Car totally dead- jump start? BMW e39 530i

[Patrick Bateman]

Having sat around for a while doing not very much I went to try and unlock the car but there are no electrics at all.

Nothing happens when you turn the ignition on. Is it salvageable from a jump start and a good drive or is it new battery required?

I've got a 900A Jump pack I haven't tested before, worth a go or doomed to fail?

[rallycross]

probably dead battery but it should still start off the jump pack if its strong enough, have done this with dozens of cars over the years and never had a problem, remember to take your jump pack with you case the battery is still dead next time you stop (obviously)

[Patrick Bateman]

Hooked it up and I have electrics, try to start and it's just clicking loudly.

More beef required?

[rallycross]

As its a BMW it should have the starting points under the bonnet is that where you have connected the power pack?
Also worth whacking the starter with a metal pole incase the starter is stuck (if you can see it).

[Dodsy]

Clicking is probably the starter solenoid throwing but there isnt enough juice to turn it over.

Suggest sticking it on a charger for a few mins to get something in the battery then try jumping again.

Battery *could* be FUBAR but you might get away with it. If it wont hold a charge maybe try an accumate - or just get a new battery (but the accumate is a lot cheaper).

My TVR battery was going flat in 2 days and after a day didbt have enough oomph to start the car. It had been totally flat a lot of times and I thought it would need a new battery. 3 days on the accumate, green light comes on and battery now holds enough charge to start even if left for 2 weeks.

[Rickyy]

Clicking sounds is usually a sign of there not being enough juice in the battery, keep charging.

[g3org3y]

No other cars at home you can jump off?

[Patrick Bateman]

Yeah used the connections under the bonnet. So just leave the jump pack connected for a while? How long we talking?

I can get jump leads and try starting it off the funf if it still plays up.

[Dodsy]

Patrick Bateman said:

Yeah used the connections under the bonnet. So just leave the jump pack connected for a while? How long we talking?

I can get jump leads and try starting it off the funf if it still plays up.

In the old days I would suggest hooking it up to another car via jump leads then starting the 'good' car and running it for a bit so the alternator charges the flat battery. Then give it a try it with the leads still attached and it should start.

Check your manual before trying this, I know (for example) that my Jag is designed to go massively overvoltage during heavy use/battery drain but it has electronics designed for this. If connected to a 'normal' car it can fry the electrics so in the manual it tells you not to use a Jag for jump starting.

[Jimmyarm]

Try jumping it directly on the battery.

Despite having those connections under the bonnet I've found occasionally putting the jump pack directly on the battery in the boot will start it when they are totally flat and it just clicks using the front jump points

[Patrick Bateman]

The manual does state to run the donor car for a a few minutes at higher than idle speed.

I'll give this a go if the jump pack is a non-starter then hopefully take it for a run.

[Patrick Bateman]

Looks like it's a trip to halfords...

[Superliminal]

Manual or Auto? I had to jump start a car recently and just wouldn't go - I put the clutch down to help a bit and it fired up first time. Even though we'd left it in neutral, dipping the clutch took just enough load off (it doesn't have to turn the gearbox) to let it turn over and start.

[Patrick Bateman]

Auto. Got some heavy duty leads from halfords so I shall give that a go.

[boz1]

Jimmyarm said:

Try jumping it directly on the battery.

Not recommended! The jump points are provided for a reason and certainly some people say you risk damaging various expensive electrical components if you connect it directly.

[rallycross]

boz1 said:

Jimmyarm said:

Try jumping it directly on the battery.

Not recommended! The jump points are provided for a reason and certainly some people say you risk damaging various expensive electrical components if you connect it directly.

wont do it any harm unless something odd about it, my last M5 often got started from dead flat as the alarm used to drain the battery, jumping it never casued any problem.

[mondeoman]

boz1 said:

Jimmyarm said:

Try jumping it directly on the battery.

Not recommended! The jump points are provided for a reason and certainly some people say you risk damaging various expensive electrical components if you connect it directly.

Yeah, and the reason the jump points are provided in the engine bay is ease of access rather than having to remove half the boot lining to get at the buried battery...

[Patrick Bateman]

Jump leads did the trick.

A 40 minute drive later and everything seems back to normal. I've insured it temporarily to take it out for a run now and again until I can sell it.

Cheers for the help.

[Riley Blue]

Lucky you weren't in New Zealand, it takes ages to start a dead car there.

[AMH82]

Patrick - have you had the FSR replaced on this?

On the E36 & E46 it's a very common cause for flat batteries, due to causing the interior fans to run when the ignition is off. Our E46 had the problem and I also replaced one on my brother in laws E39 for the same reason.

Listen out for fans running with ignition off, or if the fans seems a little erratic with cc set to auto. Easy enough to replace, just a bit fiddly.