So I've seen battery questions lately which prompted me to check mine and see what type I have and how old it is...

...Original BMW, 8 years and still kick'n!

Of course now that I've posted this it will probably die :(

http://www.captive1.com/mrk/batt_new_1299_w.jpg

http://www.captive1.com/mrk/batt_label_w.jpg

4 month old Optima Yellow Top
(under the back seat):buttrock

Mine's at least two years old, but will probably have to be replaced since it hasn't been driven since July :(

Just replaced a 5.5 year old interstate, it was still working fine. I personally, don't run batteries more than 5 years, it isn't worth the small savings to me to have a battery fail when I need it.

My alternator went, so went my battery.

Mine is about 4 months old.

Sam's Club (Cosco's competitor) has Energizer batteries for cars and they are exactly the same as an Interstate Battery, Die-Hard, Duralast, or the brand that Adavanced Auto Parts sells. They are all made by Johnson Electric and I've been running on in my e36 325i for over a year with no issues. Plus you will not find one cheaper anywhere ~72 bucks plus core charge. I believe the model number to fit most BMW's is 49 but check the book in the store for fitment.

There is also a sticky on the site somewhere about what I'm writing about - do a search.

Thanks,

K

For my 535i, I just ended up putting an Bosch Group 49DL battery from Pep Boys. The price is $10 more than Autozone ($95 instead of $85), but 1) it has a 3 year non prorated warrantee instead of two years, and I really don't like dealing with Autozone locally. The best part is that after asking, Pep Boys matched the price that Autozone had.

It's been there for about 2 years. I have no idea what brand it is.

I've been wondering about keeping a second one stored in the car somewhere in case of emergency.

[QUOTE=I've been wondering about keeping a second one stored in the car somewhere in case of emergency.[/QUOTE]

It would be kind of cool if you could set one up as a back-up.

Either to just grab and throw in when the main goes dead, or even hooked it up somehow that you could throw a switch and have it active instead of the main.

Probably more work than it's worth though.

If your OBC is unlocked...I would periodically do TEST #9 just before start up in the morning at least once a week. If the battery's voltage starts creeping toward 11.89 volts on a consistent basis...then I'd prepare to replace that sucker.

At 11.89volts...the battery is a 0% state of charge (this is when the engine is NOT running). An eight year old battery is like a 92 year old man running a 26 mile marathon in 90 degrees weather. If he makes it to the end....everyone will celebrate at the achievment...but the chances of something catastrophic happening has a very high probability! :eek:

http://www.bimmerboard.com/members/q/original/BMW%20Battery%20State%20of%20Charge.jpg

Mine's at least two years old, but will probably have to be replaced since it hasn't been driven since July :(

I wouldn't throw out a battery just because it's been sitting for 2 years. If the cells still have fluid around them...the battery should come back to life with a long and low recharge.

When you go to start her up and the battery doesn't have enough juice...if you have a battery charger...hook her up for a good 24 hours at low voltage (like 2-5 volts). That's better than higher voltage for a short period.

And hopefully...ALL...of these batteries everyone is talking about (if they're under the rear seat)... are connected to their vent tubes! Please say yes! :eek:

http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/7/web/739000-739999/739005_79_full.jpg

Just replaced a 5.5 year old interstate, it was still working fine. I personally, don't run batteries more than 5 years, it isn't worth the small savings to me to have a battery fail when I need it. couldn't agree more and i follow the same rule. http://images.bimmerforums.com/vb3images/icons/icon14.gif

If your OBC is unlocked...I would periodically do TEST #9 just before start up in the morning at least once a week.

I went out a little while ago and tried it and #9 gave me 12.09.

Looks like I will start thinking about a new battery...Thanks!

btw...I also checked the vent tube and it IS connected :buttrock

When you go to start her up and the battery doesn't have enough juice...if you have a battery charger...hook her up for a good 24 hours at low voltage (like 2-5 volts). That's better than higher voltage for a short period.


A 12v battery should never be charged at anything other than 12v. To slow charge, you would charge at a low amperage. BTW, there are special chargers now that are designed for this exact scenario that actually vary the amperage to clean the cells and maximum the battery life.

Going on just over four years old. Gotta love Energizer.

My old car had a 11 year old battery when I replaced it with another BMW one. It was a couple years old when I sold it and it was in perfect working order.

The current car is running of a battery that I pulled out of my parts car when the one that was in it went bad.. I'd say it is a 4 year old battery that wasn't used for almost 2 years. :rofl Works great though.

I'll be putting an interstate battery in my car soon as the company I sell Automotive paint for has an account with Interstate, so it won't cost very much.

I also have a yellow top I need to take in for warranty since they never took the little month and year stickers off. I got it for free from a friend when it wouldn't start his car one day.

I need to check this seeing as my battery died the other night from such freezing temperatures? Is the back seat simple to pull up?

Also, since my battery died because of cold temperatures, do you think it's still good or do I need to buy a new one? And what's the best charging method, quick jumpstart or a longer, lower amped charge? Thanks.

mine is a 1992 i replaced my original battery 2 months ago when it nearly exploded under the seat while i was traveling up 35. i could smell rotten eggs in the car after a few miles, when i pulled over to inspect everything the rear seat was bellowing white smoke. i went to the trunk for a screw driver and pliers, and had to pry the rear seat up, then remove the smoldering battery with the car still running. pretty unnerving experience...:eyecrazy

remove the smoldering battery with the car still running

just don't to that . . please don't!

Sam's Club (Cosco's competitor) has Energizer batteries for cars and they are exactly the same as an Interstate Battery, Die-Hard, Duralast, or the brand that Adavanced Auto Parts sells. They are all made by Johnson Electric and I've been running on in my e36 325i for over a year with no issues. Plus you will not find one cheaper anywhere ~72 bucks plus core charge.

K

I think I paid $60 for mine in january... or I would have if I didn't convince Autozone they should replace the 48DL under warranty with a 49DL.

Where do all of you buy your Battery from? Autozone seems to be the only reasonably priced place w/ Batteries around my area and I really don't want to go to Autozone. How are Duralast Batteries? That's what they carry.

If my car has rust holes in the battery tray, and I don't have a vent tube, is this bad? or will my fumes escape through my rustiness.

If my car has rust holes in the battery tray, and I don't have a vent tube, is this bad? or will my fumes escape through my rustiness.
I was just wondering about this too when I bought a battery a couple days ago.

It should have a vent tube to be safe. Even if the fumes could escape through the rust spots...the seat cushion and other components under the seat would be affected in some way.

And if you have rust holes below your seat and battery big enough to let fumes through I think you may have other issues to worry about :confused

...i.e. loosing the battery over a heavy bump...getting water in from driving over a puddle...:help

Mine is an interstate that I pulled out of my M3, that I think was pulled out of a car going to the junkyard, so I have no Idea how old it is. I'll probably change it soon.

When you go to start her up and the battery doesn't have enough juice...if you have a battery charger...hook her up for a good 24 hours at low voltage (like 2-5 volts). That's better than higher voltage for a short period.

A 12v battery should never be charged at anything other than 12v. To slow charge, you would charge at a low amperage. BTW, there are special chargers now that are designed for this exact scenario that actually vary the amperage to clean the cells and maximum the battery life.

Cary..you are ABSOLUTELY correct...and I apologize to the board...that was a typo...my fingers got ahead of my brain. That was supposed to read
"a good 24 hours at low amps like 2-5 amps)"

I was so focused on emphasizing the low numeric characters that I mis-wrote "volts" instead of "amps". Thanks for catching that. :)

Here are my rusty holes..