Info please

[John Thompson]

Hi guys,
I have what seems to be a tiny little warning triangle on my dash that wont go away, its in the info panel between speedo and rev counter just to the right of the gear position indicator. I got a low battery warning with the pic of the car up on a ramp when I went out to run it to keep some energy in the battery, the car still started without problem so I took it on a 35mile run and now there is no low battery warning. I get to drive the car so infrequently these days that I cant recall seeing it.
I will have had the car for a year on the 29th of this month and have covered just 859 miles in that period, 430 of which was the drive home from the dealer. It had a full service and mot when I bought it.
Its a 2010 E89 35I twin turbo with 41329 miles on the clock.
Can anyone tell me if I have anything serious to worry about?
Thanks in advance

 

[Ianmc]

Don't know about the Z4, but is it the light indicating a brake fluid change required? It is small and round on the Z3.

 

[John Thompson]

Don't know about the Z4, but is it the light indicating a brake fluid change required? It is small and round on the Z3.

Ah ok thanks, how are you suppose to know? Would a decent generic scanner/reset tool tell me?

 

[Ianmc]

Ah ok thanks, how are you suppose to know? Would a decent generic scanner/reset tool tell me?

Warning lights are normally included in the cars handbook.

 

[John Thompson]

Warning lights are normally included in the cars handbook.

I'm such a fanny at times, I never even thought to look in there!! I think I'm losing my marbles
Thanks again, all I have to do now is find it

 

[Ianmc]

No worries, hope it's there.

 

[Redline]

That isn't many miles over the year. You've a large engine that's going to take some energy to start it, so doing so few miles and especially if they are short journeys you're going to run the battery down.

Also, the electronics in a car are going to continuously drain the battery, even when the car is switched off, so, on top of the starting, the battery is never going to get charged back up.

35 miles will barely put back what you've taken out of it to start it.
I'd suggest getting a decent intelligent charger on it, firstly to get some charge back into the battery (thats likely to take 6-10 hours) and then keep it connected if you can to keep the battery fully charged.

The little triangle indicates that warning messages have been stored. I haven't seen this on my wife's E89. This is from an US drivers manual, but I suspect it is likely to be the same on your car.

 

[John Thompson]

That isn't many miles over the year. You've a large engine that's going to take some energy to start it, so doing so few miles and especially if they are short journeys you're going to run the battery down.

Also, the electronics in a car are going to continuously drain the battery, even when the car is switched off, so, on top of the starting, the battery is never going to get charged back up.

35 miles will barely put back what you've taken out of it to start it.
I'd suggest getting a decent intelligent charger on it, firstly to get some charge back into the battery (thats likely to take 6-10 hours) and then keep it connected if you can to keep the battery fully charged.

The little triangle indicates that warning messages have been stored. I haven't seen this on my wife's E89. This is from an US drivers manual, but I suspect it is likely to be the same on your car.

View attachment 79648

What you say makes a lot of sense, I never even thought to interrogate the vehicle status program, turns out that it's a reminder that it's close to mot time, I'm so relieved. Thanks to everyone who answered me, I owe you all a debt of gratitude, I hope I get the chance to turn that debt of gratitude into the refreshing beverage of your choice

 

[John Thompson]

That isn't many miles over the year. You've a large engine that's going to take some energy to start it, so doing so few miles and especially if they are short journeys you're going to run the battery down.

Also, the electronics in a car are going to continuously drain the battery, even when the car is switched off, so, on top of the starting, the battery is never going to get charged back up.

35 miles will barely put back what you've taken out of it to start it.
I'd suggest getting a decent intelligent charger on it, firstly to get some charge back into the battery (thats likely to take 6-10 hours) and then keep it connected if you can to keep the battery fully charged.

The little triangle indicates that warning messages have been stored. I haven't seen this on my wife's E89. This is from an US drivers manual, but I suspect it is likely to be the same on your car.

View attachment 79648

An intelligent charger would be a good idea however it's not easy when you live in an apartment block, but hopefully this time in august I will have the keys to a bungalow close to Fort William just off the north west 500 route, only thin is is proving very desirable property with fantastic views and no neighbours for about half mile, but I'm going all in to buy it

 

[Redline]

An intelligent charger would be a good idea however it's not easy when you live in an apartment block, but hopefully this time in august I will have the keys to a bungalow close to Fort William just off the north west 500 route, only thin is is proving very desirable property with fantastic views and no neighbours for about half mile, but I'm going all in to buy it

Sounds idyllic. Sadly, great views come at a premium cost. Hope you get the place for yourself.

 

[John Thompson]

Sounds idyllic. Sadly, great views come at a premium cost. Hope you get the place for yourself.

Thank you so much, you never know you may do the new 500 and you could call in for tea and cake, all welcome

 

[Redline]

Thank you so much, you never know you may do the new 500 and you could call in for tea and cake, all welcome

We're planning to. Will have lots of free time to enjoy it at our leisure next year if all goes to plan.

 

[John Thompson]

We're planning to. Will have lots of free time to enjoy it at our leisure next year if all goes to plan.

It's an epic journey and the bungalow I'm after is in argyle between oban and fort William and it's right on the route so seriously if I get the house you must call an for a wee coffee break, I should know whether I get the house by the end of July, if I'm not lucky enough to get this one I am defiantly done with Glasgow so I will be moving to the Highlands somewhere

 

[Sean d]

It's an epic journey and the bungalow I'm after is in argyle between oban and fort William and it's right on the route so seriously if I get the house you must call an for a wee coffee break, I should know whether I get the house by the end of July, if I'm not lucky enough to get this one I am defiantly done with Glasgow so I will be moving to the Highlands somewhere

Good luck with the house John, sounds idyllic, I live in the sticks and would never change that.

 

[John Thompson]

Good luck with the house John, sounds idyllic, I live in the sticks and would never change that.

Thanks very much Sean, being on the NW500 route is a big bonus for me, I might even buy myself an electric mountain bike

 

[John Thompson]

Thanks very much Sean, being on the NW500 route is a big bonus for me, I might even buy myself an electric mountain bike

That was supposed to be a thank you not a funny

 

[Sean d]

Thanks very much Sean, being on the NW500 route is a big bonus for me, I might even buy myself an electric mountain bike

Now thats handy as my wife and I are hoping to do the 500 next year in the 2.8

 

[John Thompson]

Now thats handy as my wife and I are hoping to do the 500 next year in the 2.8

Some truly epic roads with vistas to match