to have them for decent prices so I didn't even have to scour the internet, fwiw. Very handy and a good thing to have on hand IMHO. Hope that helps

 

In 03' on my 03' cooper I went to maui for a two weeks, and when I came back my battery was dead. I took it to the dealership, and they replaced my battery. Eight months later that battery was dead, so I went to autozone and bought a battery with lifetime warranty. Because my mini dealer is over 80 miles away I couldn't keep going back just for a battery. The dealer was not surprised by the dead battery, so they suggested to use a battery maintainer if I was not going to drive the car for more than one week. I have an 05' S now and no probs. at this time. Good luck with your battery situation.

 

there he is!!

 

Look for some similar posts. Do you leave your key in the ignition, or even close to the lock? The battery will go dead if you do. Apparently the electronics come to life when the key is near the lock.

Try this. take your key out of the lock, open the drivers door. Bring the key up to the lock, with out putting it in. The car starts the "dinger" just like the key was in the lock.

The early MINIS (up through 2004 ?) also have a disposable battery in the key. The later models have one that recharges (by induction ?)when it is near the lock. That may cause the system to fire up when the key is close.

John

 

I think just leaving the key in the garage (cold) will kill the battery inside the key.

 

Nope. Keys are taken inside. I think I just need to drive more often

 

John, that's very interesting, and might explain my strange no-starts... I keep my key in the house, hanging on a hook, near a window in my kitchen. The MINI is literally about 8 or so feet away, outside. Think this might be it? Man, I hope so as I've been looking all over for possibilities! Thanks.

 

had problems with keeping enuf juice around for my 79 which in the winter gets driven infrequently. I could jump it w/out a problem but then worried I would drive enuf to get a full charge and frankly given that things ain't exactly sealed in a 79 I didn't like having the bat' being trickle charged as it sits.

Soooooo I bought an Optima red top and haven't had a problem since.

They ain't cheap but crank more and hold a charge longer than anything I've ever had

I see them in lots of restored and hot rod'd cars ....

 

Thanks Okeefe, I'll look into them when I get ready to buy a new battery. I thought however that the S needed some sort of battery with a vent tube to the outside.... ??

 

Paul- I agree with OKeefe... check out the Optima battery.

My brother got one for his '60's VW Bug and never has a problem with it. It's pricey, but worth the investment (according to him anyways ) I have his '65 now... which reminds me.. I need to start it again this weekend .

 

That site says there are NO Optimas for MINIs?

 

Yeah.. I noticed that too me bad

Actually, there wasn't one for the Bug either... like McGyver, we had to improvise and adapt We measured out the battery compartment, then went to PepBoys or AutoZone and found an Optima that would fit (and checked to make sure it was the correct battery output).
Presto ! issue solved. I'm not sure what the dimensions are for the MINI battery...

 

from the looks of it, my yellow top (on my seat creeper) seems
to be the same height as the one in the boot. perhaps a jumper might
be needed, but i think it'll fit just fine.

im charging up my factory battery right now... my every 2 week routine.

 

I have 03 mcs and 05 mcsc in unheated garage just got back from 3 week vacation no problem starting either.I think you have bad battery or draw on battery,ie a small load that is running battery down.Both cars have original batterys,maybe a bad batch of batterys?

 

pooch1- no, it's not a bad battery. my car starts fine...and noone
would notice that it was draining unless they have a volt meter wired up
to it like i do. Your car's probably draing as much as mine.

the reason why i keep charging it and monitoring it is because i want
to preserve my battery as long as possible. I don't drive it enough in
the winter time. only like 3-4 times if im lucky from Nov to March so
if i don't charge it, the battery will terminally die.

i don't want to unplug it because i don't want to re-program the ECU
again from scratch.