E90Post
 


 
BMW 3-Series (E90 E92) Forum > BMW E90/E92/E93 3-series General Forums > General E90 Sedan / E91 Wagon / E92 Coupe / E93 Cabrio > Do I need to replace my car battery?



Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
      07-01-2012, 07:08 AM   #23
John 070
Lieutenant General
1696
Rep
14,829
Posts

Drives: 335i cpe
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: ZSP/ZPP/ZCW

iTrader: (0)

You know everybody, there is physics that applies to the lead acid batteries we use to start our vehicles.

BMW batteries DO NOT last only 2 years. I have friends who bought 2006 330i's and they are still on their original batteries. You hit the nail on the head, you don't drive your car daily. Did you load test your battery after fully charging it? What is this "trickle charger" that you mention, what make, model.

I cannot understand why people dance around testing their batteries. It's like saying doc, I can't breathe and I feel as if my heart will stop beating. I seem to have gained 50 lbs. since I last saw you 3 years ago. Meanwhile, your doctor doesn't want to perform any tests and simply asks more questions and tries to guess what the problem is.
Appreciate 0
      07-01-2012, 11:22 AM   #24
Bob Shiftright
Save The Manuals!
Bob Shiftright's Avatar
64
Rep
491
Posts

Drives: E91 Schleppwagen
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: PRNJ

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by John 070 View Post

What is this "trickle charger" that you mention, what make, model.


It's the one BMW is/was selling. I purchased it after my first battery was replaced under "goodwill" and I was told I didn't drive the car enough. (Which I freely admit. I don't have the time.) The charger/battery maintainer came from the BMW parts department. It has a BMW PN and a BMW roundel on it (no doubt allowing it to command the price premium over the nearly identical Chinese product sold on Amazon without the BMW roundel.)

The latest iteration of the car's ongoing electronic problems seems to have strained the battery. However, I made certain that it was completely charged before taking it to the dealer for the repair. However, it looks like they kept it in the programming bay over night without putting it to sleep, and after I picked the car up the poltergeists that appeared when my first battery started dying have reappeared. Since BMW doesn't warrant their batteries, I have the choice of either paying BMW $450 for a BMW battery with no warranty, or paying $200 for an Interstate battery with a warranty. The choice seems so obvious that it shouldn't even merit any discussion.

I have not been impressed by either BMW batteries or BMW customer service at this point. Interstate, WalMart and Sears are able to warrant their batteries and still make a profit. And I'm happy to pay for a $200 Interstate battery with a 30 month free exchange. Over 2 years, that will cost me about $0.25 per day. $0.12 if it needs replacement in another 2 years.

Note that I can leave any of our Japanese cars for days and days without them being driven and the battery is never a problem.

To be fair, the battery discharge issue seems to be a Porsche problem, too. Electronics just aren't the German car industry's forte.

It's OK if German cars are hard on batteries, I like driving German cars, I can afford it, and I don't have a problem with it. I just want the car to work. So if anyone knows what model Interstate battery will fit in an E91, I would appreciate the information, since posters have indicated that the battery that Interstate lists for the E9x won't fit.
__________________
2008 E91 36K, 6-speed, RWD, Alpine, Terra, Xenons, ZSP, ZCW, ZPP, PDC, CA, alarm, M shifter and M brake handle, Euro rear fog light switch, Euro aspheric mirrors, rear power outlets, Euro split armrest, Lidatek, remote V-1, Cocomats, beach sand, $10 clutch stop mod. 1998 Volvo V70T5 226K, 5-speed, original clutch (third clutch pedal!), aspheric driver's mirror, E-code headlights, IPD sway bar, strut tower brace & skidplate.
Appreciate 0
      07-01-2012, 11:48 AM   #25
ctuna
Lieutenant General
1904
Rep
13,088
Posts

Drives: 325xi 06 wagon MT
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Santa Cruz, Ca

iTrader: (0)

Interstate mtp 94r/h8 about 160 to 180

Interstate mtp 94r/h8 about 160 to 180 fits I have one.
Appreciate 0
      07-01-2012, 03:33 PM   #26
Bob Shiftright
Save The Manuals!
Bob Shiftright's Avatar
64
Rep
491
Posts

Drives: E91 Schleppwagen
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: PRNJ

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by ctuna View Post
Interstate mtp 94r/h8 about 160 to 180 fits I have one.
THANKS!
__________________
2008 E91 36K, 6-speed, RWD, Alpine, Terra, Xenons, ZSP, ZCW, ZPP, PDC, CA, alarm, M shifter and M brake handle, Euro rear fog light switch, Euro aspheric mirrors, rear power outlets, Euro split armrest, Lidatek, remote V-1, Cocomats, beach sand, $10 clutch stop mod. 1998 Volvo V70T5 226K, 5-speed, original clutch (third clutch pedal!), aspheric driver's mirror, E-code headlights, IPD sway bar, strut tower brace & skidplate.
Appreciate 0
      07-01-2012, 06:57 PM   #27
John 070
Lieutenant General
1696
Rep
14,829
Posts

