How to Jump Start A BMW and Charge Its Battery? | Don't Get Stranded!

Welcome to our shock therapy session for car batteries, where we'll spark your knowledge and recharge your confidence in handling any roadside power emergencies. Yup, today, we’re going to teach you all about the BMW jump start procedure!

Picture this – you’re all dressed up, running late for an important meeting or a date, and your BMW won’t start. Pressing the starter button results in only a sad clicking sound, the engine isn’t cranking. Don't panic though! Your bimmer isn't permanently grounded. 

Coming up:

• What are the most important things to know when attempting it?
  
• What’s the BMW battery location and how to charge it? 
  
• What else is worth keeping in mind when it comes to car batteries?

We hope you won’t be too shocked by these findings. Okay, okay! That’s the last of electric jokes… for now. Anyway – enjoy the read!

BMW Jump Start – All You Need to Know About It

Don't worry, we've all been in the abovementioned situation. Even your BMW, despite all of its German overengineering, can get powerless.

Jump-starting a BMW isn't rocket science, but it's not exactly like jump-starting your grandpa's old Chevy either. Bimmers have their own special quirks and features, including unique battery locations and specific jump start points, that make the process a bit more complicated. Let’s just say it's like the difference between making instant coffee and crafting a perfect espresso – both get you caffeine, but one requires a bit more finesse.

Why Would You Need to Jump-Start BMW?

Before we go on explaining how, it’s worth finding out why you might even need to jump-start your car in the first place.

1. You left the lights on 
   
   Sometimes even the smartest car owners forget the basics. It happens to the best of us, especially when you're distracted by that important phone call as you exit your vehicle. This mostly relates to older cars, as the modern designs usually automatically kill the lights when the ignition is turned off. 
   
   
2. Extreme weather conditions 
   
   When temperatures drop lower than your ex's heart, batteries tend to lose their mojo. Your BMW battery might be tough, but a brutal winter night can turn it into an electrical popsicle, draining all the energy or lowering it below what your starter requires.
   
   
3. Battery old enough to vote 
   
   If your battery has been powering your car since the 90s, it might be a good time for a replacement. In all seriousness though, most batteries last for about 3–5 years. After that,  they will need to be retired without a two weeks' notice.
   
   
4. Electrical system issues 
   
   In some instances, it might not be the battery's fault. Your alternator could be slacking off (or not working at all) or there could be some parasitic drain within the electrical system that's slowly siphoning your battery's life force. Power windows, automatic rear gate actuators, etc.; these are what could be taking the juice away.
   
   
5. You haven't driven in weeks 
   
   Been on vacation or working from home? Your BMW gets lonely when neglected, which could lead to it expressing its feelings and seeking your attention through a dead battery. Cars need exercise too, you know!

How to Jump-Start a BMW?

Now, let's focus on properly jump-starting your BMW. This is an area where precision matters, so pay close attention to the following instructions. BMWs feature sophisticated electronic systems that require careful handling during the jump start process. 

Following the correct procedure is essential not only to successfully restart your vehicle, but also to protect its sensitive electronics from potential damage. Incorrect jump-starting methods can lead to costly repairs, so it's worth taking the time to do it right.

Step 1: Locate Your Jump Start Points

Unlike many vehicles where you connect directly to the battery, many BMWs feature dedicated jump start terminals. For most of their models, you'll find the positive terminal under a red plastic cover marked by a "+" symbol in the engine bay. 

The negative terminal—or rather the ground point—should be located somewhere in the vicinity of the positive terminal. Usually, it will take the form of a metal bolt, sometimes with visible wiring going away from it. If you aren’t sure where to connect the jumper cables on your BMW, consult the user manual or try to find the exact instructions on the Internet. 

If your car has its battery hidden in the trunk, you'll still use the designated jump points under the hood. 

Step 2: Gather Your Equipment

For the jump-starting procedure, you'll need:

• Jumper cables 
• A donor vehicle with a functioning battery* 
• Protective gloves (optional but recommended)

*IMPORTANT! The donor vehicle should, preferably, have a more powerful battery. For example: a diesel car can be a donor for a gasoline one, but not the other way around, as you’ll risk exhausting the donor battery without starting the dead vehicle. 

Oh, and remember to keep the voltage the same! Don’t try to jump-start your 12-volt-battery car with a 24-volt-battery truck… unless you enjoy the smell of fried electronics.

Step 3: Position the Vehicles

Get the donor vehicle as close as possible to your BMW without creating a fender-bender situation, since you don't want to compound your battery problem with bodywork. The cars should be close enough for the jumper cables to reach comfortably, but they don’t have to be touching.

Make sure both vehicles are turned OFF. And yes, that means completely off – not accessory mode, not "I can still hear the fan running" off, but FULLY off. For extra safety, put both cars in a “Park” (or neutral in the case of manual transmissions) and engage their parking brakes. 

Step 4: Connect the Jumper Cables

Here comes the part where paying attention really matters. CAUTION! You should keep the clamps away from each other at all times and connect them to your battery in the exact order described below. Touching the clamps together or to the terminals at the wrong time will damage your car’s electrical system.

1. Securely connect the RED clamp to the POSITIVE (+) jump terminal in your BMW with a dead battery; make sure it’s attached firmly to the terminal
2. Connect the other RED clamp to the POSITIVE (+) terminal of the donor vehicle's battery.
3. Connect the BLACK clamp to the NEGATIVE (-) terminal of the donor vehicle's battery.
4. Connect the other BLACK clamp to the special grounding point in the dead BMW or some bare metal part away from the battery and moving parts. This is your ground connection.

