[3party]

I own a 2007 328i wagon which I bought a year ago. The battery is not holding a charge. Nearest dealer (100 miles away) says that the better of the two BMW batteries available for my car costs $366 including installation. It is a different technology from the standard acid technology; it uses glass. The conventional BMW battery is about $80 less. HERE IS MY QUESTION: Is the Service Manager telling the truth hen he says that BMWs make unusually high demands on their batteries ("It's the way their systems work."), and it is a big mistake to buy any other brand. ("It won't last a year.") [Well, I can buy one with a 24-month free replacement warranty..]

My instinct is that the guy was talking nonsense in order to sell me a highly overpriced battery. However, I have an open mind. Is there any truth to what he said? What would you buy? (The 4-year warranty n/a to battery.)

Any advice would be much appreciated. Thanks.

[kokopuffs405]

Theres a thread where a guys battery blew up

[Kolyan2k]

Pay the money. Some people here had big problems with after martket. Battery installation includes Battery Reset which is done via their comp.

[Want]

Wouldn't it be cheaper to buy the battery elsewhere and pay for registration at dealer?

[poiney]

Originally Posted by 3party

I own a 2007 328i wagon which I bought a year ago. The battery is not holding a charge. Nearest dealer (100 miles away) says that the better of the two BMW batteries available for my car costs $366 including installation. It is a different technology from the standard acid technology; it uses glass. The conventional BMW battery is about $80 less. HERE IS MY QUESTION: Is the Service Manager telling the truth hen he says that BMWs make unusually high demands on their batteries ("It's the way their systems work."), and it is a big mistake to buy any other brand. ("It won't last a year.") [Well, I can buy one with a 24-month free replacement warranty..]

My instinct is that the guy was talking nonsense in order to sell me a highly overpriced battery. However, I have an open mind. Is there any truth to what he said? What would you buy? (The 4-year warranty n/a to battery.)

Any advice would be much appreciated. Thanks.

Of the folks that responded to my poll, a reasonable sample size, here is the data (in the case it helps to know what others do):

Buy BMW battery 42.42%
Buy any-brand battery 33.33%
Register battery 56.06%
Do NOT register battery 13.64%

[BKV122]

Honestly if you think of the amount of ppl who Don't bring their cars back to the dealer for the battery change, ie their own mechanic or some chain shop (NAPA, Bridgestone/Firestone shops, Interstate stores), that don't know about the battery registration and replaced the battery and cars are still running fine i think you'd be safe doing so with non-BMW battery but obviously get a battery with the same specs as the one you have now.

I think all these disaster stories about battery's are rare, as you'd see it all over the news. Obviously BMW recommends to register the battery. I'm in the same boat looking for a new battery but not sure to go the BMW way and get it registered for $600 or go get a $150 battery and put it in there and just go with it.

[galahad05]

Six Hundred Dollars!

Is this battery made out of gold?

Does its replacement require engine removal?

Specialized tools flown in from Germany via supersonic jet?

[three series]

where are you guys getting $600? the guy said it was $366 including installation? think about it.. how much are you saving vs ease of mind that you went with the right battery and it was installed by a certified technician.. my .02 cents go for the bmw battery

[username604]

I'd do some research, and buy a similar spec battery as the original (depends on your options from what i hear), and then go to an Indy and have them register the battery. They'll probably charge you the cost of 1/2 hour of labor.
Or, you could just drop $500 and go to the dealer

[3party]

Thanks for your replies so far. Not $600. Not $500. Not 1/2 an hour, but 0.6! Cost = $366 including installation. Still undecided. Two related questions:

1. Does anyone know anything about this battery technology which uses glass somehow, and not the usual lead/acid combo?

2. What is registering the battery all about?

Thanks again. More feedback welcome.

p.s. I found the poll result very helpful -- 44% buy the BMW battery (knowing, presumably, that they are being ripped off, i.e. being sold a product with a huge profit margin for all concerned, including $80 for installing it.)

[galahad05]

Originally Posted by three series

where are you guys getting $600? the guy said it was $366 including installation?

I got it from the poster above me. I couldn't believe the figure either. Thus the rant...

[galahad05]

Registering the battery tells the on-board computer that the battery has been replaced. This apparently causes the computer to adjust the way it charges the battery via the alternator.

You can do this yourself (no dealer required) if you have the right diagnostic equipment (i.e. Bavarian Tech scan tool).

Got this info on these forums....

