[thatryan]

I am outfitting a small took kit to keep in my car and was looking for some booster cables. I found these supposed genuine BMW ones, anyone used them? Are they good quality?

https://www.ecstuning.com/ES200240/

They just look thin ha...

Thank you

[tturedraider]

I'd probably just get a set at Wally World.

[Orion4]

SInce it is a BMW OEM part, I assume it is adequate gauge for your requirements.

[Billfitz]

Originally Posted by thatryan

I found these supposed genuine BMW ones, anyone used them? Are they good quality?
https://www.ecstuning.com/ES200240/
They just look thin ha...

They do look thin. You want no less than 6 gauge, preferably 4 gauge. Lighter gauges will work, but only if you use them to charge your battery from another running car for at least 15 minutes. Otherwise they won't pass enough current to get your car started, and may even melt.
Decent 4 gauge cables aren't expensive. For instance:
http://www.amazon.com/Cartman-Booste...=Jumper+cables

[PhilH]

Battery powered booster pack jump starters mean you don't have to rely on another car for a jump start. They're also safer for your electrical system, they've just about the same price or a couple dollars more than cables, and they've come a long way in the past few years.

http://www.amazon.com/Best-Sellers-A...tive/318336011

Don't know who this guy is, but his video has a bunch of positive reviews:

Part 2 where he starts a car with it:

[thatryan]

Cool thanks peeps

Anyone put a small toolkit together to carry? Or some stuff like that, or just rely on that SoS button?

Does that expire btw? Lol

[Arthurrs]

Not sure if I trust the output of those battery powered booster packs with the sensitive electronics in a bmw.

But having jumper cables in the trunk of your bmw does present an interesting dilemma....how do you open your electronically controlled trunk when the car's batteries are depleted and those jumper cables that you really need to boost the car are inside the trunk that you can't open?

[chiefneil]

Originally Posted by Arthurrs

Not sure if I trust the output of those battery powered booster packs with the sensitive electronics in a bmw.

So long as you use the posts in the engine bay and don't connect directly to the battery in the trunk it should be fine. I believe the posts are isolated from the rest of the electronics.

[Arthurrs]

Originally Posted by chiefneil

So long as you use the posts in the engine bay and don't connect directly to the battery in the trunk it should be fine. I believe the posts are isolated from the rest of the electronics.

Oh, most definitely use the posts in the engine compartment!!

From what I understand, these portable battery packs do not fare well stored in a car with the usual summer heat you would typically find them in, and likewise in the winter they are pretty much useless starting up a dead battery in the cold.

But still, how do you get into a locked trunk without power so you can get at whatever devices/tools you need to jump start your car?

[ontheway]

Originally Posted by thatryan

Cool thanks peeps
Anyone put a small toolkit together to carry? Or some stuff like that, or just rely on that SoS button?

I have jumper cables and some Jack Pad adapters in the trunk.

That being said, I attempted to jump start a landrover and failed miserably.

[UNC2016]

Originally Posted by Arthurrs

Oh, most definitely use the posts in the engine compartment!!



But still, how do you get into a locked trunk without power so you can get at whatever devices/tools you need to jump start your car?

Isn't there a button in the driver's side footwell? My F32 has one. I will have to check to see if it is electronic or manual release.

[Arthurrs]

Originally Posted by UNC2016

Isn't there a button in the driver's side footwell? My F32 has one. I will have to check to see if it is electronic or manual release.

That's to release the front hood, and yes it seems to be manually operated!

However if all your tools/jumper cables are in the trunk, and you have no power, you are unable to easily gain access to them to fix the problem!! Maybe crawl through the back seat and use the emergency release within the trunk?

[Billfitz]

Originally Posted by PhilH

Battery powered booster pack jump starters mean you don't have to rely on another car for a jump start.

