Jumpstarting using a BMW

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nkrishnan@gmail.com - 20 Oct 2008 00:46 GMT

I need to jumpstart my second car from a BMW. I searched this forum
enough to figure out that the +/- battery terminals for a BMW are
under the hood. Although some of you say it is not recommended to
jumpstart a BMW, do you think it is safe to jump start another car
using a BMW? I dont want to risk the delicate computers inside the
BMW, if you experts think it is not wise to do so. Can you give me
some suggestions?

Thanks,

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Jim - 20 Oct 2008 01:16 GMT

>I need to jumpstart my second car from a BMW. I searched this forum
> enough to figure out that the +/- battery terminals for a BMW are
[quoted text clipped - 5 lines]
>
> Thanks,

The negative terminals are all bolts which connect to the chassis. The
positive terminal (on my E46) is a vertical stud near the right hand
suspension.
As for whether it is a good idea or not, just follow the instructions in the
fine manual (it also shows where the positive terminal is located).

Jim

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Scott Dorsey - 20 Oct 2008 01:22 GMT

>I need to jumpstart my second car from a BMW. I searched this forum
>enough to figure out that the +/- battery terminals for a BMW are
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
>BMW, if you experts think it is not wise to do so. Can you give me
>some suggestions?

I don't see any reason not to jumpstart a BMW, or to jumpstart another
car from a BMW. I have done it many times over the years. If you have
a side terminal battery it can be a pain to get to the contacts, but
it's not too big a deal. Just follow the directions in the manual and
do everything in the right order.

If you do something stupid, you're apt to damage something, so don't
do anything stupid. You can always pushstart in a pinch...
--scott

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"C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."

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BimmerMI - 20 Oct 2008 01:45 GMT

> In article <85c98fc4-c86d-4f91-bad7-9f5742af9...@j68g2000hsf.googlegroups.com>,
>
[quoted text clipped - 18 lines]
> --
> "C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."

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Mike G - 20 Oct 2008 12:21 GMT

On Oct 19, 8:22 pm, klu...@panix.com (Scott Dorsey) wrote:

> In article
> <85c98fc4-c86d-4f91-bad7-9f5742af9...@j68g2000hsf.googlegroups.com>,
[quoted text clipped - 30 lines]
> --
> "C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."

Thanks. If I am jumpstarting a dead car using a BMW, where is the
negative battery terminal. As you rightly point out, getting to
the
terminals on the battery pack is near impossible, and I dont want
to
bother with that. I just want to use the bolts under the front
hood. I
see the red (positive) bolt. Where is the negative bolt?

AFAIK there isn't a specific place to clip the negative of the
jump lead.
Just clip it to any convenient solid metallic part of the body or
engine.
Personally I clip it to one of the bolts on the suspension
turret.
Mike.

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Floyd Rogers - 20 Oct 2008 17:03 GMT

> "BimmerMI" <nkrishnan@gmail.com> wrote Thanks. If I am jumpstarting a dead
> car using a BMW, where is the
> negative battery terminal. As you rightly point out, getting to the
> terminals on the battery pack is near impossible, and I dont want to
> bother with that. I just want to use the bolts under the front hood. I
> see the red (positive) bolt. Where is the negative bolt?

On my '01 330xi, there is a negative terminal bolt about 8"
to the left of the positive terminal. It's got a #4 gauge wire
leading into the wire harness next to the ABS accumulator
pump.

FloydR

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Scott Dorsey - 20 Oct 2008 14:39 GMT

Mike G <metier@largefoot.com> wrote:

>Thanks. If I am jumpstarting a dead car using a BMW, where is the
>negative battery terminal. As you rightly point out, getting to the
>terminals on the battery pack is near impossible, and I dont want to
>bother with that. I just want to use the bolts under the front hood. I
>see the red (positive) bolt. Where is the negative bolt?

Chassis ground is just fine on both cars. Find a good solid chassis tie
point. I believe the owner's manual of the car will list a specific one
that they recommend but personally I always look for large bolts on the block.
--scott

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"C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."

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hsg@h-gee.co.uk - 20 Oct 2008 09:34 GMT

>If you do something stupid, you're apt to damage something, so don't
>do anything stupid. You can always pushstart in a pinch...
>--scott

Hi Scott

Interesting comment and would have been useful pre-1968 when almost all of the
autobox makers decided to remove the rear pump that would pressurise the
transmission to enable a push start.

So my question is - how do you push start an auto - I know a manual is push
startable but auto??????

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Sir Hugh of Bognor

The difference between men and boys is the price of their toys.

Intelligence is not knowing the answer but knowing where and how to find it!

Hugh Gundersen
hsg@h-gee.co.uk
Bognor Regis, W.Sussex, England, UK

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Scott Dorsey - 20 Oct 2008 14:37 GMT

>>If you do something stupid, you're apt to damage something, so don't
>>do anything stupid. You can always pushstart in a pinch...
[quoted text clipped - 5 lines]
>So my question is - how do you push start an auto - I know a manual is push
>startable but auto??????

You don't. This is reason number six on the list of reasons why automatic
transmissions are evil. Just say no to automatics.
--scott

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"C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."

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hsg@h-gee.co.uk - 20 Oct 2008 16:08 GMT

>>>If you do something stupid, you're apt to damage something, so don't
>>>do anything stupid. You can always pushstart in a pinch...
[quoted text clipped - 8 lines]
>You don't. This is reason number six on the list of reasons why automatic
>transmissions are evil. Just say no to automatics.

Chicken !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

>--scott

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Dave Plowman (News) - 20 Oct 2008 09:01 GMT

In article
<85c98fc4-c86d-4f91-bad7-9f5742af99a8@j68g2000hsf.googlegroups.com>,

> I need to jumpstart my second car from a BMW. I searched this forum
> enough to figure out that the +/- battery terminals for a BMW are
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
> BMW, if you experts think it is not wise to do so. Can you give me
> some suggestions?

There are instructions in my driver's handbook on how to jumpstart my BMW,
so I don't know why you'd think it's not recommended. Those same
instructions can be used in reverse to jump start another car.

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*I feel like I'm diagonally parked in a parallel universe*

Dave Plowman dave@davenoise.co.uk London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

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R. Mark Clayton - 20 Oct 2008 13:41 GMT

>I need to jumpstart my second car from a BMW. I searched this forum
> enough to figure out that the +/- battery terminals for a BMW are
[quoted text clipped - 5 lines]
>
> Thanks,

Jump starting the BMW should be OK providing the battery is not totally
flat. Use the terminals in the engine compartment.

Jump starting from the BMW should also be OK, but probably better to use the
battery terminals if you can get to them.

In both cases use stout cables, and once connected rev the donor car in
neutral to 2-3k rpm.

BMW computers can get confused by low voltage.

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hsg@h-gee.co.uk - 20 Oct 2008 16:13 GMT

>>I need to jumpstart my second car from a BMW. I searched this forum
>> enough to figure out that the +/- battery terminals for a BMW are
[quoted text clipped - 16 lines]
>
>BMW computers can get confused by low voltage.

Can I just add to the above.

DO NOT simply connect the jump leads and try to start the dead car.

Allow the "live" car to run at a fast idle - 2000rpm for a few mins first then
try the dead car's starter.

Oh Yes..... USE A DECENT pair of jump leads with the wire at least 3/8" in dia
(not the plastic - should be about 1/2" or slightly larger in dia total) and
don't allow any metal parts of the two cars to touch (I know there is very
little metal on the outside these days.).

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