Noob (battery inquiry)

westy1717 · 01-14-2013, 05:45 AM

Hi folks,

I posted awhile back and since I pulled the trigger on a very gently used 800GS in the extra fast Dark Magnesium Metallic, have a quesiton.

2009 20,000KMs

I bought the bike used from the PO who bought it at BMW. The bike is still under factory warranty until April.

When I started it and test rode it, I noticed the battery seemed a little weak (bike had been sitting for a number of months) and knew that it would likely have to be charged or replaced (Im ok with that).

I removed the battery charged it up with other day (1.5 amp) and then let it sit for a day. My apologies if this has been answered a hundred times in other threads but figured Id ask here.

The resting voltage is 12.3.

Battery is pooched right?

I would guess batteries aren't normally covered under warranty - am I wrong?

Appreciate all responses.

lakota · 01-14-2013, 05:47 AM

If that's the original battery it's time for a new one. And you get to pay for it unfortunately

BcDano · 01-14-2013, 05:55 AM

I wouldn't say the battery is done, but the bike being a 2009 the battery is coming to the end of it's life for sure. Do not buy an OEM unit as there are many other better options available. Welcome and nice ride.

ebrabaek · 01-14-2013, 06:07 AM

Yes... at 13.2 battery is dead.... Or just about there. To make sure your charging system is ok... have a look here....

http://advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=809879

And if it is not..... Here is how to fix the R/R with a workable one....

http://advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=781564

westy1717 · 01-14-2013, 06:32 AM

Thanks folks. I figure if I really needed to I could get a little more life out of the battery - but being stranded isn't worth the $70. Ill head over to Carquest and see what they've got for batteries.

Reaver · 01-14-2013, 06:43 PM

Well I hate to contradict, but I've replaced a hundred batteries on warranty. Depends on your Dealer but if it is still under warranty then argue the point. No skin off the Dealer.

Myself, I'm set to order a Deka from http://www.saskbattery.com/ecommerce_177.htm . Says free shipping. Do a search here on Deka. Seems to be a wise choice. Uh, wal mart sells batteries for our bikes. Just sayin'. Deka's better and cheaper tho.

RandoCommando · 01-14-2013, 06:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Reaver

Well I hate to contradict, but I've replaced a hundred batteries on warranty. Depends on your Dealer but if it is still under warranty then argue the point. No skin off the Dealer.

Myself, I'm set to order a Deka from http://www.saskbattery.com/ecommerce_177.htm . Says free shipping. Do a search here on Deka. Seems to be a wise choice. Uh, wal mart sells batteries for our bikes. Just sayin'. Deka's better and cheaper tho.

I think that Deka battery is cheaper on Amazon with free shipping.

Reaver · 01-15-2013, 02:49 AM

Maybe if we were Merkin.

westy1717 · 01-15-2013, 07:46 AM

Thanks guys - appreciate it.

Ceri JC · 01-16-2013, 08:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Reaver

Well I hate to contradict, but I've replaced a hundred batteries on warranty. Depends on your Dealer but if it is still under warranty then argue the point. No skin off the Dealer.

Yup. Now, I will say, that in most bikes' warranties, in most countries, the dealer is perfectly entitled to tell you where to go, as in the small print batteries are considered 'consumables'.

Depends on the usage of the bike and the amount of lapsed time though; I'd be laughing all the way to the small claims court if I rode a brand new bike out of a dealership and the next morning, it wouldn't start and the dealer tried to get out of paying for the new battery necessary to fix the problem. Conversely, even the most mild-mannered dealer would have to bite their lip extremely hard if a customer brought in a bike 1 day before a 2 year warranty was up and asked for a new battery and then upon checking their mileage saw it was only in the hundreds.

In between, there's a whole spectrum of grey and a lot of it comes down to customer service and how much they value you as a customer. Me personally? If you'd bought the bike not from me, but from one of my customers and the battery had been in the bike for almost 4 years, this is not something I'd do under warranty.

Reaver · 01-16-2013, 08:56 AM

Yep, agree with you Ceri CJ. In this case tho, the OP is close to me and we have a number of Dealers we can visit on a good riding day. It is not recorded that you "tried" to claim warranty so ask and ask again. Having worked at a Dealer for 3 years I was involved in many warranty claims and quite a few weren't "warranted" but we pleased the customer regardless. The Dealer doesn't assume the cost, it's passed on to the Fatherland and the Dealer makes a bit on labour. It's all about economics. Part of your purchase price covers warranty and recall, kinda like insurance. It's faster and cheaper to just do it rather than spend everyone's time arguing about it. BMW's batteries are a known problem. "Good Faith" warranty. I've replaced batteries that I just could not fault. They may or may not have gone on to start my mowers for years after.