Large versions of those, kept fully charged all the time by being plugged in to an AC outlet, work reasonably well. Small versions are marginal at best. One issue with a dead battery is that when you hook up a booster source the dead battery will suck up current like a sponge. Overcoming that initial power drain is why when using jumpers you should let the battery charge for five minutes or so before trying to start the car. Small battery booster packs lack the capacity to overcome the current drain of the dead battery and still start the car.

However if all your tools/jumper cables are in the trunk, and you have no power, you are unable to easily gain access to them to fix the problem!! Maybe crawl through the back seat and use the emergency release within the trunk?

This points out why not having the option to use your mechanical key to open the trunk is a basic design flaw. If you have fold down seats you're OK, but if not you're screwed.

[PhilH]

Originally Posted by Billfitz

Large versions of those, kept fully charged all the time by being plugged in to an AC outlet, work reasonably well. Small versions are marginal at best.

That really used to be true. From the reviews I've seen, they've made amazing progress in the past few years. It's not that hard to believe, considering the other advances in battery technology recently.

I apologize in advance for posting a Motorweek clip, and I"m far from the biggest Pat Goss fan (usually because the stuff he tells you is common sense) but these battery jump starters seem to be falling into the common sense category more and more.

[UNC2016]

Originally Posted by Arthurrs

That's to release the front hood, and yes it seems to be manually operated!

However if all your tools/jumper cables are in the trunk, and you have no power, you are unable to easily gain access to them to fix the problem!! Maybe crawl through the back seat and use the emergency release within the trunk?

My car manual states there is a button to open the TRUNK in the foot well. I will check at lunch.

[metallicpea]

I too have heard good things about those battery things, but I guess I just expect to almost never need it, so in 10 years when something might come up, is it still any good. I'm sure I won't remember to charge or replace it.
I keep a thick and fairly long set of jumper cables. If your on the side of the road, you can't always safely get another car close enough for the shorter cables to reach. Cheaper ones are thin and short. With a good quality set you're covered. There is always another car around if/when you need it.

Mine are 4 gauge 20 feet and they always work.

[Billfitz]

Originally Posted by PhilH

That really used to be true. From the reviews I've seen, they've made amazing progress in the past few years. It's not that hard to believe, considering the other advances in battery technology recently.

Batteries have come a long way, but you still can't replicate your car battery with something that fits in your hand. These tend to run with about 10,000 mAh capacity, which seems impressive. But 10,000 mAh translates to 10Ah. A standard duty car battery capacity averages 50Ah. Mini-boosters may give you enough extra juice to get the car going if the battery is just low enough that it won't start the car, but if the battery is below 25% charge they probably won't cut it.

[PhilH]

Originally Posted by Billfitz

Batteries have come a long way, but you still can't replicate your car battery with something that fits in your hand.

Personally, I just replace the batteries in my cars every 5 years as a precaution. We're on the third battery in my wife's 2004 X3. Keeping a battery pack sufficiently charged for when you need them does seem like a downside.

[tturedraider]

Originally Posted by UNC2016

Isn't there a button in the driver's side footwell? My F32 has one. I will have to check to see if it is electronic or manual release.

Originally Posted by UNC2016

My car manual states there is a button to open the TRUNK in the foot well. I will check at lunch.

There is a button. And it's electronic. My '06 330i has a key release. Why they did away with that I'll never understand.

[otay]

The portable batteries work surprisingly well. Haven't used the one I have on my 3 yet, but it's started our completely dead Honda and a couple neighbors SUVs just fine.

Here's the one I have: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00D42AFS8

[UNC2016]

Originally Posted by __

There is a button. And it's electronic. My '06 330i has a key release. Why they did away with that I'll never understand.

Looks like I will have to crawl into the trunk from the back to release the hood

[Fronzdan]

Originally Posted by ontheway

I have jumper cables and some Jack Pad adapters in the trunk.

That being said, I attempted to jump start a landrover and failed miserably.

Really? Because I've jumpstarted a completely dead LR4 a couple times without any problems, until we got a new battery. Those things ARE electrical hogs, though.