Vehicles With A Two-Battery System

WARNING: This page does not describe the selected car, but rather 7 other vehicles, including the 2010 BMW M6, 2009 BMW M6, 2008 BMW M6, 2007 BMW M6, and 2006 BMW M6. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.

Starter and equipment batteries

A two-battery system has a starter battery circuit and an equipment battery circuit. A secondary control unit monitors both battery circuits. Depending on the situation, the battery circuits are connected to or isolated from the secondary control unit via an isolating relay.

Two AGM batteries are used as a storage battery.

IMPORTANT: These batteries must not under any circumstances be charged with a voltage in excess of 14.8 V. Rapid programs must not be used either.

Receiving/giving starting assistance via jump start terminal

The engine can be jump-started with an external voltage supply via the jump start terminal on the right side of the engine compartment.

NOTE: The starter battery is isolated from the alternators when the engine hood/bonnet is open.

Giving starting assistance via the jump start terminal is thus limited by the capacity of the starter battery when the engine hood/bonnet is open.

Charging starter and equipment batteries via jump start terminal

The starter battery is charged as a matter of priority with a charger connected to the jump start terminal. The voltage at the starter battery is the decisive factor in determining whether the equipment battery is also included in the charging operation. The secondary control unit automatically detects a charging operation at a charging voltage at the starter battery of greater than or equal to ace;13.5 V. The isolating relay is closed and thus the equipment battery is connected in parallel. Both batteries are now charged.

Prerequisite:

Terminal 61 inactive
Terminal 15 inactive

If terminal 15 becomes "active" during the charging operation, the isolating relay is opened immediately and again only the starter battery is charged.

NOTE: When the engine hood is open, the isolating relay is also opened in normal operation when the engine is running. A special mode can be set by means of diagnosis for workshop/garage operation. The isolating relay is closed from terminal R in this operating mode. This mode is automatically reset once a distance of 5 km has been driven.

Trickle charging

Increased closed-circuit current consumption can be compensated with the aid of the battery trickle charger (special tool 61 2 410, for special tool, refer to BODY ELECTRICAL - SPECIAL TOOLS - 645CI (E63) ) via the jump start terminal.

IMPORTANT: The cigarette lighter is isolated from the electrical system after terminal R "OFF" on a timed basis (60 mins.), thereby interrupting charging of the equipment battery via the cigarette lighter. This is prevented if the battery master switch (on the right side of the luggage compartment behind the panel) is turned on and off again twice within 2 seconds. (Cigarette light battery charging function).