OV9

Interesting discussion. I will be exploring this soon once I have a drive as quite frankly I'm tired of cars bonging at me that they have low battery.

Equally I'm not going to be opening the bonnet of the 911 and removing the plastic coverings to get at the battery each time. Same for the RR which I believe has one under the boot floor and one in the side with jump posts in the engine bay.

Doesn't Harry M use the pigtails without issue and I thought had indicator lights showing SOC?

Alfa had posts under the bonnet - you had to use these for jump starting but the *recommendation* was to use the posts under the engine bay for charging as well.

Quick search shows that BMW also says to only using the posts due to IBS (battery sensor, not because it causes explosive bowel movements).

Matty wrote: Wed Mar 18, 2026 10:27 am Alfa had posts under the bonnet - you had to use these for jump starting but the *recommendation* was to use the posts under the engine bay for charging as well.

Quick search shows that BMW also says to only using the posts due to IBS (battery sensor, not because it causes explosive bowel movements).

That’s the general rule for cars with battery management, hence I’ve always followed it.

(Also the CTEKs with the led indicator which is always on will bong up a increased rate of battery discharge message on BMWs)

GG. wrote: Wed Mar 18, 2026 10:17 am Equally I'm not going to be opening the bonnet of the 911 and removing the plastic coverings to get at the battery each time.

That's why you fit the permanent extension lead - you run the end of it to somewhere convenient.

If an Intelligent Battery Sensor can't cope with a battery being charged, it's not very intelligent is it. However, that's a different question to using the jump start terminals near the engine; a CTEK only outputs a relatively small current and you want that to be as direct to the battery as possible rather than through the resistance of the car's body. I don't have an IBS on any of the cars I've attached permanent quick connectors to, but if you do then there should be a post near the battery to connect the black lead to.

It’s because you’re bypassing the sensor by charging directly. It’s why when you fit a new battery you code it. The car will relearn over say 30 mins without it but until then it could be charging a fully charged battery.

Mito Man wrote: Wed Mar 18, 2026 1:09 pm It’s because you’re bypassing the sensor by charging directly. It’s why when you fit a new battery you code it. The car will relearn over say 30 mins without it but until then it could be charging a fully charged battery.

Charging a fully charged battery - oh noes! Just like any car without an IBS then. It's a sensor, it senses the battery's current state of charge when the alternator isn't running. It can sense the battery's state of charge after it has been charged. There's a lot of guff spouted about an IBS but the fact is that on any 20yr old BMW it's probably not working properly anyway and stopping your car charging when it should.

A failing IBS will throw a code and a totally dead one will result in the car not even turning over as it assumes the battery is dead. So the majority of cars on the road which are running will have a healthy IBS. Even at 20 years old. They typically fail because people jump start them at the battery terminals bypassing the IBS…
And the car in my photo wasn’t even a BMW.

I've had a 2004 5-series which needed a replacement IBS and it still started and ran - it gave battery codes. And that was at ~7 years old. A healthy IBS is going to be a rare thing on any 10+yr old car.

Jobbo wrote: Wed Mar 18, 2026 4:37 pm I've had a 2004 5-series which needed a replacement IBS and it still started and ran - it gave battery codes. And that was at ~7 years old. A healthy IBS is going to be a rare thing on any 10+yr old car.

I ran the X5 without an IBS for about six months, after it failed and discharged the car leaving us stranded on the A303 because it was telling the alternator that the battery was fully charged so it disengaged. Can't say I noticed any difference in the fuel consumption!
The one that I took off was original and had a BMW part code on it and Rolls Royce branding.

2nd incident in 2mo near the airport this week. This time some muppet pulled a manoeuvre in front of me that meant I had to take avoiding action. I misjudged it though and clipped the osr wheel on a traffic island.

So I'm currently having 2 new rears fitted. The tyre didn't blow but the rim put a 5" gash in the inner lip of the tyre. Tracking after this which I needed to do anyway after the Jan incident. Then I need to see if the alloy is repairable. It's holding air and drives fine, but it's not pretty

Opted to ditch the PS5 for Vredestein Ultrac Pro. £114/tyre vs £180 for the PS5 and fingers crossed they don't drone like the Michelins. Was tempted to get all 4 done just so I can ditch the front pair tbh.

Run out to the Suffolk coast taking in the B1078/9, some great bits of road. Behind a Maserati which was making a sensational sound.

Had a weekend away with the wife, did some Epping Forest walks and then put in the evening.

The Lamborghini Urus has now lost all credibility as I saw about 10 walking back in the evening at 2am and they all looked and sounded shit. They are also all owned by Cape shop owners and Kebab shops.

In Epping I saw a Spectre outside a restaurant, it looked pretty incredible in the flesh till I remembered it had no engine and then all desire for one had gone.

The Clio did a mighty 44mpg cruising up and back again.

Dave!

Explosive Newt wrote: Sun Mar 22, 2026 11:27 am Run out to the Suffolk coast taking in the B1078/9, some great bits of road. Behind a Maserati which was making a sensational sound.

In a previous job, I commuted along the B1078 for a few years. It's good fun, if you don't get stuck behind traffic.

A1120 which runs north of the B1078 is also decent and often a little quieter.

Fucking bastards.

That's shit. Can't quite see from the picture, but can it be PDRd out or will it require a new bumper/panel?

Edit: looking closer, that's a tough ask to pull back to straight, I think.

DeskJockey wrote: Wed Mar 25, 2026 10:45 pm That's shit. Can't quite see from the picture, but can it be PDRd out or will it require a new bumper/panel?

Edit: looking closer, that's a tough ask to pull back to straight, I think.

The bumper is fine. Bit of sanding and a tiny bit of filler will sort that. It’s the arch that’s dented. Should be able to knock that out. I’ve had it to the body shop already. Both will need paint though. Awaiting quote.

Fucking annoying though.

scotta wrote: Wed Mar 25, 2026 10:38 pm Fucking bastards.

People are cunts. The end.

That’s very irritating - but at least it’s the BMW not the Alpine.

Simon wrote: Wed Mar 25, 2026 11:33 pm
People are cunts. The end.

That.

No way you do that damage and don’t notice.

Jobbo wrote: Thu Mar 26, 2026 6:07 am That’s very irritating - but at least it’s the BMW not the Alpine.

Yep. Luckily I had toyed with taking the alpine and decided not to.