BMW newbie, I can't even locate my battery under the hood, HELP!!

[etta662000]

I recently bought a 1993 525i (no manuel) and my light were left on and I have a dead battery. No problem, i'll just recharge. PROBLEM!!-- where in the world is the battery located. Could some one help me and please dont tell me that I need to have my car towed to a shop just for a dead battery!!

[doraimon1]

I feel your pain. I've been trying to locate mine for the longest time and when I did, I was trying to figure how to get at it.

Battery is under your backseat. If the recharge doesn't hold its charge, then it's time to swap batteries. To get to battery, sit in the middle of the backseat. Grab the seat with both hands to your side. Raise yourself up a bit. Now yank up. U should see the battery.

But you can recharge by attaching ur jumpers to the +ve terminal in the engine compartment and the -ve just ground it to either the engine block or any part of the vehicle.

Hope this helps.

[TheScientist]

Listen, you don't need to go breaking up your backseat for the battery in your BMW. BMW protects your battery from being stolen, by hiding em in the back seat. To recharge your batter, there are two access points located somewhere under the hood, one for the minus and one for the plue, They look like Windshield wiper tank covers. The recharge clamps are located at both sides of the hood, under caps.

[dero]

a friend of mine has the same problem but i need to get his battery out and we cant get the seat to come off, could you please go into more detail?
and also isnt it stupid how the owners manual doesnt even mention the bmw 525i? it only talks about the m5 and the 525i touring package.

please contact me at [email protected]. any help is appreaciated, thanks.

[csieminski]

I have a 1990 535i, complete with owner's manual. The manual has engine compartment illustrations for the 525i, 535i and M5. Unlike the latter two models, the 525i has the battery located under the hood. Again this is 1990, but since the body style of the 5 Series did not change until 1997, I doubt the battery location was changed either.

According to the illustration, 525i battery is located UNDER THE HOOD JUST FORWARD OF THE PASSENGER'S SIDE SHOCK TOWER. Should be just next to your windshield washer reservoir, which itself is just forward of the pass. front fender.

At least as 1990 goes, you all are correct about the battery being located under the backseat, but ONLY ON THE 535i AND M5. To get to it, simply grab the front of the lower backseat cushion as close to the middle (left-right) as you can and pull up firmly. That is all you have to do. The cushion has two metal flanges on the bottom of either side that hold it in place (keep it from sliding forward), but if you pull the front of the cushion straight up, you can then slide the entire thing forward and remove it clear out of the car if you want.

Again, if you have a 525i, I wouldn't bother with any of this, but rather take another look under the hood--the battery ought to be there.

[danzee]

You will find lots of help, maybe even local.
magazine and parts discounts are easily worth the cost of membership.

[PSU4x4]

Actually batteries are positioned under the backseat for weight distribution , not as a theft measure.