Connecting CTEK Battery Tender

[shark715]

Looks like I can't use my CTEK with the cigarette lighter as power is cut off to that when the car goes to sleep. Any way to keep the power to it on?

If it's possible it's much easier than having to open the hood every time.

Thanks in advance for your help.

[Poppyboy]

I’ve been thinking about that myself, but have been unable to come up with anything other than popping the hood each time. One option to explore is to use a connector to the battery in the rear, but I doubt you’d want the connector sticking out of the hatch.

[shark715]

Originally Posted by Poppyboy

I’ve been thinking about that myself, but have been unable to come up with anything other than popping the hood each time. One option to explore is to use a connector to the battery in the rear, but I doubt you’d want the connector sticking out of the hatch.

Thanks for responding.

I guess one alternative might be to leave the connector inside the rear hatch as it's easier to open the hatch versus the hood each time. I would be connecting the tender often, as many days the car only gets driven about 1.5 miles to my wife's office and back.

[Poppyboy]

I actually thought a better idea would be to leave the alligator clips connected under the hood to the positive terminal and ground, and (somehow) snake it through under the front fender well cover so you wouldn’t have to open anything at all. However, that may be a bit ambitious.

[jandref321]

You guys just don’t want to pop the hood? Personally, I pop the hood whenever I get home anyway to release the heat from the engine bay. My CTEK battery tender came with quick connect terminal lines. They are short but if you run longer lines from your ground and positive terminal in the engine bay to the passenger side you can certainly tie them off to the quick connect and push that through the firewall. You could run it through the glove box or in the passenger footwell. It seems easier to just pop the hood though.

[shark715]

Originally Posted by jandref321

You guys just don’t want to pop the hood? Personally, I pop the hood whenever I get home anyway to release the heat from the engine bay. My CTEK battery tender came with quick connect terminal lines. They are short but if you run longer lines from your ground and positive terminal in the engine bay to the passenger side you can certainly tie them off to the quick connect and push that through the firewall. You could run it through the glove box or in the passenger footwell. It seems easier to just pop the hood though.

thanks, where would be the easiest place to go through the firewall?

[jandref321]

Originally Posted by shark715

thanks, where would be the easiest place to go through the firewall?

Eek, you put me on the spot. I can look later for a detailed location but if you remove the rain partition in the passenger side in the engine bay then pull out the cabin air filter, and remove the air duct using internal cam buckles you should be able to find a spot to run the wires through. The DME is in that area and you could follow the DME wires into the cabin

[shark715]

Originally Posted by jandref321

Eek, you put me on the spot. I can look later for a detailed location but if you remove the rain partition in the passenger side in the engine bay then pull out the cabin air filter, and remove the air duct using internal cam buckles you should be able to find a spot to run the wires through. The DME is in that area and you could follow the DME wires into the cabin

Thanks.

I took a look and I think I'm going to try the idea of connecting directly to the battery and leaving the connector readily accessible near the rear hatch.

Much of the time I would be relying on my wife to hook it up when she arrives home, and for her it's less of a chore to open and close the (electrically powered) hatch versus the hood...so it's more likely to happen, if you know what I mean :-)

[ryansbmw]

Speaking of CTEK, which one are you guys using? FCP carries 3 different ones.

[shark715]

Originally Posted by ryansbmw

Speaking of CTEK, which one are you guys using? FCP carries 3 different ones.

MUS 4.3, bought from Amazon.

[jandref321]

Originally Posted by shark715

MUS 4.3, bought from Amazon.

X2...It’s the newest one that CTEK made for BMW. The CTEK brand is half the price of the BMW branded one and the same manufacturer.

[shark715]

I did end up connecting the cable with the eyelet terminals directly to the battery, and the cable is long enough that the connector can be accessed without even opening the cargo floor.

Appreciate the input!

[heatmizr]

I was thinking of leaving one connected to the "jump start posts" under the hood but run the connector to the front where I might be able to reach it between the slats in the kidney grille... But not sure how well it would work.
Since I only throw the C-TEK on once each week or two I just pop the hood.

At least I have the C-TEK hanging from the ceiling when I do that so that the connector drops down right over the raised hood... I can't leave it on the floor between my work bench and the X5 cuz the kids will run through there and trip on it or yank it off.

[UnicornM]

I have ring terminals connected under the hood to the 'jump start' points with the lead tucked away. Had it this way for 3 years, I just pull up outside my garage and the charge lead plugs in no issues. I'll take pics later and post them up.

[cbakking]

Quick question, I got CTEK (56-864) MUS 4.3, are we supposed to select snowflake mode on E70 AGM batteries?
But manual is confusing me and selected the "CAR" mode and it gave me error after stage 5..... should I ignore what's on manual and select snowflake mode instead?

[RichardR0404]

I modifiedy clampes to stuck on the jump terminal and I zip tied my battery charger under the hood. Just plug it in like a block heater

[Qsilver7]

Originally Posted by cbakking

Quick question, I got CTEK (56-864) MUS 4.3, are we supposed to select snowflake mode on E70 AGM batteries?
But manual is confusing me and selected the "CAR" mode and it gave me error after stage 5..... should I ignore what's on manual and select snowflake mode instead?
Attachment 1773590

What we don't know (but you do and didn't mention it)...what is your current ambient temperature range? The information in the 3rd column is just as important to consider along with whether to use the "car" or "snowflake" setting.

If you have a regular AGM battery...AND...the ambient temp is what's in the 3rd column...then use the "car" setting.

If you have an Optima or Odyssey AGM battery (a pic of that type of battery's design is listed next to the snowflake)...then use the snow flake setting...OR...if the ambient temps are in the range listed for the snowflake setting and you have a regular AGM battery...then you use the "snowflake" setting which compensates for colder ambient temps.

[cbakking]

What I'm confused about is X5M's AGM Battery is considered "Power AGM" like Optima or Odyssey? then should be snowflake regardless

Or is it regular AGM? then it depends on the ambient temperature car vs. snowflake.

[mirob]

Why are you guys needing to charge your battery? Only driving it once a month?

[Naz24]

Originally Posted by mirob

Why are you guys needing to charge your battery? Only driving it once a month?

Battery is just a huge weakpoint. Mine is approaching 4-5 years old and needs a charge once a week due to some of my short trips.

Sort of ridiculous, if you ask me

[mirob]

Originally Posted by Naz24

Battery is just a huge weakpoint. Mine is approaching 4-5 years old and needs a charge once a week due to some of my short trips.

Sort of ridiculous, if you ask me

Why not change it? My AGM from O'Reilly's was ~$200, works as designed, and comes with a 3 year warranty (if I remember correctly). You can code it with Carly.

Having to trickle charge your battery once a week just sounds like a huge PITA...and it's evident by this thread.

[peter2772000]

We run a Battery Minder 2012 AGM on our BMW in FL. I love their products, absolutely incredible. And I slapped another one on our 2013 MB ML350 BT up north while we're down here. Ain't nuthin' like a good de-sulphation once in a while.

I've revived a few previously-dead batteries with my Battery Minder in either the 2012 or 2012 AGM, have one of each for down here in FL and up in Canada. My 7k watt genny up north has a 2012 on her year 'round. Wouldn't ever consider any other brand. My big bro had a Battery Tender on his outboard battery, damn thing literally solidified the electrolyte.