What can make it all easier to remember is this little “rhyme”: red to dead, red to the donor, black to the donor, black to ground. Getting this wrong is kind of like mixing up the ingredients in a bomb recipe, though not as deadly (but still dangerous!).  

If you aren’t sure you’ll manage, call your roadside assistance or have your car towed to your dealership. You don’t have anything to prove to anyone and we’d rather you stayed safe to keep enjoying your bimmer ;)

Step 5: Start the Donor Vehicle

Start the donor vehicle and let it run for about 2–3 minutes. This allows some initial charge to flow to your BMW's battery. Think of it as giving your battery a motivational pep talk before asking it to perform.

Step 6: Start Your BMW

Now for the moment of truth – try to start your BMW. If the battery gods happen to be smiling upon you, your engine should fire up. If it doesn't start right away, don't panic. Wait another minute or two with the donor car still running, then try again. 

Once your BMW starts, leave it running to let the alternator recharge the battery! 

Step 7: Disconnect the Jumper Cables

The disconnection process is basically the reverse of how you connected them, but it's not just about going backward:

1. Remove the BLACK clamp from your BMW's ground point.
2. Remove the BLACK clamp from the donor vehicle's negative terminal.
3. Remove the RED clamp from the donor vehicle's positive terminal.
4. Finally, remove the RED clamp from your BMW's positive jump terminal.

This specific order helps prevent sparks from occurring near the battery.

Charging a BMW Battery – Dos and Don'ts

So you've successfully jump-started your BMW and you're feeling like an automotive wizard. Before you drive off into the sunset, remember that a jump start may be just a temporary fix – like putting a Band-Aid on a broken arm. To properly address the issue, you need to fully charge your battery or, if it's on its last legs, replace it entirely.

DO:

• Use a quality battery charger designed for modern vehicles
• Charge the battery fully (which can take several hours)
• Consider a BMW-specific charger that knows how to handle your car's sophisticated electrical system
• Keep your charger in the garage for future battery emergencies

DON'T:

• Assume a 10-minute drive will fully recharge your battery
• Use an ancient charger from your grandfather's workshop
• Overcharge the battery (though most modern chargers prevent this)
• Forget to check for underlying issues that might have caused the battery drain

Where Is the Battery on a BMW?

Ah, the million-dollar question! BMW, in their infinite wisdom and space-optimization efforts, have played a fun game of "hide the battery" across their various models. It's like an Easter egg hunt, except it's not Easter, there are no chocolates, and you're possibly stranded in a parking lot.

In many newer BMW models, the battery isn't under the hood where logic and tradition would place it. Instead, it might be:

• In the floor of the trunk (because why not?)
• Under the rear seat (surprise!)
• Under a special compartment in the engine bay (at least they tried)

This unusual battery placement actually serves a purpose beyond confusing mechanics and owners alike. It helps with weight distribution, provides more space under the hood for those twin-turbo goodies, and keeps the battery at a more stable temperature, which can extend its life. So while it might seem like BMW is just being difficult, they actually had your best interests at heart... sort of.

How to Charge BMW Battery?

When it's time to charge your BMW's battery directly, you have a few options, each with varying degrees of convenience and effectiveness:

Option 1: Traditional Battery Charger

If your battery is accessible, you can connect a traditional battery charger directly to it. Just make sure it's a quality charger with settings appropriate for your BMW's battery type (usually AGM or EFB in modern BMWs, not the standard lead-acid your dad used to use).

Option 2: Charging via the Jump Start Terminals

Don't want to disassemble half your car to access the hidden battery? Many BMW owners use the jump start terminals under the hood to connect their chargers. This works well and saves you from contorting yourself into positions that would impress a yoga instructor.

Option 3: BMW-Specific Chargers

For the BMW enthusiast who wants to do things "the right way," there are BMW-specific chargers designed to work with your vehicle's electrical system. These often connect through the OBD port or cigarette lighter and can maintain your battery without even opening the hood. They're like the first-class option of battery charging – more expensive, but with better service.

If All Else Fails, Change the Battery

Sometimes, despite your best efforts, your battery is simply ready for the great recycling bin in the sky. Most BMW batteries last 3–5 years, though this can vary based on your driving habits, climate, and whether you've installed that power-hungry after-market sound system that makes your car thump like a nightclub on wheels.

Replacing a BMW battery isn't just about swapping the old for new – these sophisticated vehicles require battery "registration" or "coding" to the vehicle's computer system. Skip this step, and your BMW might act like it's possessed, throwing error messages and behaving erratically despite the new battery. For the hands-on BMW owner, we offer professional-grade BMW Battery Registration Cables that allow you to complete the process yourself. These cables connect your vehicle to the appropriate software, enabling you to register the new battery to your BMW's computer system. It's the perfect solution for enthusiasts who enjoy maintaining their vehicles while ensuring factory-standard results. If you want to read more about the process — proceed here. 

Summary

Jump-starting a BMW might seem like a daunting task when you're standing in a dark parking lot with a dead battery. However, once you know how to do it, it's actually quite manageable. Just remember that:

• BMWs often have designated jump start points separate from the actual battery
• The correct connection sequence can mean the difference between success and a sad call to roadside assistance
• A jump start is just a temporary solution – proper charging or battery replacement is the long-term fix

Here’s to hoping that you won’t ever have to use these tips – but if you do, we’ll be rooting for you!