girl needs advice???

[annapiret]

Hi!Maybe someone can give me advice.... My car didn't start today!!! I didn't drive it for few days and it was really rainy out side. Today when I wanted to drive it I couldn't even open the doors w/keys. First, the signal didn't go off and when I entered in with key, the alarm went off. Then, the card din't started. I thought first that being a key problem, seemed that the car doesn't recognize key but I tried my second key and it still didn't work? Any advice?
Should I go to mechanic - what's the estimated cost?

 

[Big Daddy]

Is the battery dead or low? What happend when you turned the key, did it make any noise?

 

[annapiret]

Girl needs help???

Thanks for replaying! Yes it makes just very light nose when I turn the key - not really engin noise but more like the starter. I can't remember if I said that already but I tryed jump starting and it didn't work

 

[Big Daddy]

If it made a click click sound it means the battery lacks the charge to engage the bendix. Try charging the battery overnight.

 

[annapiret]

do you think it's better if i just buy a new one

 

[annapiret]

Actually, my car is 1999 is it normal that the battary dies?

 

[CaveDweller]

If it's the original battery, then that is nost likely the problem. Six years is a pretty long time for a battery.

 

[Big Daddy]

I had the factory batter in my 318is last ten plus years, but CaveDweller is correct the average battery life is three to five years. Buy a new one!

 

[tbbimmer01]

I think both caveDweller and Big Daddy are right also, but if it still didn't start after she tryed to jump it couldn't that mean something else. Isn't it true that you can jump start a car with a bad battery. It might be smart to try other things before you buy un-needed parts.

 

[Wadula]

well then give her an advice, I might say. Are you in AAA or any other "club"? most of them offer support in these situations. some even help you w/o being a member. call them, sign the membership and he starts working on the car. or get a friend who is a member. he can have the service man come over.

 

[bmwrocks]

If you have the knowhow, or know someone who knows how, take the battery out and bring it down to your local battery store or auto parts chain store, both which will check your battery condition for free.

If they determine your battery is bad, get a replacement and see if that fixes the problem.

Six years is rediculously long for a battery to last and Big Daddy's ten+ year battery must have come from another planet with non-carbon based life forms.

 

[jammer]

I still have the original battery in my 98, production date of 11-97. One of the tech writers for Roundel or Bimmer said the oem batteries were the best and could last up to ten years. He also stated that the BMW replacement batteries were not as good.