S818A Battery Master Switch Option ?

xsailor · Jul 5, 2012

I think the battery master switch is only used during the shipping of the car from germany to the country where it is to be sold .
The master switch is in the middle of a 6ft. cable that is put in series with the - termanal of the battery and ground. So that the power to the car can be switched off during transport.
I was in a dealer's service area when new cars were arriving and the switches were removed as part of the pre delivery inspection. In fact one of the techs gave me one and it is in my basement,I could send you a pic if you want.

AseanAero Discussion starter · Jul 5, 2012

Thanks X Sailor,

Yes , I'd be interested in seeing a picture

xsailor · Jul 5, 2012

pictures

Here are a couple of pictures of the battery switch

DiegoR · Jul 6, 2012

That's a cool thing! IOD fuse in the Jeep/Dodge vehicles that I sell and do the PDI's can't beat this technology back in the 90's! lol

I wonder if this kill switch was made bu Hella? It looks the same but the ones I bought, fails after some time working, the contact start to corrode or wear I think and loose the current energy.

AseanAero Discussion starter · Jul 6, 2012

It seems like a lot of effort (install and uninstall) for shipping when they could have disconnected the battery terminal.

Where was the cut off switch located when it was installed ?

MParallel · May 19, 2016

They move the cars around all the time. So (dis)connecting the terminal everytime does take time.

With the switch inside, they just get in the car, flip the switch and be done with.

It was routed (maybe differently for each model) to rear seats or to in between the front seats.

Fordkoppie · Jul 6, 2012

Mine has this retrofitted.
The car stood for long periods with the previous owner (explaining the 54000km) and he simply located it through the carpet just in front of the battery well.
Very neat and out of sight. I like having it, since it gives some extra piece of mind should you detect a "thermal event" early on and it saves the battery when standing for long periods without having to remove the seat to get to the battery.
I have found however that the car would be full of funnies when it stood without power for a while. For instance the central locking wont work untill i physically locked and unlocked it from outside with the key. And sometimes a rough idle. They do sort themselves out after a minute or 2 and a couple of operations. Of course all your radio and OBC data would be lost.

AseanAero Discussion starter · Jul 6, 2012

I think a main battery master switch is a good idea , perhaps run a separate supply to the OBC and radio , if you like a low amperage 'avionics' power supply ?

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bmwdirtracer · May 20, 2016

When I worked at the dealership in the early 2000's, very many (but not all) new cars came with these switches and cables attached....we had to remove them during pre-delivery service and inspection, and they were required to be sent back to BMW NA in New Jersey (from Maui). It's been a long time, but I believe that all cars from Germany and South Africa had the cables, X5s from Spartanburg didn't....

One didn't make it back to New Jersey, by the way.....it somehow ended up in my old yellow 533i dirt oval race car...

martydoane · Feb 26, 2020

Chris, Can you provide a picture of where the S818 runs in your E39? I'd like to add one (my own manufacture) to my 2000 M5. Thanks in advance. I would like to access it from the Drivers seat if possible. Maybe on the Rear Seat riser (passenger side)?

S818A Battery Master Switch Option ?

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