New battery issue, or something else?

[pghguy517]

2005 X5 4.4 with 208,000 miles, replaced the battery, then a week later I get all kinds of lights, radio and wipers won't work, then they do for a bit. Checked the alternator and reads 14.2v, replace the alternator with the high mile original one I still have that I think is still good and get 14.2V but still same warning lights and codes. Took the alternator to the parts store to bench test and they said it was good, they went to check the alternator in car, but said my new battery (that I bought somewhere else) is bad. Is it possible that my new battery (Interstate 800A) is bad even though it cranks the car over no issues?
Through all this I received the following codes and cleared after the battery change and both alternator changes. Codes: 2E97 alternator, 2A19 fuel level, 2DB4 steering wheel communication, 2F62 brake light switch, 51AE DME/DDE not plausible (transmission). Any ideas? thanks

[getty150]

The battery could very well be bad! Most batteries are reman. Who knows how long that battery has sat on the shelf.
The public is told car battery is maintenance free. We install the battery and forgot about it!
Far from the truth. Attention (charging) needs to be given to the battery from the start using today's modern smart charger.
I put my 1 year old battery on the charger every two months now. Using the smart charger will drain it down then charge the battery back up...this is a cycle.
Batterys don't have power stored in them but it contains all of the properties to produce the power. Those properties need to be refreshed from time to time. The best way to do that is to have the charger take the battery through a cycle.
I monitor my battery by way of...
How fast it turns over the starter.
Of course the age.
How well does the car distribute the power throughout the car. BMWs are hogs when it comes to use of power from the battery. But when a battery is getting low in power the car will start to select or prioritize what components should be powered most.
Keep in mind the BMW car is equipped with a (Hidden Menu) in the On Board Computer it has a feature that the user can check the power/voltage of the installed battery right there on the spot.
Its the truth...they don't call the BMW "the ultimate driving machine" for nothing!
Knowledge is key and remember BMWs don't like to sit especially for long periods of time.
They also don't like short trips (in town driving) this usually doesn't give the alternator enough time to charge the battery back to full or back to the starting point of that day.
Resulting in a lesser charged battery day after day.
Now you see why I'm charging my battery once every 2 months.

Here's more...

https://r.tapatalk.com/shareLink/top...ink_source=app
Sent from my TMRV075G using Tapatalk

[pghguy517]

Originally Posted by getty150

The battery could very well be bad! Most batteries are reman. Who knows how long that battery has sat on the shelf.
The public is told car battery is maintenance free. We install the battery and forgot about it!
Far from the truth. Attention (charging) needs to be given to the battery from the start using today's modern smart charger.
I put my 1 year old battery on the charger every two months now. Using the smart charger will drain it down then charge the battery back up...this is a cycle.
Batterys don't have power stored in them but it contains all of the properties to produce the power. Those properties need to be refreshed from time to time. The best way to do that is to have the charger take the battery through a cycle.
I monitor my battery by way of...
How fast it turns over the starter.
Of course the age.
How well does the car distribute the power throughout the car. BMWs are hogs when it comes to use of power from the battery. But when a battery is getting low in power the car will start to select or prioritize what components should be powered most. Its the truth...they don't call the BMW "the ultimate driving machine" for nothing!

Here's more...

https://r.tapatalk.com/shareLink/top...ink_source=app
Sent from my TMRV075G using Tapatalk

Thanks, good info. Battery came from Costco with a date code of Sept 2025. Usually high product turn over at the Costco I'm at, but I'll take it in for them to check it.

[haigha]

Which battery did you get? I see two on Interstate's site, neither of which has 800A, from what I read:

https://www.interstatebatteries.com/products/mtx-49/h8

https://www.interstatebatteries.com/products/mtp-49/h8

Maybe they make a different one for Costco.

[pghguy517]

Update 10-16-25: Costco gave me a new battery, no questions asked, but same warning lights issue and charges 14.2V. And I was wrong, it’s a 900A Interstate battery. Now what?

[pghguy517]

Originally Posted by haigha

Which battery did you get? I see two on Interstate's site, neither of which has 800A, from what I read:

https://www.interstatebatteries.com/products/mtx-49/h8

https://www.interstatebatteries.com/products/mtp-49/h8

Maybe they make a different one for Costco.

You’re right, it’s a 900A Interstate battery.

[getty150]

Originally Posted by pghguy517

Thanks, good info. Battery came from Costco with a date code of Sept 2025. Usually high product turn over at the Costco I'm at, but I'll take it in for them to check it.

You may have read that I'm a Sams man and yes they will prorate a battery and then give you a fresh battery.
Interstate are commonly known to be quality batteries.

https://youtu.be/C85TwgQDLaI?si=Zc45IqMJc6PNX9a-