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BMW 3-Series (E90 E92) Forum > BMW E90/E92/E93 3-series General Forums > General E90 Sedan / E91 Wagon / E92 Coupe / E93 Cabrio > Battery AGM or not



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      09-29-2015, 08:34 PM   #1
BashShah
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Battery AGM or not

So I need to change my battery pretty soon.

Currently I have a acid battery.
Can I put a agm or do I have to buy an acid battery?

I can program and code it and register it myself.

Car is a 2007 335i Sedan.
Production month sept 06 with FRM1.
If this matters.

Greatly appreciate the response.
DN
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      09-29-2015, 08:38 PM   #2
Monster900
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If you can program it into your car then there is no drawback as AGM batteries are overall better then acid batteries.
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      09-29-2015, 08:55 PM   #3
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Monster900 View Post
If you can program it into your car then there is no drawback as AGM batteries are overall better then acid batteries.
Are you a canadian living in Detroit?

Thanks for the input.

DN
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      09-29-2015, 09:10 PM   #4
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Be aware that the charge profile for AGM is quite different than lead acid battery...the voltage tolerance is lower. So if you fail to code your car to know it needs to use an AGM charge profile, you risk shortening the life of the AGM with excessive voltage.
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      09-30-2015, 12:12 AM   #5
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Wilt View Post
Be aware that the charge profile for AGM is quite different than lead acid battery...the voltage tolerance is lower. So if you fail to code your car to know it needs to use an AGM charge profile, you risk shortening the life of the AGM with excessive voltage.
Initial plan is to code or program it with Carly BMW app, then register it also with Carly BMW app. Using Kcan/Scan cable with OTG harness.
Works for reading codes.
Judy haven't got around to fooling around on coding yet.

D
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      09-30-2015, 07:42 AM   #6
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The price difference for the AGM battery vs. the lead acid is usually at least $40, plus coding.

Since the original lead acid E90 battery tends to last 5-6 years, I think for most people a regular replacement lead acid battery probably works just fine.

If you are not 'regular' and tend to live in a very cold climate, leave your car stationary for over a week, or need lots of non-engine running electrical capacity, AGM is probably a good move. Or if you really want a weight reduction, you can go with a lighter battery of the same power by going AGM.
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      09-30-2015, 10:00 AM   #7
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AGM+1

thats what i did... man the regular lead acid weight a ton... pain to get out...

coded with carly in 10 min...
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      09-30-2015, 10:58 AM   #8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by sk55 View Post
AGM+1

thats what i did... man the regular lead acid weight a ton... pain to get out...

coded with carly in 10 min...
Now that is what I was looking for.
Did you code it before swap or after swap?

Never used Carly for coding yet, Judy scared itmight cause more issues.

DN
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      09-30-2015, 01:55 PM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Monster900 View Post
If you can program it into your car then there is no drawback as AGM batteries are overall better then acid batteries.
Not always true. Besides reading product literature... can you provide me any real world numbers as to how an AGM battery is "better" then a FLA battery? Don't get me wrong... my OEM FLA 90AH battery lasted 7 years and almost 100k miles before i got my first high discharge battery warning (I didn't let it get to the point of failure before changing it). When I replaced the battery, I did get an AGM battery because it was cheaper with coupon compared to a comparable FLA battery (But the trade off was much less battery warranty period). The only real world metric I will care to see is, will this replacement battery last the same 7 years and almost 100k miles or will it crap out sooner?

*Note: at the time of install, my friend had me coded from a FLA 90AH --> AGM 90AH battery and we updated the VO as well.
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      09-30-2015, 09:24 PM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by DarkNemesis View Post
Now that is what I was looking for.
Did you code it before swap or after swap?

Never used Carly for coding yet, Judy scared itmight cause more issues.

DN

i swapped it and then coded it and registered it.
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      09-30-2015, 10:09 PM   #11
galahad05
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Some (very good) info on AGM battery tech.

http://batteryuniversity.com/learn/a..._glass_mat_agm
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      10-01-2015, 01:30 AM   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by fazman View Post
Not always true. Besides reading product literature... can you provide me any real world numbers as to how an AGM battery is "better" then a FLA battery? Don't get me wrong... my OEM FLA 90AH battery lasted 7 years and almost 100k miles before i got my first high discharge battery warning (I didn't let it get to the point of failure before changing it). When I replaced the battery, I did get an AGM battery because it was cheaper with coupon compared to a comparable FLA battery (But the trade off was much less battery warranty period). The only real world metric I will care to see is, will this replacement battery last the same 7 years and almost 100k miles or will it crap out sooner?

*Note: at the time of install, my friend had me coded from a FLA 90AH --> AGM 90AH battery and we updated the VO as well.
What is updated the VO?
Voltage output?.... Guess.

DN
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      10-01-2015, 12:47 PM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by DarkNemesis View Post
What is updated the VO?
Voltage output?.... Guess.

DN
VO = Vehicle Order number.

Basically if the delership or anyone else desides to blow away all my custom coding in the car.... the VO tells you what to "restore" the settings to (Kinda like the stock factory settings). So besides changing the setting in the car to the AGM profile... you want to update the VO so that if someone resets the coding... it should default to a 90AH AGM instead of the 90AH FLA that came with the car (In my case).