[zamboni]

$366 is not a bad price treat your car right by getting an OEM battery.

[Trojan4evr]

Haha... $300+ is nothing. If you can't pay for the battery then why did you buy the car? Porsche charges close to $480+ for their own battery but they give you an option of after market battery with the same specs and still charge for $100 less.

[ZoomZoom]

With all these concerns you have...isn't 366 a small price to pay for piece of mind?

[ThreeseriesFTW]

Originally Posted by kokopuffs405

Theres a thread where a guys battery blew up

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=468750

[bluefly]

It is an AGM that the dealer is citing, Adsorptive Glass Mat. And, yes, it has many advantages over lead-acid... Key one being the electrolyte is held (adsorbed) in a series of parallel fiberglass mats so it cannot leak and the battery is also sealed. They also hold charge very well and are generally longer-lived than lead-acid equivalents. They do not off-gas very much either. For all these reasons (especially their resistance to leaking) they are specced by many OEM's with trunk-mounted battery locations.

Though you may find it $50 cheaper elsewhere the price installed an "all in" by dealer seems fair to me. I would do that. Warranty is assured that way in case you have issues, the battery will be coded to the car by the dealer, etc.

[ENINTY]

Originally Posted by bluefly

It is an AGM that the dealer is citing, Adsorptive Glass Mat. And, yes, it has many advantages over lead-acid... Key one being the electrolyte is held (adsorbed) in a series of parallel fiberglass mats so it cannot leak and the battery is also sealed. They also hold charge very well and are generally longer-lived than lead-acid equivalents. They do not off-gas very much either. For all these reasons (especially their resistance to leaking) they are specced by many OEM's with trunk-mounted battery locations.

Though you may find it $50 cheaper elsewhere the price installed an "all in" by dealer seems fair to me. I would do that. Warranty is assured that way in case you have issues, the battery will be coded to the car by the dealer, etc.

I'm with you. $366 is not a bad price. The AGM battery retail price is $269 (I checked Tischer w/ P/N 61217553954. So the dealer is quoting $100 for installation (probably and hour or less of labor). Not a bad deal.

The standard battery is $144 dealer price, so the OP could save $100 by going with the standard battery. BMW has been using non-AGM batteries for 30 years in in-trunk locations, so I'm not sure if going with an AGM is all that much of an advantage. My 2 cents.

[F32Fleet]

Go to realOEM.com and look up the battery for your vehicle and it will tell you the manufacturer who you'll then google and call around on for pricing. (see battery blew up thread)

[kaishang]

I think it depends on if you have any Efficient Dynamics tech in your car or not. Some ED models only charge the battery during braking so during cruise the alternator is disconnected and you are slowly discharging the battery. Thus BMWs with this feature need (well I don't know exactly what BMWs need but boats with similar deeper dischrage cycles need it) batteries suited to this discharge cycle, which is different to most cars.

If your car has this ED feature and does this, I'd cough up for the BMW battery.

If not, the BMW electrical system is basically the same as every other car on the road so what could really go wrong with an aftermarket battery?

Originally Posted by 3party

Thanks for your replies so far. Not $600. Not $500. Not 1/2 an hour, but 0.6! Cost = $366 including installation. Still undecided. Two related questions:

1. Does anyone know anything about this battery technology which uses glass somehow, and not the usual lead/acid combo?

2. What is registering the battery all about?

Thanks again. More feedback welcome.

p.s. I found the poll result very helpful -- 44% buy the BMW battery (knowing, presumably, that they are being ripped off, i.e. being sold a product with a huge profit margin for all concerned, including $80 for installing it.)

[kaishang]

Oh and since the battery is in an unvented part of the trunk, I suppose there is a theoretical risk of hydrogen gas build up = blow up. Haven't read the battery blew up thread but maybe this is what happened.

[BKV122]

Originally Posted by galahad05

I got it from the poster above me. I couldn't believe the figure either. Thus the rant...

Yea my $600 is probly far fetched just kinda threw a number out there for the difference. (Think someone else was qouted that for a battery replacement ).

Op for $300+ for a battery from dealer isn't bad. But I see how u live a good distance away is making you question "is it worth it?". Like I said before there is probably Thousands of other people who don't know anything about this ordeal and just got a battery when it died non BMW and not registering it and have no issues with anything.

So is it worth it to drive to the distance to the dealer and spend another $100+ and the piece of mind? Or stay local and DIY or go to local mechanic and save $100?

Me I'm probably going to the dealer since I'm 10mins away.