OEM battery life

PersonaNonGrata · #1 11-01-2005, 12:58 PM

How long did your OEM battery last? Mine is about 42 months old and has given up the ghost and won't hold a charge anymore. It's so nice to discover that as you're trying to start it up to go to the dealer to get a broken window regulator replaced.

Should I just have the dealer replace the original battery with an OEM battery? I'll have the X5 there anyway.

Sponsored Links

Tomaz · #2 11-01-2005, 01:02 PM

Mine lasted about 45 months. Why not a OEM? Especially if it's free! It probably fits better than any other brand too.

motordavid · #3 11-01-2005, 01:03 PM

Kevin, they'll be glad to sell you a new one...BringMoneyWithya!

Jeeshh, when it rains it fooking pours.

Whether you get a new one there or, at a auto parts joint, I'd put a low amp trickle charge on it when you get home. A 12-18 hr slow charge does wonders for a new battery. Sorta like good nutrition for the kid. You can bet the Stlr has them sitting on a shelf, straight from the mfg'er, and an initial good, slow charge is the deal, imo.
GL,md

PS: our '01 3.0's batt is at 49 months now...the clock is ticking on it, I suspect.

footsurg · #4 11-01-2005, 01:13 PM

If you don't use the OEM battery the vent hose won't likely be on the correct side of the battery. Thats probably going to be the only difference from OEM. I think the OEM battery was made by Douglas. If you have a 3.0 you're going to need a 47 group battery and a 49 group if you have a 4.4. The physical sizes of a group 47 or 49 battery should be almost identical within the group regardless of the brand. The CCA's might vary a bit however. If you're still under warranty just tell the dealer that you've been using a maintainer on the battery and they will put in a new one for free. Worked for me. In my case I actually was using the BMW maintainer off and on.

Xtreme53 · #5 11-01-2005, 01:46 PM

I have the OEM battery working for 62 months. Two weeks ago my car wouldn't start because the battery was drained, I charged it up and has been running fine. I bought a replacement battery from the dealer for $140 just in case, I'll change it out later this week.

01X54.4 · #6 11-01-2005, 02:52 PM

FYI, I am still using the original OEM battery after 72 months. I still have not seen sign of electrical problems.

superH · #7 11-01-2005, 03:07 PM

Changed my battery after about 46 months on my 01 4.4. Just went to PepBoys and they hooked me up for like $90 or so. Went back home and changed it myself; vent tube had correct location and everything went back together fine.

PersonaNonGrata · #8 11-01-2005, 03:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 01X54.4

FYI, I am still using the original OEM battery after 72 months. I still have not seen sign of electrical problems.

Dang! That is an old battery. Batteries tend to die early where I live because the summers get extremely hot, as in 100 degrees F for weeks on end. I think that the dealer will take care of me. The X is there now and I'm stylin' in a 2005 Ford Taurus rental. It's no BMW loaner but it sure beats the bus.

01X54.4 · #9 11-01-2005, 03:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PersonaNonGrata

Dang! That is an old battery. Batteries tend to die early where I live because the summers get extremely hot, as in 100 degrees F for weeks on end. I think that the dealer will take care of me. The X is there now and I'm stylin' in a 2005 Ford Taurus rental. It's no BMW loaner but it sure beats the bus.

I did not know heat being so bad on batteries. Come to think of it, my work place has covered parking deck and it may be the reason.

PersonaNonGrata · #10 11-01-2005, 03:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by motordavid

Kevin, they'll be glad to sell you a new one...BringMoneyWithya!

Jeeshh, when it rains it fooking pours.

Whether you get a new one there or, at a auto parts joint, I'd put a low amp trickle charge on it when you get home. A 12-18 hr slow charge does wonders for a new battery. Sorta like good nutrition for the kid. You can bet the Stlr has them sitting on a shelf, straight from the mfg'er, and an initial good, slow charge is the deal, imo.
GL,md

PS: our '01 3.0's batt is at 49 months now...the clock is ticking on it, I suspect.

You said it brother. My fourth window regulator is busted (I've gone full circle with those now), the battery died, I call into work and they're screaming for me, my partner was busy, my supervisor was hunting me down, etc, etc....

Thanks for the tip about the tickle, I mean trickle, charger. I'll use my Porsche one. I'm sure that it will work just fine.

Sponsored Links