Odd starting problem

[Frenchbeemer]

I'm being driven mad by a starting problem on an '03 with just over 20,000 miles. The original battery was replaced recently with an OE pattern because starting was becoming hard unless the bike was left on charge.

Almost straight away the same symptoms re-appeared - starter will not turn the engine over if left off charge for 12 hours. I cleaned the battery and starter motor terminals and cured the problem - for a few days!

The headlight is bright, but then the starter drags, the lights dim and the familiar clicking starts. Putting it straight back on charge there doesn't seem to be a great deal of charge going back in.

I found corrosion in the charge socket and cleaned that; I pulled the fuse for the clock, no change.

I'm thinking of taking the battery to a garage for testing (battery bought in England, bike in France so can't go to the supplier) and also cleaning all the terminals again but wondered if there was any history of, for example, poor earthing for the starter or premature failure.

Any advice most gratefully received as its summer here in South-west France and I have to get out again soon!

[brico]

Battery 101%

I just went through 4 days of major hassle trying to figure out what the problem is. Thought it is the starter, starter rely, short circuit on some wire, etc, etc. In the end it was the battery. Just bought a new one ($89) this morning and I am back riding my bike. I charged my old one until the charger had steady green light. Showing 13.6 V charged. The moment I would turn the key, voltage would drop and starer relay and some others would start chirping / buzzing that confused the s..t out of me. This afternoon i was on my bike with a wide grin on my face. Lesson learned.....

[Frenchbeemer]

Many thanks Brico. I eventually found the time to remove the battery and take it for testing - and sure enough it's on its way out despite being almost new.
The mail order supplier in England is being helpful, but posting batteries to and from France is expensive. With any luck I'll be mobile again soon, but I'm going to order their jump start attachment as well - the sound of a struggling starter motor 50 miles from home will stay with me for a long time!

[riceburner]

To be honest - things like this are what makes me buy OE. You KNOW the part has been specified for the bike and also, with BMW, you can get one virtually anywhere!

[Frenchbeemer]

But what was really annoying is that the part was OE! A bulk buy from BMW by the well-known UK mail order company apparently. The old one is on its way back to BMW UK for examination... Unfortunately the battery was bought when I was in England, otherwise I could have just dropped it off at BMW Cognac just down the road.

[sweatmark]

To be honest - things like this are what makes me buy OE. You KNOW the part has been specified for the bike and also, with BMW, you can get one virtually anywhere!

After experiencing an early failure for an Odyssey AGM battery, I chose the OE route. Had purchased two Odyssey batteries back when we had two R1150Rs: one failed after a month (the 2nd was flawless) and seller would not warranty. BMW was $20 more expensive at that time and used same sealed technology, so I went with OE to ensure performance warranty would be honored.