How to access hidden menu in Z4 (E89) ?

cuddapah · 08-14-2017, 10:04 PM

I am trying to find out if battery and alternator are ok in my 2011 BMW Z4 35i S-Drive. Does anybody know how to enter the hidden menu ? I saw several videos but not for E89. Appreciate any help.

NoQuarter · 08-15-2017, 12:16 AM

How about a real test of the battery at an auto store for free?

What is a voltage reading in the menu going to show you?

cuddapah · 08-15-2017, 09:11 AM

Convenience ... from what I understand the feature is already there.
From the videos I have seen, the hidden menu shows battery and alternator reading which greatly helps in determining issues with battery or alternator.

Quote:

Originally Posted by NoQuarter

How about a real test of the battery at an auto store for free?

What is a voltage reading in the menu going to show you?

Lurcher · 08-15-2017, 09:13 AM

Start test with car not cranked = shows current battery voltage. Start car, see if voltage changes. If you rev it up and no/minimum voltage change = good indicator of alt issues. Still could be a very dead batter, have seen that before - but a good starting point

This will be a more common question though, as we are getting to the OEM battery end of life window for these cars. Just did mine 2 months ago after it was dead after our vacation. After 5.3 years, I'm good with loosing a little battery "life" vs getting stranded.

Process should be the same for the 3 series - of which there are plenty of videos for.

cuddapah · 08-15-2017, 01:03 PM

Thanks ! I decided to pickup a voltmeter and went to O'Reilly Auto Parts. They have a free check up. So I requested their associate to test battery and alternator. He noticed that the positive cable is very loose and that might be causing issue. Tests turned out to be ok. So it might be just that cable. I might have let is loose when I replaced battery last year. He tightened it and when I got home, I saw a message that battery charge is very low. I am charging it now. I did pickup a voltmeter. Thanks for your suggestion

Quote:

Originally Posted by NoQuarter

How about a real test of the battery at an auto store for free?

What is a voltage reading in the menu going to show you?

08-14-2017, 10:04 PM	#1
cuddapah First Lieutenant 41 Rep 312 Posts Drives: 2011 BMW Z4 sDrive 35i Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Jacksonville, FL iTrader: (0)	How to access hidden menu in Z4 (E89) ? I am trying to find out if battery and alternator are ok in my 2011 BMW Z4 35i S-Drive. Does anybody know how to enter the hidden menu ? I saw several videos but not for E89. Appreciate any help.
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08-15-2017, 12:16 AM	#2
NoQuarter Captain 164 Rep 906 Posts Drives: 2008 535xi / 2011 Z4 35Is Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Indiana iTrader: (0) Garage List 2018 BMW X2 [0.00] 2008 535xi [0.00] 2011 Z4 35is [0.00]	How about a real test of the battery at an auto store for free? What is a voltage reading in the menu going to show you?
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08-15-2017, 09:13 AM	#4
Lurcher Captain 75 Rep 679 Posts Drives: 2012 z4 Join Date: May 2013 Location: Buford, GA (right side of ATL) iTrader: (0)	Start test with car not cranked = shows current battery voltage. Start car, see if voltage changes. If you rev it up and no/minimum voltage change = good indicator of alt issues. Still could be a very dead batter, have seen that before - but a good starting point This will be a more common question though, as we are getting to the OEM battery end of life window for these cars. Just did mine 2 months ago after it was dead after our vacation. After 5.3 years, I'm good with loosing a little battery "life" vs getting stranded. Process should be the same for the 3 series - of which there are plenty of videos for.
	Appreciate 0 Quote