john318isau
03-29-2006, 10:08 PM
Most E30 owners have heard about problems with the batteries on the Service Interval (SI) board where batteries have leaked causing instrument problems but fortunately this doesn't effect some of our 318is's.
The problem is caused by the use of rechargable Ni-Cd batteries but of the 318is's I have seen all have used non-rechargable Li (Lithium) batteries which are not prone to leaking like the Ni-Cd's.
However, this means that the Lithium batteries will eventually require replacement as they have a limited lifespan (7 years was suggested but mine have been in there 15+ years). They can be replaced fairly easily if you are a handy with a soldering iron.
You can identify which batteries you have by looking for the words Ni-Cd/Ni-Cad/Nickel-Cadium or Li/Lithium on the batteries themselves.
For those that have Ni-Cd batteries, according to an electronics technician I discussed this with the Ni-Cd's leak because they are often being over-charged.
If you have had battery acid leak on the circuit board for a reasonable amount of time you can probably fix the board by cleaning it with circuit board cleaner and repairing any tracks that have been eaten away by the acid (with bits of wire soldered on to replace missing track), then protecting the circuit board with a circuit board lacquer. And of course you would need to change the Ni-Cd batteries. And you can't swap them for Lithium batteries as they are not rechargable.
The problem is caused by the use of rechargable Ni-Cd batteries but of the 318is's I have seen all have used non-rechargable Li (Lithium) batteries which are not prone to leaking like the Ni-Cd's.
However, this means that the Lithium batteries will eventually require replacement as they have a limited lifespan (7 years was suggested but mine have been in there 15+ years). They can be replaced fairly easily if you are a handy with a soldering iron.
You can identify which batteries you have by looking for the words Ni-Cd/Ni-Cad/Nickel-Cadium or Li/Lithium on the batteries themselves.
For those that have Ni-Cd batteries, according to an electronics technician I discussed this with the Ni-Cd's leak because they are often being over-charged.
If you have had battery acid leak on the circuit board for a reasonable amount of time you can probably fix the board by cleaning it with circuit board cleaner and repairing any tracks that have been eaten away by the acid (with bits of wire soldered on to replace missing track), then protecting the circuit board with a circuit board lacquer. And of course you would need to change the Ni-Cd batteries. And you can't swap them for Lithium batteries as they are not rechargable.