"Hey, I just bought this bike and am looking for new gear, accessories and future service. Can you have a look at my battery? It seems bad to me"

Us Canucks are just so friendly!

01-14-2013, 05:45 AM	#1
westy1717 ^OP Adventurer Joined: Dec 2012 Location: CANADA Oddometer: 15	Noob (battery inquiry) Hi folks, I posted awhile back and since I pulled the trigger on a very gently used 800GS in the extra fast Dark Magnesium Metallic, have a quesiton. 2009 20,000KMs I bought the bike used from the PO who bought it at BMW. The bike is still under factory warranty until April. When I started it and test rode it, I noticed the battery seemed a little weak (bike had been sitting for a number of months) and knew that it would likely have to be charged or replaced (Im ok with that). I removed the battery charged it up with other day (1.5 amp) and then let it sit for a day. My apologies if this has been answered a hundred times in other threads but figured Id ask here. The resting voltage is 12.3. Battery is pooched right? I would guess batteries aren't normally covered under warranty - am I wrong? Appreciate all responses.

01-14-2013, 05:47 AM	#2
lakota Geeser Joined: Jan 2007 Location: Annapolis MD Oddometer: 2,169	If that's the original battery it's time for a new one. And you get to pay for it unfortunately __________________ IBA #42016 CDR 2012 Nova Scotia 2011 Taking Molly to Atlantis Labador Newfoundland Nova Scotia 2010 Trail of an Assassin Alaska 2009 follow the ride on spot

01-14-2013, 05:55 AM	#3
BcDano One Lucky Dude Joined: Nov 2010 Location: On the Road!! Oddometer: 237	Weak for sure I wouldn't say the battery is done, but the bike being a 2009 the battery is coming to the end of it's life for sure. Do not buy an OEM unit as there are many other better options available. Welcome and nice ride. __________________ 09 F800GS www.worldwideride.ca ADV RR Finding Freedom...World Wide Ride

01-14-2013, 06:07 AM	#4
ebrabaek Beastly Adventurer Joined: Jan 2010 Location: El Paso,NM Oddometer: 2,829	Yes... at 13.2 battery is dead.... Or just about there. To make sure your charging system is ok... have a look here.... http://advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=809879 And if it is not..... Here is how to fix the R/R with a workable one.... http://advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=781564 __________________ Erling

01-14-2013, 06:43 PM	#6
Reaver Amusing Myself Again Joined: Aug 2008 Location: In Transition, Ontario Oddometer: 553	Well I hate to contradict, but I've replaced a hundred batteries on warranty. Depends on your Dealer but if it is still under warranty then argue the point. No skin off the Dealer. Myself, I'm set to order a Deka from http://www.saskbattery.com/ecommerce_177.htm . Says free shipping. Do a search here on Deka. Seems to be a wise choice. Uh, wal mart sells batteries for our bikes. Just sayin'. Deka's better and cheaper tho. __________________ Life is a rollercoaster........and I'm not strapped in!

01-14-2013, 06:32 AM	#5
westy1717 ^OP Adventurer Joined: Dec 2012 Location: CANADA Oddometer: 15	Thanks folks. I figure if I really needed to I could get a little more life out of the battery - but being stranded isn't worth the $70. Ill head over to Carquest and see what they've got for batteries.

01-15-2013, 02:49 AM	#8
Reaver Amusing Myself Again Joined: Aug 2008 Location: In Transition, Ontario Oddometer: 553	Maybe if we were Merkin. __________________ Life is a rollercoaster........and I'm not strapped in!

01-15-2013, 07:46 AM	#9
westy1717 ^OP Adventurer Joined: Dec 2012 Location: CANADA Oddometer: 15	Thanks guys - appreciate it.

01-16-2013, 08:56 AM	#11
Reaver Amusing Myself Again Joined: Aug 2008 Location: In Transition, Ontario Oddometer: 553	Yep, agree with you Ceri CJ. In this case tho, the OP is close to me and we have a number of Dealers we can visit on a good riding day. It is not recorded that you "tried" to claim warranty so ask and ask again. Having worked at a Dealer for 3 years I was involved in many warranty claims and quite a few weren't "warranted" but we pleased the customer regardless. The Dealer doesn't assume the cost, it's passed on to the Fatherland and the Dealer makes a bit on labour. It's all about economics. Part of your purchase price covers warranty and recall, kinda like insurance. It's faster and cheaper to just do it rather than spend everyone's time arguing about it. BMW's batteries are a known problem. "Good Faith" warranty. I've replaced batteries that I just could not fault. They may or may not have gone on to start my mowers for years after. "Hey, I just bought this bike and am looking for new gear, accessories and future service. Can you have a look at my battery? It seems bad to me" Us Canucks are just so friendly! __________________ Life is a rollercoaster........and I'm not strapped in!

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