Exploding Car Battery
 

I'd been having what i though was a starter motor problem. Its all came to ahead when I turned the ignition and BANG as loud as a shotgun. Smoke pouring from the vents behind the rear head rests. Opened the boot expecting a fire, luckily there wasnt but was shocked to see this.

:o Bloody hell,what car is it?:o

1998 BMW 523i. Ive put a new battery on and had an auto electricain check it out and all seems fine now.

just to state the obvious, but i hope that you have also rinsed everywhere the battery acid went. it does nasty things to paintwork

Battery in the boot??? thought most battery's were in the engine bay ?

have you a big ICE system fitted ? had a mate at work with huge ICE Sub's etc , his battery did the same somehow managed to over charge the battery causing a build up of gases and as happened with you just turning the ignition was enough to ignite it

[Edited on 16-9-2005 by Nigel C]

6 Cylinder BMWs have the battery in the Boot 4 Cylinders under the bonnet


Oh and I washed out all acid.

That's a bit nuts, I can tell you now though that a large ICE system would never be the cause of an exploding battery, over charging yes, but not overloading.

Had you recently put it on charge? If not I'd be checking your alternator out, things like that don't just happen for no reason.

and the 7 series has two batteries in the boot, one on either side, just to make it more exciting.
Friend had problems with charge not being held and took a while to fathom out which battery was the dodgy one.
Sounds very much like a poor earth/live strap and the final spark ignited the fumes.(?)