"Battery Discharged" Message in BMW. What's Wrong? And How to Fix?

When you come across the message "Battery Discharged" while driving your BMW, don't panic. There are a few reasons why this message keeps popping up on your dashboard:

• Dead Battery
• Old Battery
• Corroded Battery Terminals
• Loose Battery Connections
• Faulty Alternator
• IBS Malfunction
• Cold Weather
• Parasitic Drain

There are ways to resolve each issue, so you need not worry too much. This article will tell you all that you need to know.

What's Causing The "Battery Discharged" Message? How To Fix It?

Earlier, you learned the reasons why your BMW is showing you the "Battery Discharged" message. However, you need to understand how to spot each issue to resolve it correctly.

Learning each one shortens the amount of time it takes for you to figure out the source of the problem. And you're able to put out the best solution to deal with the issue at hand.

1) Dead Battery

This is one of the two most common causes of the battery discharge message that you see on your dashboard. As you can already tell, the message shows up as a warning when your car battery is near empty or completely dead.

A quick battery change is all you need to get rid of the message. When you're in the middle of nowhere, your options are to jumpstart your battery or use an external charger to recharge your battery until it starts moving again. Afterward, visit a nearby auto shop and have your car battery replaced.

2) Old Battery

The second most common reason is a dead battery. BMW car batteries have a lifespan of between three and five years. Beyond that, the battery itself starts to wear out.

When the battery cells start failing, they're unable to store a charge properly. This will lead to frequent warning messages on your dashboard, even after a recharge.

Similarly, the only way to resolve this issue is by replacing your battery with a new one. Constant recharging will not just do little to solve the issue, but it can further cause damage to your car.

3) Corroded Battery Terminals

Corrosion is another reason why you keep receiving the battery discharge message. There are several reasons why there's corrosion on your battery terminals.

First, excess water starts coming out through the vents of the battery due to an overfill. And you already know what happens when water comes into contact with metal.

Second, overcharging your battery can corrode the terminals. That's because the electrolytes inside start to expand due to a temperature rise. When that happens, you get the same result as when water corrodes metal.

And finally, any damage done to the battery can cause it to leak battery fluid. This not only results in corrosion of the terminals but can also cause a variety of other issues to pop up as well.

Using a wire brush is the best way to get rid of the corrosion on the battery terminals. If you notice any cracks in the battery while cleaning, replace it with a new one.

4) Loose Battery Connections

When you receive the "Battery Discharged" message after just replacing the battery with a new one, there is likely a loose connection. When there's space between the terminals and the wires, electricity can't conduct properly.

To fix this, simply check both terminals for any loose connections. Then, tighten up each one. While you're at it, you can also check the battery for any other issues that you missed. 

5) Faulty Alternator

The alternator is responsible for charging up the car battery when driving. However, if there's something wrong with it, you'll end up draining your battery much faster. As a result, your dashboard will suddenly light up and inform you that you're running low on power much faster than you initially thought.

If your car won't move at all even after trying to jump-start the battery, then the issue lies with the alternator. In this instance, it's best to bring your car to a nearby auto shop and have a professional mechanic take a look.

6) IBS Malfunction

The intelligent battery sensor, or IBS for short, is responsible for relaying information back to the car's main computer when it comes to the battery. So, if one day you start receiving multiple warnings a day from your car's dashboard that you're running low on battery, it's highly likely that there's an IBS malfunction. This is especially true when everything else checks out and you're using a new car battery.

To determine whether or not this is the case, you can use a BMW-recommended OBD2 scanner. First, you need to look for the OBD2 port underneath the dashboard so you can plug in the device. Then, turn on the ignition without firing the engine before turning on the scanner.

From there, you select the model of your BMW and start reading the fault codes by accessing the DME menu. If your IBS sensor is malfunctioning, these are the readings that will pop up:

• Voltage Fault
• 299B DME IBS
• 002E8D DME IBS

To fix this issue, you will need to bring your car to a mechanic. They'll check which parts need replacing to put everything back in order.

7) Cold Weather

When winter comes around, you want to stay at home as much as possible. As such, you often take shorter trips outside with your car. However, that in itself is the reason why your BMW dashboard is warning you.

As you already know, the alternator is responsible for charging your car's battery when driving. But when you're only taking short trips outside, the alternator is unable to work efficiently. On top of that, you're probably using a bunch of external devices to keep you warm, like heated seats.

Combining the two, you'll end up with a car battery that drains more quickly than usual. To avoid this, you can increase the duration of your trips outside to let your alternator charge the battery. Usually, around 30 minutes once a week is more than enough.

Or, you can reduce the number of devices connected to the car that you use when going outside. Although, you'll end up feeling a little chilly. The best way to go around this is by using a trickle charger overnight on your car battery to prevent it from running low on power.

8) Parasitic Drain

One of the more annoying issues to deal with is a parasitic drain. If you checked everything else after receiving the warning message, then chances are high that there's a short circuit in one of the electrical systems.

The problem though is finding out where exactly. With so many features and gadgets nowadays, it's hard to keep track of which one is causing your dashboard to light up and warn you.

You can use a multimeter to find out whether or not your vehicle is indeed suffering from a parasitic draw. Afterward, you can bring it to your local auto shop and have an expert take a look and resolve the issue for you. Take note that it will take some time to pinpoint the real cause of the drain.

How To Prevent Battery Discharge?

If you want to prevent battery discharge, there are a few things that you need to keep in mind. Changing your battery regularly at the end of its lifespan is one thing to always remember.

Besides that, taking good care of your car battery is another step towards preventing battery discharge. Make it a habit to check under the hood once every week. Checking for damages like cracks and scratches can go a long way to extending your car battery's lifespan.

Always make sure to clean your car battery as well and tighten up the connections every once in a while in case they start loosening up. And consider investing in both an external and a trickle charger as well.

Having both of these will help you in the long run. You can always drive without any worries if you have an external charger in the back of your car, and you don't have to worry about your battery running out of juice during times of inactivity with the use of the trickle charger.

Last but not least, keep your car inside the garage at all times, especially during times of extreme weather. This helps protect your car battery and prevent internal damage. Also, make sure to turn off everything when shutting down your vehicle to avoid draining your battery unknowingly.

Conclusion

If you ever find yourself in a situation where you receive the message "Battery Discharged" from your BMW's dashboard, stay calm. Instead, take this as an opportunity to check whether or not there's something wrong with your vehicle. And if all you end up needing is a new battery, then all is well.

However, if another issue appears other than that, then you'll be glad to receive such a message. And now you know what to check and how to resolve any problem that comes your way.