How to connect battery tender in a 2009 BMW X5 xDrive35d

[BMW_Diesel_Owner]

I recently purchased a Noco G7200, a battery charger/tender, and I was excited to hook it up to my 2009 BMW X5 xDrive35d. However, the first challenge was finding the battery, which was missing under the hood. After some Googling, I discovered that the battery is actually located in the trunk under some panel.

Then the question of how to connect the battery charger/tender. Apparently, BMW has battery connectors in the front under the hood. My question is what's the best way to connect my charger/tender?

Please help.

[mitch808]

Under the hood is perfectly fine

[upstate650]

Read the manual - there are connections under the hood. Easy peasy.

[MRV99]

I would recommend not hooking directly to the battery on these cars. Just use the Positive post under the hood and find the negative post and your good to go.

[PAX5]

Here we go ...

If you haven't done this before .... be patient. It can take 24 hrs before the light starts blinking, indicating charging ... Solid green LED means charged and on maintenance.

[BMW_Diesel_Owner]

I appreciate the feedback, especially PAX5's screenshots; they're very helpful, indeed! One more question, is it okay to leave the hood up while charging/maintaining the battery? I don't know how the BMW's vehicle computer works, so I would appreciate helpful feedback. Thanks in advance!

[MRV99]

Hood up is fine. Actually you should leave it up so you don't forget your charging your car and jump in the car and pull out while it is still attached.

[hd2000fxdl]

You can leave the hood up as long as you don't have any lighting that on a mercury switch or or their type of switch that some people may have put in their vehicles. I'd also suggest putting a post it or something inside the vehicle if you keep the hood down that you or someone's else doesn't move with it attached. Same way some people will put a Turn Gas On Packard on a kick only bike,, That's a completely different story,, lol

Harry

[BMW_Diesel_Owner]

Humorous feedback about the risk of driving off with the tender still connected, but nonetheless true! Thanks, everyone!

[PAX5]

Originally Posted by BMW_Diesel_Owner

I appreciate the feedback, especially PAX5's screenshots; they're very helpful, indeed! One more question, is it okay to leave the hood up while charging/maintaining the battery? I don't know how the BMW's vehicle computer works, so I would appreciate helpful feedback. Thanks in advance!

I wondered about the same ... hood open or closed???

When I leave the hood open, I believe that there are sensors that detect that the hood is open, not sure, but I noticed that there is some kind of electronic activity going on, noises etc, meaning current draw ... and it took longer to fully charge the battery!

On the other hand, I have driven off twice with the hood closed, because I forgot that the charger was connected! No damage so far, but one of these days the charger will not survive the drop to the concrete floor!

[MRV99]

I have been charging my BMW's for the last 2 years and I always leave the hood up. I have not found there to be any difference in charge time with the hood open or shut.

The alarm is the only sensor that I am aware of for the hood but that is simply on/off switch and is monitored only when circuit is broken(opened) or disarms the sensor if you lock the car with the hood up. You can pop the hood and still have it "latched" and drive with no warnings messages like what you receive with an open door. I should know, I popped the hood to fill the washer fluid and been distracted to the point where I ultimately did not fill up the fluid. Hours later, got in the car and drove away unaware that I forgot to completely re-shut the hood. It was not until i reached a speed to where I saw the hood shimmy and remembered my mistake.

I have been to the dealer to have battery related issues with the car dealt with and I see cars in their charging bay with the hoods up all the time.