New battery leaking; Thank U, Sears! - BMW Forum

Eric S. · 06-12-2006, 08:15 PM

Was looking inside my spare tire area today for the first time in a couple months and noticed a bunch of debris and stuff. Closer inspection revealed that my recently-purchased battery is leaking, because the aft hold-down is completely covered in white corrosion and the forward one isn't far behind! What looked like rubber plugs were eaten up, no doubt by battery acid.

So I rinsed the area with running water from a garden hose, and then added a few tablespoons of Arm & Hammer to a 16oz bottled water and poured it all over the contacts and hold-downs.

So WTF? Anyone else have this problem recently, after adding Konis/H&R's? My OEM battery functioned fine for 7 years. I bought this Sears P.O.S. battery in October 2005, so I wasn't expecting it to go belly up yet. Does the newly firmer suspension have something to do with it?

Teh Prof · 06-12-2006, 09:28 PM

Did you attach the vent hose properly?

Optima batteries ftw. They are sealed, no leaks, ever.

Eric S. · 06-12-2006, 09:49 PM

No, I paid SEARS $30 to install the battery (at least double their normal installation charge) because of the battery's location, and so it was SEARS who never hooked up the vent line. Probably because on the P.O.S. Sears battery the vent is located too far away from the stock vent hose.

I paid Sears instead of installing it myself because the OE battery died at a most inconvenient time and so I stopped by Sears on my way to work and had them replace the battery.

I rigged up a short jumper hose tonight to connect to the stock hose. I also washed everything down with baking soda/water and then dried everything off. I then got out my zinc/galvanizing paint a painted the battery hold-down plate, which appears to have taken the brunt of it.

Bastards. There's another battle I have to go fight, as if I didn't have enough crap to wade through at work...

Eric S. · 06-12-2006, 10:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by M3UOND

Did you attach the vent hose properly?

Optima batteries ftw. They are sealed, no leaks, ever.

Which Optima P/N did you get? Do you have an E39? If not, does your car take the same battery? I am ready to TOSS the POS Sears batt out the window and get an Optima. It may be too late as the corrosion process has already gotten a jump start back there....

CosmosBlack · 06-12-2006, 11:00 PM

I use Interstate and they have never given me any problems.
Costs me about $85

LOS · 06-13-2006, 08:44 AM

I just checked my bat since I replaced it 3 months ago. I used "Duralast", $65. No problem so far!

LOS

wesmyth · 06-13-2006, 08:53 AM

Once you get all your corrision fixed you might want to get a battery mat. Just a suggestion.

Teh Prof · 06-13-2006, 12:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eric S.

Which Optima P/N did you get? Do you have an E39? If not, does your car take the same battery? I am ready to TOSS the POS Sears batt out the window and get an Optima. It may be too late as the corrosion process has already gotten a jump start back there....

I don't remember what Optima I bought; it was a yellow top. It doesn't fit properly in my E36; I had to jerry rig a custom mount for it with some wood, but it doesn't move anywhere. I don't know that Optima makes any batteries that fit BMW's perfectly, but the nice thing about having all that room in the sidewall of an E39 is that you have some space to work with (I used to have an E39).

Eric S. · 06-13-2006, 07:47 PM

I went to Sears today, and asked to talk to the manager. I was told they currently HAVE no manager of Automotive and so I had to talk to the senior guy there, Jerome. At least Jerome has an E39, complete with some CHROME rims. I was very businesslike and respectful to Jerome and explained that I wanted a proper vent hose installed AND I wanted Sears to pay for a professional paint shop to treat/repair the now-rusting sections of my battery/trunk area.

After taking my car to the back to inspect it, Jerome emerged, explaining that he'd installed the vent hose, but that he saw corrosion above the battery, which would rule out the battery as the cause. When I asked him to point it out to me, I explained that what he saw was the white residue of my water/baking soda mixture splashing everywhere.

At a Mexican stand-off at that point, Jerome gave me "Mike's" phone number. Mike is their "loss prevention" guy. It's a job I once had at my previous company, so I think I can effectively explain my case to Mike. I'll re-post once I see how that goes. I took some photos tonight of the mess and of the massive rust stains in my driveway and on my garage floor. Will post later.

Eric S. · 06-13-2006, 10:15 PM

Here are some photos post-cleanup. This is basically what the Sears guy saw today. It looked much worse last night when I discovered the problem. As you can see from the rust stains on the driveway and in the garage, that baking soda mix that I poured in there washed a LOT of the corrosion away...

CosmosBlack · 06-13-2006, 10:53 PM

That's bad, I'd be mad too. I hope they settle the dispute and fix your car for you.

325isBaby · 06-13-2006, 11:20 PM

dude that sucks, I really hope sears will make it right with you...that's just not right!

thejobman · 06-16-2006, 11:56 AM

I got that same battery for my car last week from sears as well. (see my prev post)

It came with an extension vent hose tube w/ and an adapter, but the incompetent Sears personnel probably discarded it. Retards. That is why I try to do my own work, when possible.

Hope they make things right for you...