Rubber hose behind battery in Z4MC

gferil · 08-04-2011, 12:20 AM

I was changing out the battery this evening since I found out that my coupe still had the original battery from 5 years ago and it was causing low voltage errors...anyways, I noticed there was this grey rubber tube that seemed to be connected to nothing (see attached photo circled in red). Any ideas what that is or if I need to connect it to anything?

Thanks,
Gernard

santov · 08-04-2011, 12:46 AM

Isn't that the drain tube if the battery should leak? The acid won't eat the trunk, it will eat the suspension.

On my 3.0si it's pretty obvious it's a drain tube. It's a little tough to tell from this pic. Search around I think RoffleWaffle had some battery alternatives. Low voltages can wreak havoc on BMWs. Eventually you'll get stuck in "tow mode" and your AC and other accessories won't work. You'll need the dealer to reset tow mode.

MFGJR · 08-04-2011, 05:31 AM

That's the vent tube that connects to the nipple on top of the battery case. Don't want the battery venting into cabin...

esqu1re · 08-04-2011, 08:02 AM

^ It vents hydrogen expulsions from the battery away from the cabin. On normal cars, the battery sit in the engine bay, so it vents directly to the outside (not cabin) already . . .

gferil · 08-04-2011, 09:49 AM

Santov, yeah the low voltage was causing the auto up and auto down on my windows to not work, and was messing with my trunk release a bit. The new battery is in and so far no issues from the 40 miles I test drove last night.

I replaced the battery with an OEM battery but didn't see a place to connect the tube, anyone have a picture that shows the location?

08-04-2011, 12:20 AM	#1
gferil Captain 30 Rep 740 Posts Drives: 06 Z4MC Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: San Francisco, CA iTrader: (6)	Rubber hose behind battery in Z4MC I was changing out the battery this evening since I found out that my coupe still had the original battery from 5 years ago and it was causing low voltage errors...anyways, I noticed there was this grey rubber tube that seemed to be connected to nothing (see attached photo circled in red). Any ideas what that is or if I need to connect it to anything? Thanks, Gernard Attached Images
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08-04-2011, 12:46 AM	#2
santov Lieutenant 64 Rep 483 Posts Drives: 2007 Z4 3.0si White over Beige Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Bay Area, Calif iTrader: (8)	Isn't that the drain tube if the battery should leak? The acid won't eat the trunk, it will eat the suspension. On my 3.0si it's pretty obvious it's a drain tube. It's a little tough to tell from this pic. Search around I think RoffleWaffle had some battery alternatives. Low voltages can wreak havoc on BMWs. Eventually you'll get stuck in "tow mode" and your AC and other accessories won't work. You'll need the dealer to reset tow mode.
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08-04-2011, 05:31 AM	#3
MFGJR First Lieutenant 27 Rep 341 Posts Drives: 2007 Z4 M Coupe Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Richmond, VA iTrader: (0)	That's the vent tube that connects to the nipple on top of the battery case. Don't want the battery venting into cabin...
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08-04-2011, 08:02 AM	#4
esqu1re Lieutenant Colonel 44 Rep 1,855 Posts Drives: M Coupe Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: East Coast iTrader: (0)	^ It vents hydrogen expulsions from the battery away from the cabin. On normal cars, the battery sit in the engine bay, so it vents directly to the outside (not cabin) already . . . __________________ ///M Coupe: RPI Scoop, OE Strut, CDV, Volk RE30, SS Brake Lines, Stromung Exhaust
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08-04-2011, 09:49 AM	#5
gferil Captain 30 Rep 740 Posts Drives: 06 Z4MC Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: San Francisco, CA iTrader: (6)	Santov, yeah the low voltage was causing the auto up and auto down on my windows to not work, and was messing with my trunk release a bit. The new battery is in and so far no issues from the 40 miles I test drove last night. I replaced the battery with an OEM battery but didn't see a place to connect the tube, anyone have a picture that shows the location?
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