Which battery charger?

tadaska · 04-01-2018, 09:38 AM

My battery is gone flat and need to buy a charger but don't know anything about them. Can you guys recommend which one to buy? Halfords or Argos. It's for a 2006 320D.

Thank you!

Andy Bev · 04-01-2018, 10:00 AM

I've got a CTEK great charger use it on my classic car, charges and conditions the battery can leave it on as long as you like. Highly recommend

tadaska · 04-01-2018, 10:47 AM

Are there different types of car battery chargers? I know some cars have AGM batteries and some just normal batteries. Wet?

Do I need a specific type of charger or any will do? There are so many to choose from and they have different specs but I have no idea what any of it means.

Is my battery AGM?

maxoutput · 04-01-2018, 03:10 PM

What I use, also does AGM

https://www.ctek.com/products/vehicle/mxs-5-0

Stick in in the engine bay on the terminals over night

I think your battery is a calcium technology lead acid

tadaska · 04-01-2018, 03:50 PM

Thanks guys, those Ctek chargers do look good. I thought that being small they might be inferior to the bigger ones but if you say they are good I'll get one from Halfords. Cheers

maxoutput · 04-01-2018, 04:47 PM

BMW’s own charger that they offer is a rebranded Ctek I believe.

https://shop.bmw.co.uk/bmw-uk/en_GB/...arger/2408593/

tadaska · 04-01-2018, 04:55 PM

Looks identical, only more expensive.

tadaska · 04-02-2018, 05:36 AM

Halfords didn't have any CTEK chargers in stock so I bought a RING RSC612. Looks like a nifty piece of equipment. I've put the battery on charge in Recondition Mode just incase since I don't know how old the battery is.

But I have another battery related question.

There is a vent hose in the boot for the battery but it was not connected. The hose doesn't have the plastic "elbow" that inserts into the venting hole on the battery (saw it on realoem). And the venting hole in the battery has some white plug. Not sure if it's a piece of the elbow that broke off or if it's just a plug that came with the battery and has to be removed. I pocked a needle inside and it didn't go through. What do you guys think?

BTW it's a calcium battery.

AWSAWS · 04-03-2018, 05:03 AM

I have a CTEK 3.8. Does a good job and not expensive. Can condition a battery also.

04-01-2018, 09:38 AM	#1
tadaska Major 114 Rep 1,002 Posts Drives: 2006 E90 320D ES Join Date: May 2016 Location: Eastbourne iTrader: (0)	Which battery charger? My battery is gone flat and need to buy a charger but don't know anything about them. Can you guys recommend which one to buy? Halfords or Argos. It's for a 2006 320D. Thank you!
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04-01-2018, 10:00 AM	#2
Andy Bev Private 5 Rep 75 Posts Drives: E93 325i Join Date: Nov 2016 Location: Wakefield iTrader: (0)	I've got a CTEK great charger use it on my classic car, charges and conditions the battery can leave it on as long as you like. Highly recommend
	Appreciate 1 tadaska113.50 Quote

04-01-2018, 10:47 AM	#3
tadaska Major 114 Rep 1,002 Posts Drives: 2006 E90 320D ES Join Date: May 2016 Location: Eastbourne iTrader: (0)	Are there different types of car battery chargers? I know some cars have AGM batteries and some just normal batteries. Wet? Do I need a specific type of charger or any will do? There are so many to choose from and they have different specs but I have no idea what any of it means. Is my battery AGM?
	Appreciate 0 Quote

04-01-2018, 03:10 PM	#4
maxoutput Private First Class 33 Rep 182 Posts Drives: E90 2005 Join Date: Sep 2016 Location: U.K. iTrader: (0)	What I use, also does AGM https://www.ctek.com/products/vehicle/mxs-5-0 Stick in in the engine bay on the terminals over night I think your battery is a calcium technology lead acid
	Appreciate 1 tadaska113.50 Quote

04-01-2018, 03:50 PM	#5
tadaska Major 114 Rep 1,002 Posts Drives: 2006 E90 320D ES Join Date: May 2016 Location: Eastbourne iTrader: (0)	Thanks guys, those Ctek chargers do look good. I thought that being small they might be inferior to the bigger ones but if you say they are good I'll get one from Halfords. Cheers
	Appreciate 0 Quote

04-01-2018, 04:47 PM	#6
maxoutput Private First Class 33 Rep 182 Posts Drives: E90 2005 Join Date: Sep 2016 Location: U.K. iTrader: (0)	BMW’s own charger that they offer is a rebranded Ctek I believe. https://shop.bmw.co.uk/bmw-uk/en_GB/...arger/2408593/
	Appreciate 0 Quote

04-01-2018, 04:55 PM	#7
tadaska Major 114 Rep 1,002 Posts Drives: 2006 E90 320D ES Join Date: May 2016 Location: Eastbourne iTrader: (0)	Looks identical, only more expensive.
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04-02-2018, 05:36 AM	#8
tadaska Major 114 Rep 1,002 Posts Drives: 2006 E90 320D ES Join Date: May 2016 Location: Eastbourne iTrader: (0)	Halfords didn't have any CTEK chargers in stock so I bought a RING RSC612. Looks like a nifty piece of equipment. I've put the battery on charge in Recondition Mode just incase since I don't know how old the battery is. But I have another battery related question. There is a vent hose in the boot for the battery but it was not connected. The hose doesn't have the plastic "elbow" that inserts into the venting hole on the battery (saw it on realoem). And the venting hole in the battery has some white plug. Not sure if it's a piece of the elbow that broke off or if it's just a plug that came with the battery and has to be removed. I pocked a needle inside and it didn't go through. What do you guys think? BTW it's a calcium battery.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

04-03-2018, 05:03 AM	#9
AWSAWS Colonel 283 Rep 2,343 Posts Drives: E92 GC Turbos, FBO, 335i DCT Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Valhalla iTrader: (0)	I have a CTEK 3.8. Does a good job and not expensive. Can condition a battery also. __________________ GC Turbos, FBO, JB4, DCT, Port Meth injection, BMS Charge Pipe, NGK plugs. EBC brakes and pads, LED Angel lights, LED foglights, LCI rears OCC, Braided brake lines. Custom Diff Lockdown Kit, VTT inlets, TMAP, stage 2+ fuel pump 11.79@119mph (stock turbos) 11.74@129mph (GC Turbos)
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