E53 X5 Battery Options - A List

[X5 Meister]

An FYI for anyone interested. Here is list of batteries for an E53 4.4i/4.6is/4.8is. I'll try to keep it up to date.

Notes:
CCA is Cold Cranking Amps. CA is Cranking Amps. RC is Reserve Capacity in minutes. L x W x H. L is Length. W is Width. H is Height. FR is Free Replacement period in months. PR is Pro-Rated Warranty period in months.
North American BMW E53 X5's, as far as I know, which includes my own, were outfitted with relabeled Douglas batteries. Apparently Douglas sold their battery division long ago to East Penn Manufacturing (near Reading, PA) which now sells batteries under the "DEKA" brand.

If anyone has information to add please let me know.

BMW OE
- (Douglas) P/N 61-21-8-381-762.
720 CCA 160 RC $144.50 retail
- Current replacement is an Exide battery P/N 61-21-7-586-962.
720 CCA 160 RC $199.99 retail

DEKA
- Exact Fit Model 649MF
900 CCA 185 RC 13.9375" x 6.875" x 7.5" 18 FR 70 PR
- Exact Fit Model 9AGM49 (All Glass Mat version of above)
900 CCA 180 RC 13.9375" x 6.875" x 7.5" 18 FR 70 PR

DURALAST
-Gold Duralast H8-DLG
760 CCA 100 RC 13.9375" x 6.875" x 7.5" 36 FR 96 PR

EXIDE
- Classic 49-60
850 CCA 1000 CA 140 RC 14" x 6.875" x 7.4375" 20 FR 60 PR
- Global Extreme L5/49-E108
900 CCA 1080 CA 185 RC 14" x 6.875" x 7.4375" 40 FR 108 PR

INTERSTATE
- Megatron Plus MTP-49/H8
720 CCA 900 CA 176 RC 13.9375" x 6.875" x 7.5" 30 FR 85 PR
- Megatron Plus MTP-49/H8A (All Glass Mat version of above)
900 CCA 1000 CA 158 RC 13.9375" x 6.875" x 7.5" 30 FR 85 PR

Links:

BMW: RealOEM.com * BMW E53 X5 4.4i Original BMW battery (Warranty only)

DEKA: Automotive Batteries: Deka's Complete Line of Lead-acid Batteries for Passenger Cars & LTV

DURALAST: Battery | 2005 BMW X5 AWD 8 Cylinders 4.4L EFI DOHC | AutoZone.com

EXIDE: Transportation NA

INTERSTATE: Interstate Batteries Category Page - Automotive / Truck BMW X5

Some good info: Consumer Reports Article - MSN Autos

And a great write-up on chargers: http://www.xoutpost.com/bmw-sav-foru...w-one-fyi.html

[Best4x4xFAR]

I know the specs you have listed for the OEM battery are for the 4.4i..

For reference (photos below), here are the specs for the battery in our '06 3.0i (P/N 61-21-8-381-749):

640 CCA
140 Min RC

Significantly short of the specs you have posted for the 4.4i battery..

Anyway, more confusion on Interstate's recommendations though.

Although Interstate recommends the MTP-49/H8 for the 4.4i models, it is interesting to note that the Interstate MTP-49/H8 does not have a Manifold vent (according to Interstate specs), which would be required since it is a 'wet' flooded cell battery and will gas when charged. Does anyone actually have this battery that can verify if this is correct or not?

The Interstate MTP-49/H8A is a sealed AGM design (as you noted) so it could be used even though it has no manifold vent, as no venting is required for this battery design..

EDIT: I just spoke to an Interstate wholesale warehouse that physically checked a battery in stock. The MTP-49/H8 DOES have a manifold vent although the printed specs indicate it does not (his book showed no vent as well), so mystery solved, sorry..

Now if only I could get this bad boy in there (or more likely the Sears re-branded version for over a $100 less), but I fear it is just too tall. But with 1,100 CCA and (more importantly) 205 Min RC, it would be nice to have..