Drives: 335i cpe
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: ZSP/ZPP/ZCW

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by Bob Shiftright View Post


It's the one BMW is/was selling. I purchased it after my first battery was replaced under "goodwill" and I was told I didn't drive the car enough. (Which I freely admit. I don't have the time.) The charger/battery maintainer came from the BMW parts department. It has a BMW PN and a BMW roundel on it (no doubt allowing it to command the price premium over the nearly identical Chinese product sold on Amazon without the BMW roundel.)

The latest iteration of the car's ongoing electronic problems seems to have strained the battery. However, I made certain that it was completely charged before taking it to the dealer for the repair. However, it looks like they kept it in the programming bay over night without putting it to sleep, and after I picked the car up the poltergeists that appeared when my first battery started dying have reappeared. Since BMW doesn't warrant their batteries, I have the choice of either paying BMW $450 for a BMW battery with no warranty, or paying $200 for an Interstate battery with a warranty. The choice seems so obvious that it shouldn't even merit any discussion.

I have not been impressed by either BMW batteries or BMW customer service at this point. Interstate, WalMart and Sears are able to warrant their batteries and still make a profit. And I'm happy to pay for a $200 Interstate battery with a 30 month free exchange. Over 2 years, that will cost me about $0.25 per day. $0.12 if it needs replacement in another 2 years.

Note that I can leave any of our Japanese cars for days and days without them being driven and the battery is never a problem.

To be fair, the battery discharge issue seems to be a Porsche problem, too. Electronics just aren't the German car industry's forte.

It's OK if German cars are hard on batteries, I like driving German cars, I can afford it, and I don't have a problem with it. I just want the car to work. So if anyone knows what model Interstate battery will fit in an E91, I would appreciate the information, since posters have indicated that the battery that Interstate lists for the E9x won't fit.
That device looks like a rebranded battery tender, should be ok.

Not sure what your issue is specifically, but my car has sat 6 weeks in the garage, in the winter, and fired right up. So imho German cars are not "hard on batteries." The battery doesn't care what country the vehicle is from.

It seems like a lot of people have a problem with paying $280 for an OEM battery installed and programmed. I suppose there are those who saved $80 to $100, and those who didn't have luck as such.

Again, it's not rocket science. If a battery is only lasting 2 years, it's not the battery, it's something else.

I think you need to consider that having an OEM battery fail every two years is not the norm. but I can see that you want to try Sears or Wal Mart, can't hurt. If it works out for you, I still believe that BMW batteries last more than two years.

Have you load tested the battery that failed at 2 years?
Appreciate 0
      07-01-2012, 11:23 PM   #28
NaTuReB0Y
Powered By 36DD
NaTuReB0Y's Avatar
United_States
337
Rep
7,369
Posts

Drives: 2006 E90
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Inland Empire

iTrader: (12)

New aftermarket battery for about $130....never coded or anything...it's been almost a year with no issues.
__________________
2006 E90 330i Jet Black | 20" WORK VS-XX | FK452 | H&R Sport on Koni Yellow | REMUS QUAD
Appreciate 0
      07-01-2012, 11:55 PM   #29
DUI Elite
///M at Heart
DUI Elite's Avatar
89
Rep
1,954
Posts

Drives: 06 SGM E90, 15 BSM E84
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Chicago, IL

iTrader: (4)

Whats the part number for the OEM battery only?

I am having delayed starting as well. It happened in the past but its becoming more frequent nowadays. Still on the original battery from 2005.
Appreciate 0
      07-02-2012, 02:44 AM   #30
Hunter51092
Major
Hunter51092's Avatar
United_States
71
Rep
1,285
Posts

Drives: Bmw
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Miami

iTrader: (0)

Garage List
2008 BMW  [0.00]
Quote:
Originally Posted by Raven_1221 View Post
I have a 2006 325i. Starting a few months ago, I noticed the engine intermittently cranking longer than usual before starting in the morning. The weather isn't unusually cold where I live. It's about 60 degrees fahrenheit in the morning. I also notice that the AC display will sometimes be dimmer than normal, though doesn't necessarily happen at the same time that my engine takes longer to start. Does this sound like a battery issue?
i changed the battery and it was still doing it could be your starter
Appreciate 0
      07-02-2012, 06:19 AM   #31
Bob Shiftright
Save The Manuals!
Bob Shiftright's Avatar
64
Rep
491
Posts

Drives: E91 Schleppwagen
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: PRNJ

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by DUI Elite View Post
Whats the part number for the OEM battery only?

