BMW 61217586961 Battery, Manuf.: Exide (Warranty Only)

You can Select Your Vehicle to check if 61217586961 fits your vehicle.

Quick, reliable starting of one's vehicle necessitates a routine preventative maintenance program for the battery. Prior to performing any battery maintenance, make sure you have proper equipment for safe operation, such as face shield/safety goggles, rubber gloves, battery post/cable cleaner, treated felt washers and baking soda with petroleum jelly. A cover is placed over the battery in the rear of the car trunk. By turning the cover fasteners counterclockwise it will be released (CD). Precautions should be taken while servicing this battery such as turning off engine and all accessories and disconnecting cable from negative terminal (OK). Always remember that the hydrogen gas produced by a battery is flammable and explosive, so avoid sparks or matches near it (OK). Additionally, electrolyte contains poisonous corrosive sulfuric acid; hence wear protective safety glasses and keep it away from your eyes skin or clothes (CD). Inspect outside of battery for damage or loose connections. To clean corrosion present on the battery remove them by loosening cable clamp bolts; then slide them off terminals (PQ). Take care not to let solution enter into battery when cleaning cable clamps terminals and case with a warm water/baking soda solution (LMN), Make sure that hold-down clamp fasteners are tight and also ensure that tray needs no repair. After cleaning terminals apply some petroleum jelly to them to prevent future corrosion. Hold down components can have their corroded parts removed using a water/baking soda solution followed by rinsing with plain water, And any metal parts damaged by corrosion should be covered with zinc based primer & painted, Charging a vehicle's power supply is recommended instead of using traditional transformer-type charger in charging batteries; when charging batteries in general one is better off charging slowly at 1-2 amp rates since good charging rate would restore discharged batteries or even maintain charge in batteries of vehicles driven short distances, Avoid chargers rated at more than 1/10th the amp/hour rating of the battery, and be cautious with rapid boost charges that claim to restore battery power quickly, Usually a trickle charger will charge a battery in 12 to 16 hours.

Always disconnect the cable from the negative battery terminal first and hook it up last to avoid shorting the battery. The negative cable connector of the battery has an Intelligent Battery Sensor (IBS), so do not pry under it or attach any other ground wires to the negative cable end. Some systems on the vehicle require battery power to be available at all times, such as the alarm system, power door locks, or to maintain control unit memory. When the battery is disconnected, the power that maintains these systems is cut. Therefore, remove the key from the ignition and keep it with you to avoid it getting locked inside. Devices known as "memory-savers" can be used to avoid some of these problems. The typical memory saver is plugged into the cigarette lighter and is connected to a spare battery. Then the vehicle battery can be disconnected from the electrical system. To disconnect the battery, loosen the cable end bolt and disconnect the cable from the negative battery terminal. Isolate the cable end to prevent accidental contact with the battery terminal. After reconnecting the battery, several of the vehicle's electronic control modules will require time to relearn certain values. This will normally be complete within a normal driving pattern of 15 miles. In addition, several systems may require re-initialization. For the sunroof, press the sunroof operating switch into the tilt position and hold it there. Once the sunroof has reached the fully tilted position, hold the switch in that position for approximately 20 seconds. Initialization is complete when the sunroof briefly lifts at the rear again. For electric windows, operate the button to fully close the window, then continue to hold the button for at least 1 second to normalize the auto stop function.

Apply petroleum jelly to the cleaned terminals to prevent future corrosion.

Open the tailgate and lift out the rear floor panel, remove the fasteners and lift out the side panel, and rotate the fasteners counterclockwise to lift out the trim above the battery.

The battery is located beneath the cover on the right-hand side of the trunk.

To access the battery, it is necessary to remove and install it as outlined in the repair group.

It is important to replace the battery with one of equal or higher rating.

The power cables are routed in a protected area underneath the body of the vehicle.

Perform a parasitic draw test to detect excessive current flow from the battery when everything in the vehicle is shut down.

For the most accurate results, ensure the battery is fully charged.

The battery's voltage can be measured by connecting a digital voltmeter across the battery terminals.

To avoid shorting the battery.

BMW batteries are rated based on their Ah rating and CCA rating.

The most common method involves checking the specific gravity of the electrolyte with a hydrometer.

Using a low-current charger prevents overheating, which can damage the battery, especially during prolonged charging.

You should be cautious not to damage the intelligent battery sensor (IBS), which is attached to the ground cable.

Corrosion on hold-down components and surrounding areas can be removed with a solution of water and baking soda, followed by rinsing with plain water. Any metal parts damaged by corrosion should be covered with a zinc-based primer and painted.

Green signifies adequate charge, black indicates inadequate charge requiring a recharge, and yellow denotes a defective battery that needs replacement.

For power window regulator motors, a specific initialization process needs to be followed. This includes closing and opening the window completely multiple times while holding the switch in the appropriate direction. Additionally, the one-touch control, anti-trapping, and comfort functions should be checked.

Remove the key from the ignition and keep it with you to avoid it getting locked inside.

BMW batteries are rated by ampere hours (Ah) and cold cranking amps (CCA), which are listed on the battery.

Clean terminal posts and cable clamps with a wire brush, and wash away corrosion from the main chassis ground terminal next to the battery using a baking soda and water solution to neutralize acid.

Prolonged charging can lead to electrolyte evaporation, potentially damaging the battery. It is advisable to use a low-current charger of 6 amperes or less to avoid overheating.

Lift the battery from its housing, disconnecting the vent hose as the battery is removed.

A green color signifies adequate charge.

When replacing the battery, it is important to consult with a dealer parts department or auto parts store to ensure the correct battery is used. The necessary trim panels and battery cover should be removed, and the negative and positive battery terminals should be disconnected. The battery hold-down clamp should be removed and the battery should be lifted out, being cautious of its weight. The area under the battery should be inspected for corrosion and cleaned if necessary. The new battery should be installed, connecting the positive cable(s) first and the negative cable(s) last.