Battery Trickle Charger

[Avtar]

Hi All,

I have not been driving the Alpina much of late, like many other, and when I do it tends to be short trips and I am regularly getting the 'battery discharge' warning. I know that trickle chargers have been discussed previously but I wondered if any had bought recently that may be better as technology does keep changing?

Thanks

[Jonnywishbone]

I’ve got a CTEK MXS 5.0 (two, in fact).

I can’t claim to know a great deal about trickle chargers, but it does what it says on the tin without fuss, can be left on for extended periods of time, isn’t especially expensive, reviews well and is what BMW rebrand and sell as their own.

[DogWagen]

Another vote for the CTEK MXS 5.0. It's surprisingly small compared to traditional chargers and v easy to use. No too expensive (£65-ish from Halfords)

It works a treat on my fleet (mixed AGM and lead-acid batteries) and I really like the recondition function (desulphidation) which saved me replacing the wife's i10 battery.

[Bri-E]

Another vote for CTEK MXS 5.0 and agree very easy to use with no issues leaving connected for a long period.

A thought 10% off at Halfords with BMWCC discount code

[James_G]

Another user of the Ctek MXS 5.0 here - I bought mine from Tayna Batteries.

Included with the charger is a quick connect lead but it doesn't fit the standard BMW battery terminals as the holes are too small.

Thankfully Ctek do a few different sizes and so I was able to buy one that does fit - it's this one for my E36 (and probably most BMWs at a guess)

https://amzn.to/3KCYIFR

[Jules Sunleu]

CTek used by me too. Have them on the B5 and on my bikes

[rc944]

Cteks here across my fleet

[Norrie]

Yep I got the CTEK 7.0. Always charge via terminals under the bonnet and never direct to the battery.

[Jules Sunleu]

My Ctek is connected via a 'comfort lead' extension in the boot. You can connect positive to the battery and negative to a chassis bolt (I used one behind boot side panel) and has same effect as using bonnet terminals as includes IBS where fitted but means I can just shut in the boot seal when charging and lock the cat. Always avoid both terminals direct to battery as Norman says as this circumvent the IBS and will lead to electrical gremlins

[JohnW]

I have the Ctek MXS 7.0 as it was a touch quicker. I have the bumper case and comfort extension leads too.

Purely because it’s nearest the socket in the garage, I use the charging terminal by the side of the windscreen top up cap in the engine compartment and the earthing post on that side too, the leads pass easily through one of the gaps in bonnet seals to outside so the car can then be locked.

I believe the Ctek chargers (or tenders in USA) are re-badged by BMW as a genuine accessory.

[Norrie]

Correct about the CTEK being rebranded as a BMW accessory. Before I purchased my own CTEK and my B7 had a flat battery I call out BMW recovery/home start service. Amazing the guy said " have you got a charger? No I said" He then gave me a brand new BMW charger free as it said it is cheaper than them returned to jump start a vehicle.

[Avtar]

Thanks all, just order the CTEK MXS 7.0 and Extension Lead from Amazon £99.99 for the charger and £14.99 for the extension lead

[JohnW]

I don’t think you’ll be disappointed it feels like a good piece of kit, I’ve used it for a while with 5 of my BMWs now, the AGM cycle setting especially useful.