[X5 Meister]

Good info. The Odyssey and Die-Hard Marine are certainly nice, but as you said just won't fit, so it's really a moot point. The Odyssey is too short and too tall. The Die-Hard Marine is too short and also way too tall. Honestly I think the Exide Global Extreme is the best bet. You get almost as good specs (900 CCA versus 1150 and a 185 RC versus 205), but 40 month free replacement warranty versus 36 months. The only disadvantage of the Exide Global Extreme is that it is not an AGM battery, but a standard wet battery (it has a vent hose and everything).

[Best4x4xFAR]

I think I may go with the Deka 9AGM49. I found it relatively locally for $159.99 and it gives me 900 CCA (+ 260 cca over stock) and 180 Min RC (+ 40 min over stock), and I like the idea of the AGM design over the flooded cell. I can't seem to find the Exide Global Extreme battery you referenced on line or locally..

Edit: Well, the OEM battery gave up the ghost on my wife the other day, so I didn't have time to get the Deka AGM as planned, instead I ran up the road to the trusty Interstate Distributor and pick-up up a MTP-49/H8 ($141.95 + tax) and threw it in. So at least it was still an upgrade over the stock battery (+ 60 cca and + 36 min over the stock 3.0 battery), even if it wasn't what I planned..

[John Galt]

Originally Posted by Best4x4xFAR

I know the specs you have listed for the OEM battery are for the 4.4i..

For reference (photos below), here are the specs for the battery in our '06 3.0i (P/N 61-21-8-381-749):

640 CCA
140 Min RC

Significantly short of the specs you have posted for the 4.4i battery..

But the 4.x batteries will work fine in the 3.0. I have BMW 4.4 battery in my 3.0 right now.

[Best4x4xFAR]

Originally Posted by John Galt

But the 4.x batteries will work fine in the 3.0. I have BMW 4.4 battery in my 3.0 right now.

Yes, as I noted I plan to use the largest capacity battery that will practically fit, just thought it would be nice to add the specs for the 3.0i batteries. Honestly, to me, I can't see why BMW went to the trouble to spec a different battery for the 3.0i, but what do I know..

[jbny]

How about this.

Duralast Gold : 950 CCA, 100 RC

[Best4x4xFAR]

Originally Posted by jbny

How about this.

Duralast Gold : 950 CCA, 100 RC

To me the reserve capacity is far more important than the CCA rating (assuming it meets at least the factory spec). If it is truly a 100 Min RC, that is 40-60 minutes below the factory spec, which would worry me greatly. I wonder if you may have grabbed the Ah rating though instead of RC..

[indianapolisX5]

Originally Posted by X5 Meister

EXIDE
- Classic 49-60
850 CCA 1000 CA 140 RC 14" x 6.875" x 7.4375" 20 FR 60 PR
- Global Extreme L5/49-E108
900 CCA 1080 CA 185 RC 14" x 6.875" x 7.4375" 40 FR 108 PR

Dealer put a new Exide in mine yesterday. I assume it's a "Global Extreme" for the 4.4

Any other dealers sending out the $1,000 savings cards? A gimmick, but 15% off is better than a kick in the ass

[Best4x4xFAR]

Originally Posted by indianapolisX5

Dealer put a new Exide in mine yesterday. I assume it's a "Global Extreme" for the 4.4

Wow! $118.75 to install the battery and test the electrical system? Gotta love dealers! As for the Battery, I wouldn't think its an Exide Global Extreme. It seems to be an additional part number for the replacement OEM spec battery, with 720 CCA, and a 90 Ah rating (roughly calculates to about 150 min RC) according to these specs...

Originally Posted by indianapolisX5

Any other dealers sending out the $1,000 savings cards? A gimmick, but 15% off is better than a kick in the ass

Yup, I received one from my local dealer as well. They probably marked all their service/parts costs up 20% before they sent them out..