Changing the battery of a conventional car is a simple job. On a BMW, however, the battery is part of an energy management system that constantly monitors its condition and controls charging. To work properly, this system needs to know that the battery has been replaced.
What battery registration is
It is a procedure carried out with dedicated diagnostic equipment, which tells the control unit the type, capacity and installation date of the new battery. In this way the system clears the history of the previous battery and adopts the correct charging strategy.
What happens if it is not done
- Charging may be too aggressive or insufficient, shortening the life of the new battery.
- The start-stop function may be limited or disabled.
- Error messages and unusual behaviour of some electrical consumers may appear.
When to check the battery
Slower than usual starting, low-voltage messages, the display restarting or the start-stop system switching off are typical signs of a weakening battery. A battery efficiency test in the workshop, together with a check of the current draw when the car is parked, shows whether the problem is the battery or an abnormal drain.
- battery
- electronics
- start-stop