Let's say you changed your battery from a FLA 90AH to a FLA 60AH battery. You will want to code the car to let it know to use the 60AH profile for a FLA battery. But if you don't update the VO and someone blows away your coding... and restores the stock settings based on the VO, it will go back to a FLA 90AH. Had you updated the VO to reflect that the correct battery to use going forward is a 60AH FLA battery, then you can't have that mistake happen on accident.

I hope i explained it correctly, please ask more questions if you are unsure what i mean.

Last edited by fazman; 10-01-2015 at 12:53 PM..
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      10-01-2015, 09:19 PM   #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by DarkNemesis
Quote:
Originally Posted by Monster900 View Post
If you can program it into your car then there is no drawback as AGM batteries are overall better then acid batteries.
Are you a canadian living in Detroit?

Thanks for the input.

DN
I am a Canadian working in Detroit.
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      10-01-2015, 10:17 PM   #15
BashShah
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Quote:
Originally Posted by fazman View Post
VO = Vehicle Order number.

Basically if the delership or anyone else desides to blow away all my custom coding in the car.... the VO tells you what to "restore" the settings to (Kinda like the stock factory settings). So besides changing the setting in the car to the AGM profile... you want to update the VO so that if someone resets the coding... it should default to a 90AH AGM instead of the 90AH FLA that came with the car (In my case).

Let's say you changed your battery from a FLA 90AH to a FLA 60AH battery. You will want to code the car to let it know to use the 60AH profile for a FLA battery. But if you don't update the VO and someone blows away your coding... and restores the stock settings based on the VO, it will go back to a FLA 90AH. Had you updated the VO to reflect that the correct battery to use going forward is a 60AH FLA battery, then you can't have that mistake happen on accident.

I hope i explained it correctly, please ask more questions if you are unsure what i mean.
I am guessing that setting the VO can not be done by Carly BMW APP?

DN
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      10-02-2015, 12:17 AM   #16
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Quote:
Originally Posted by DarkNemesis View Post
I am guessing that setting the VO can not be done by Carly BMW APP?

DN
i have no idea, i only use INPA and ncsexpert
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      10-02-2015, 03:55 AM   #17
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Quote:
Originally Posted by fazman View Post
i have no idea, i only use INPA and ncsexpert
Thanks Fazman, definitely going to set up my INPA and NCSExpert.
Great explanation on VO.
After coding everything including other options, VO should be done, so it does not get reverted back to OEM or stock profile.

DN
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      10-02-2015, 05:30 AM   #18
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I just changed my battery...laster 6 years, 10 months.

I Dk the difference between AGM and Lead Acid but I replaced mine with an Advanced Auto Parts Autocraft Gold 49, 900 CCH 95 AH. Bought online for $166-30% off code I found online...then had my Indy register it...$45. Done.....I highly recc. this battery.
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      10-02-2015, 11:54 AM   #19
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Monster900 View Post
If you can program it into your car then there is no drawback as AGM batteries are overall better then acid batteries.
Quote:
Originally Posted by sk55 View Post
AGM+1

thats what i did... man the regular lead acid weight a ton..
Misinformation.

Comparing equal size batteries (which is the only fair comparisons):
- Lead acid has more storage capacity
- Lead acid weighs less
- Lead acid costs less

Where is the advantage to AGM in our application?
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      10-02-2015, 12:34 PM   #20
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Quote:
Originally Posted by FL335 View Post
I just changed my battery...laster 6 years, 10 months.

I Dk the difference between AGM and Lead Acid but I replaced mine with an Advanced Auto Parts Autocraft Gold 49, 900 CCH 95 AH. Bought online for $166-30% off code I found online...then had my Indy register it...$45. Done.....I highly recc. this battery.
I think my battery is going on 6.5-7 years now. Did you notice anything strange happening with your car due to the battery being old? Any warning lights? Or did you just think it was time to change it?
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      10-02-2015, 05:34 PM   #21
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Nitrousbird View Post
Misinformation.

Comparing equal size batteries (which is the only fair comparisons):
- Lead acid has more storage capacity
- Lead acid weighs less
- Lead acid costs less

Where is the advantage to AGM in our application?
For those folks who do not understand the difference, this can be remedied by going back to Post 11 of this thread and clicking the link. I have made it easier for folks than going back to Post 11...

http://batteryuniversity.com/learn/a..._glass_mat_agm
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      10-02-2015, 06:28 PM   #22
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Quote:
Originally Posted by chris82 View Post
I think my battery is going on 6.5-7 years now. Did you notice anything strange happening with your car due to the battery being old? Any warning lights? Or did you just think it was time to change it?
It started with a Battery Discharge error. Also, when the battery starts to go, funky things happen as the car shuts things down to conserve power: bluetooth went out, A/c valves wouldn't open on start up. Also, I really knew when it was starting VERY slowly....it was a matter of days before it was done.

BTW, I thought when I instal;led the new one that I have all sorts of codes, errors and lights....nothing of the sort...ran like it was new.

Just get it registered and you're all good.
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