[Kizelio]

Ok, I found a battery "almost" identical to the OEM. They are both 900cca AGM, and both have 160 reserve capacity. The only difference is that the OEM has 90 amp hours, while the aftermarket has 95.

Can I register this just using the BMWLogger software, or do I need to do a whole lot to get it to change to 95 amp hours (if 95 is even an option while programming the new one with additional software.

Also, if I am able to get away with BMWLogger, will the following cable do the trick? http://www.ebay.com/itm/KKL-OBD2-USB...612427&vxp=mtr

Thanks for all your help, this is very new to me.

[PhaseP]

You don't need to change battery type in computer, just register that new battery installed. You found almost identical anyway to what was in the car.

[ctuna]

Almost none of OEM's are AGMS.
If your OEM battery was white its a lead/acid.
So you will need to reprogram the car for AGM.

[Wilt]

BMW battery capacity settings are in ranges...e.g. 70-79, 80-89, etc. so if you are within the same range, nothing but Registration is needed.

ctuna brings up one good consideration...AGM requires coding if you car does not already have AGM battery, as the charging profile for AGM is quite different from flooded battery.

[Welcome to NBA Jam]

90ah is the highest it goes, so code it to a 90ah agm

[Kizelio]

How can I tell if it's an AGM? It is black, sealed, and says "Do Not Open" on the top of it. I also found this post, where Alpineweiss e90 states:

White = Standard, lead acid.
Black = AGM

Also, mine does not have a screw on top to open it even if I wanted to. I also found this post, where VP Electricity states:

There are two kinds of batteries BMW uses - standard and AGM (Advanced Glass Mat, like Optima, Odyssey, and Kinetic).

The white ones are standard, the black ones are AGM.

So I guess mine is AGM. Now the question is will the BMWLogger software work for it with this cable?

[PMessinis]

No one here i guess has put in Yellow or Red top Optima batteries in their BMW ?

[ctuna]

You are correct as far as I know the black top battery's are agm according
to the board. Looks like there would be some written stuff on the battery to tell you what it is. There is some way to read it with Inpa or in the VO I think
but the details are foggy to me right now. I would look at the battery registration threads.

[Kizelio]

Thanks! There might be something written, but I haven't pulled it yet. I removed the distribution module and disconnected both posts, so there's only one step left for removal. I'll let you know what I find when I can see it in entirety.

[PhaseP]

If you shake the battery and hear or feel fluid moving around then it is regular wet cell/flooded lead acid, not AGM. AGM stands for Absorbed Glass Matt; the acid fluid is absorbed by a glass matt. As such fluid doesn't move around when shaken.

[PhaseP]

Originally Posted by ctuna

Almost none of OEM's are AGMS.
If your OEM battery was white its a lead/acid.
So you will need to reprogram the car for AGM.

You have a good point.

OP are you sure the battery in the car was the factory installed one, not replaced? The white/black colors go for OEM factory installed batteries. Aftermarket batteries don't follow such rule. Most aftermarket batteries are black and wet cell (i.e. not AGM)

[Kizelio]

Originally Posted by PhaseP

You have a good point.

OP are you sure the battery in the car was the factory installed one, not replaced? The white/black colors go for OEM factory installed batteries. Aftermarket batteries don't follow such rule. Most aftermarket batteries are black and wet cell (i.e. not AGM)

I'm positive it's an OEM since I bought it new in February 2007 and haven't replaced it. Would you agree that my prior post with the other poster quotes are correct?

[Wilt]

Originally Posted by Welcome to NBA Jam

90ah is the highest it goes, so code it to a 90ah agm

E90 choices included 90 Amp-hour, then 110 Amp-hour but only for lead-acid, but only as high as 90Amp-hour AGM which is the right setting for 95A-h AGM battery.

[Kizelio]

Originally Posted by Wilt

E90 choices included 90 Amp-hour, then 110 Amp-hour but only for lead-acid, but only as high as 90Amp-hour AGM which is the right setting for 95A-h AGM battery.

Perfect! Thank you Wilt.

[Kizelio]

Back to my prior post:

So I guess mine is AGM. Now the question is will the BMWLogger software work for it with this cable to get it registered?

[PhaseP]

Originally Posted by Kizelio

I'm positive it's an OEM since I bought it new in February 2007 and haven't replaced it. Would you agree that my prior post with the other poster quotes are correct?

I can't say for sure about OEM colors. I don't have experience with AGM on BMW but had with a previous other model car I had.
From that I know with AGM you will not feel fluid moving around if you shake it, but that means taking the battery out to test.
Usually somewhere on battery it should say it is AGM.

As already stated, if you can read the current value from the car computer that would be definitive answer to your question.

My other input would be for the Ampere Hour rating. Matching the Reserve Capacity (RC) should be more important than matching the Ampere Hour because RC rating is more well defined, minutes taken to discharge to some voltage using 25 amps current draw. On the other hand, Ampere hour could be measured hours using 1 amp current draw or 50 amp current draw which are not 100% comparable.

So if you have two exactly matching RC rated batteries you should be fine in that sense.

[Kizelio]

I'm going to pull it now to see if it says AGM anywhere on it. I'll let you know.

[PhaseP]

Originally Posted by Kizelio

I'm positive it's an OEM since I bought it new in February 2007 and haven't replaced it. Would you agree that my prior post with the other poster quotes are correct?

Well, definitive answer maybe simpler. These are the list of battery part numbers used in your year model from realoem.com:

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/show...diagId=61_1999

The part number is printed on the battery apparently, just find the match to be sure. (AGM was indeed an option according to realoem.com)

[Kizelio]

Originally Posted by PhaseP

Well, definitive answer maybe simpler. These are the list of battery part numbers used in your year model from realoem.com:

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/show...diagId=61_1999

The part number is printed on the battery apparently, just find the match to be sure. (AGM was indeed an option according to realoem.com)

We had the same idea I googled the S number from the battery, which was 61216919342, and came up with this link confirming it is an OEM AGM. I just pulled it (almost breaking the vent tube because I forgot to disconnect it), and there is no other labeling anywhere except on the top.

[Kizelio]

It is an definitely an OEM AGM, but back to my question:

Will the BMWLogger software work for it with this cable to get it registered? I already ordered the cable, so please say yes

[Wilt]

Originally Posted by PhaseP

Matching the Reserve Capacity (RC) should be more important than matching the Ampere Hour because RC rating is more well defined, minutes taken to discharge to some voltage using 25 amps current draw. On the other hand, Ampere hour could be measured hours using 1 amp current draw or 50 amp current draw which are not 100% comparable.

OTOH the BMW battery configuration choices includes NO CATEGORY for RC rating...only categries to match are

1) Amp-hour, and
2) Flooded vs. AGM

[PhaseP]

Originally Posted by Wilt

OTOH the BMW battery configuration choices includes NO CATEGORY for RC rating...only categries to match are

1) Amp-hour, and
2) Flooded vs. AGM

The RC spec is found on the original oem battery, as op had. If you match the RC of an after market battery to it rather than amp hours it will also be a better match to the amp hour configuration in the computer. OP had an exact matching RC but not amp hours, but it meant he had exact match.