help with x-mas gift (trickle charger)

[mamzak]

Hey, I'm looking for a trickle charger for my Uncle's M5.

He leaves and goes on business quite often and his car ends up sitting for sometimes months at a time and has had battery problems in the past because of that.

Does BMW make a trickle charger? Or what would my best option be for ease of use? He's not at all mechanically inclined so I was thinking maybe there are some that you can basically install permanently and then just clip onto when you want to plug it in? Anyone have any experience with trickle chargers?

[Mr. Tasty]

well, if he isn't using it for months, he should just give it to me

[redsubdivisions]

Yes, BMW makes one. Part number 82-11-0-406-881.

[wikkid]

Battery Tender, or Battery Tender Jr.
Junior is cheaper, probably fine for long term maintenance.
It goes into "float" mode when battery is fully charged, so it can stay attached for long periods w/ no prob.
You can leave the lead attached to the battery leads permanently; there's a 2-prong RV-type connector plug that unplugs the cord from the leads.
Cheapest I've seen one in a while: http://www.jafrum.com/Accessories/Ba...FUQw4AodNC8AOQ
I have 2 for bikes, but I have used one on a car battery w/ no prob's, especially if it's just to keep it topped up long term.

[sagenev63]

Harbor Freight has one on sale.

http://www.harborfreight.com/automatic-battery-float-charger-42292.html

Emil

[36brua]

+1 for battery tender good product

[mamzak]

Wow that tender got really good reviews.

Any idea what style the BMW one is? Can you attach it permanently? I just know if it isn't super easy to use he probably won't use it.

[blunttech]

BMW unit is 55 bucks and no better than a schumacher or battery tender jr .. I have 8 schumachers and they are great .. Cheap on Amazon

[Sailor37]

+1 for battery tender good product

+2

[Farbin Kaiber]

+3

[e30lov]

Will that battery tender jr charge a dead battery? Or is it a glorified version of the much cheaper harbor freight one that only tops up a fully charged battery