I am having delayed starting as well. It happened in the past but its becoming more frequent nowadays. Still on the original battery from 2005.
My BMW parts department told me that there are 3 batteries listed for my E91 priced $179-$269 before the CCA discount and they are all in stock. The one currently in the car is a BMW branded Exide battery PN 61217586962 (I just checked). It looks like a squeeze back there, so I'm not surprised if some non-BMW branded batteries will not fit.

If your battery is 7 years old, congratulations! But I'd probably go ahead and replace it, because when a battery fails completely it's usually at exactly the wrong time in exactly the wrong place.

I don't think the Euro car engineers have come to terms with the possibility that a typical household in their US buyer demographic may have 5 cars and they may not be driven every day. As others have said, if I wanted to plug my cars into a wall outlet every day, I would have bought a Nissan Leaf.

Interesting that on the Japanese cars the batteries are no big deal. They fail like clockwork every 4 years, there are four 10mm nuts to undo (no 7-page DIYs on changing the battery on the Toyota board!), the dealers keep them in stock and the whole escapade takes about an hour of time, total, and costs about $100. It's not rocket science except on a German car.

Why make anything simple when you can make it complicated?
__________________
2008 E91 36K, 6-speed, RWD, Alpine, Terra, Xenons, ZSP, ZCW, ZPP, PDC, CA, alarm, M shifter and M brake handle, Euro rear fog light switch, Euro aspheric mirrors, rear power outlets, Euro split armrest, Lidatek, remote V-1, Cocomats, beach sand, $10 clutch stop mod. 1998 Volvo V70T5 226K, 5-speed, original clutch (third clutch pedal!), aspheric driver's mirror, E-code headlights, IPD sway bar, strut tower brace & skidplate.
Appreciate 0
      07-02-2012, 07:28 AM   #32
DUI Elite
///M at Heart
DUI Elite's Avatar
89
Rep
1,954
Posts

Drives: 06 SGM E90, 15 BSM E84
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Chicago, IL

iTrader: (4)

Quote:
Originally Posted by Bob Shiftright View Post
My BMW parts department told me that there are 3 batteries listed for my E91 priced $179-$269 before the CCA discount and they are all in stock. The one currently in the car is a BMW branded Exide battery PN 61217586962 (I just checked). It looks like a squeeze back there, so I'm not surprised if some non-BMW branded batteries will not fit.

If your battery is 7 years old, congratulations! But I'd probably go ahead and replace it, because when a battery fails completely it's usually at exactly the wrong time in exactly the wrong place.

I don't think the Euro car engineers have come to terms with the possibility that a typical household in their US buyer demographic may have 5 cars and they may not be driven every day. As others have said, if I wanted to plug my cars into a wall outlet every day, I would have bought a Nissan Leaf.

Interesting that on the Japanese cars the batteries are no big deal. They fail like clockwork every 4 years, there are four 10mm nuts to undo (no 7-page DIYs on changing the battery on the Toyota board!), the dealers keep them in stock and the whole escapade takes about an hour of time, total, and costs about $100. It's not rocket science except on a German car.

Why make anything simple when you can make it complicated?
Wow, I really hope I can get another 7 to 8 years out of this next battery then.

Yeah it seems like most German companies choose "the road less travelled" which happens to be the "more difficult for no reason" way when it comes to electronics. I'm curious what kind of cycle loads the BMW would put on a controlled battery vs. any Honda on the same battery.

All these damn sensors, resistance checking, adjusting electrical extra must tax these batteries well. That and the fact they're designed to work inside the passenger cabin sort of make sense why they're so damn expensive.

I'm going to run a few battery tests through autozone or something before replacing, and then again after. Curious for some measurable signs of wear / when to replace.
Appreciate 0
      07-02-2012, 07:47 AM   #33
DASHOCKER
The power of V!
DASHOCKER's Avatar
Germany
99
Rep
1,971
Posts

Drives: 2007 335i coupe steptronic
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: NYC

iTrader: (0)

Garage List
1998 Lexus Gs400  [0.00]
2010 ebony & ivory  [0.00]
2006 BMW X3  [0.00]
2009 pics  [0.00]
2009 e92 335 xdrive  [0.00]
do these battery chargers that run through the cigarette lighter outlet really work? i thought power can't be transfered to/from the power outlets in the car once it is off and in sleep mode.
__________________
2007 335 coupe Alpine white, steptronic, sportpack, etc. (gone)
2006 X3 3.0 steptronic Titanium Silver, 2009 E92 335xdrive, next.... Caddy CTS_V! 13 Lincoln MKZ? hmmm.
Appreciate 0
      09-12-2012, 12:15 AM   #34
sports89man7
New Member
1
Rep
15
Posts

