E53 X5 Battery Options - A List

[Clockwork]

Cause Optima batteries of today seem no better (actually, research shows worse quality now) than all other options out there now.

[cn90]

I have 4 cars at home and have been using Autozone Duralast batteries for the last 10 years but here are my gripe:

- Prices for Duralast battery keeps going up and up and up...Now it is about $130, $140 etc.

- They last only about 2-3 years for me, and fail almost like clockwork.

- Autozone warranty is only 2y now, no more pro-rated thingy.

So, time for me to look at alternative. I was at local Menards hardware store.
Found Exide L3/48X battery for $94, with 40-month warranty.
It fits the 1998 Volvo S70 battery tray perfectly.
Since the 1998 Volvo S70 and the 2006 X5 3.0 use the same battery, this should fit the X5 3.0.

So, this is what I use now, time will tell how long The Exide battery lasts.




---

[Fox5]

Originally Posted by Clockwork

Cause Optima batteries of today seem no better (actually, research shows worse quality now) than all other options out there now.

What research? From who? Show me another battery that'll last 7 years in an off-road truck with high load and harsh conditions, and extended drained periods.

[cn90]

Originally Posted by Fox5

What research? From who? Show me another battery that'll last 7 years in an off-road truck with high load and harsh conditions, and extended drained periods.

The battery I removed from my 2006 X5 last month (Dec 2014) clearly had a mfg date from 2006. So, the OEM battery lasted 9 years, when it finally died.

[Clockwork]

Originally Posted by Fox5

What research? From who? Show me another battery that'll last 7 years in an off-road truck with high load and harsh conditions, and extended drained periods.

I was just doing research for what batteries are considered better or the best for our e53's and my research ended up being more broad to batteries and warranty adn experiences in any vehicle. Anyhow a LOT of forums (pirate4x4 included) have negative reviews of Optima batts and other options are more accessible/smarter/cheaper cost than the brand name Optima.
To me it seems Optima is living off their name they MADE (just like Apple) and now that the rest of technology has caught up with them and perhaps even surpassed in a few qualities, its now nothing special to have an optima as a power source.

Not trying to offend you personally, but my factory BMW batt lasted almost 10 years and thats with LOTS of daily SHORT trips in stop and go traffic. Probably a more harsh environment than what an offroad truck goes through (battery wise). I'd assume most offroaders are not daily drivers and therefore subjected to different power requirements and the frequency of them is less than a daily driver.
Anyhow, if you like Optima, then go nuts. I just found a better solution for MY needs.

PS: should not really be comparing AGM to non-AGM batteries either tho, to keep it equal in comparisons...