Drives: 2007 328i
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: United States

iTrader: (0)

hell i gotta 07 328 and they want 500$ to replace the battery. i was like W.T.F? this is my second battery ive gone through. note to self dont put huge soundsystem in a bmw.
Appreciate 0
      10-05-2012, 08:23 PM   #35
gazi8
Private
11
Rep
64
Posts

Drives: 2000 323i/2006 330i/2016 428i
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Northern Virginia

iTrader: (0)

Interstate MTP-91

I got an interstate battery installed today for $215 at a local BMW repair shop. My old battery didn't die but the car is almost 7 years old so I wanted to be proactive for the winter. The shop I took it to made sure the car took the battery without any errors. Paying $500 at the dealership is nuts!
Appreciate 0
      10-06-2012, 02:23 PM   #36
Novemberr
Private
8
Rep
94
Posts

Drives: E90
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: NJ

iTrader: (1)

Quote:
Originally Posted by NaTuReB0Y View Post
New aftermarket battery for about $130....never coded or anything...it's been almost a year with no issues.
You must have a white-color battery. It's in only 2006 330i.
06' 325i would need be coded for black-color battery.
Appreciate 0
      10-06-2012, 02:24 PM   #37
Novemberr
Private
8
Rep
94
Posts

Drives: E90
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: NJ

iTrader: (1)

Quote:
Originally Posted by F1Senna View Post
Do the e90s need the battery to be coded? I keep reading conflicting info - that using a battery similar to oem works fine without coding
Depends on the color of the battery.

White - no
Black - yes
Appreciate 0
      10-06-2012, 03:03 PM   #38
Novemberr
Private
8
Rep
94
Posts

Drives: E90
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: NJ

iTrader: (1)

#121, #129
http://www.e90post.com/forums/showth...=292200&page=6
Appreciate 0
      10-30-2012, 06:46 PM   #39
VincentCloudX07
Private First Class
VincentCloudX07's Avatar
8
Rep
179
Posts

Drives: 2006-325i
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: WA

iTrader: (0)

Exclamation

Quote:
Originally Posted by Raven_1221 View Post
I have a 2006 325i. Starting a few months ago, I noticed the engine intermittently cranking longer than usual before starting in the morning. The weather isn't unusually cold where I live. It's about 60 degrees fahrenheit in the morning. I also notice that the AC display will sometimes be dimmer than normal, though doesn't necessarily happen at the same time that my engine takes longer to start. Does this sound like a battery issue?
Im having the same freakin problem. Im about to replace my battery with a Bosch i guess.
Everyone: I have a guy that is local and is going to do everything including battery for around $105. Every BMW owner on the island goes to him and swears by him, ive also had a capacitor changed by him and nothing wrong so far, so i trust him. One thing is I have never heard of a Bosch battery, and i know they just stick their label on them, so does anyone have any advice? also im getting the error code CC-ID 229, which i think just means low battery. Ive looked at others post and thats what 229 means but they always post MME/MMD in front of the number so i dont know if im correct. Can anyone tell me if That code actually means i need to replace my battery?
Reason being that the shop wants to check it with the computer ( a extra $40 to do) the check if its the battery for sure and not something else. If possible i want to avoid spending more money if it is indeed the battery (which i already believe it is due to the yellow battery symbol and the error code i see when entering the menu.) so in short dont want to waste the money if it is the battery, checking for something that its not. Can anyone help me figure this out that has had this experience?
__________________
I live for this
Appreciate 0
      10-30-2012, 06:49 PM   #40
galahad05
Brigadier General
galahad05's Avatar
158
Rep
3,158
Posts

Drives: '07 335i e90
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Long Island NY

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by John 070 View Post
That device looks like a rebranded battery tender, should be ok.

Not sure what your issue is specifically, but my car has sat 6 weeks in the garage, in the winter, and fired right up. So imho German cars are not "hard on batteries." The battery doesn't care what country the vehicle is from.

It seems like a lot of people have a problem with paying $280 for an OEM battery installed and programmed. I suppose there are those who saved $80 to $100, and those who didn't have luck as such.

Again, it's not rocket science. If a battery is only lasting 2 years, it's not the battery, it's something else.

I think you need to consider that having an OEM battery fail every two years is not the norm. but I can see that you want to try Sears or Wal Mart, can't hurt. If it works out for you, I still believe that BMW batteries last more than two years.

Have you load tested the battery that failed at 2 years?
How long had that battery they sold to the poster been sitting on a shelf before it was put in his car?
__________________
Always do right. This will gratify some people and astonish the rest.
--Mark Twain
Appreciate 0
Reply

Bookmarks

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 01:50 AM.




e90post
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
1Addicts.com, BIMMERPOST.com, E90Post.com, F30Post.com, M3Post.com, ZPost.com, 5Post.com, 6Post.com, 7Post.com, XBimmers.com logo and trademark are properties of BIMMERPOST