Another Battery Thread - Help Choosing a replacement for 35d

[Best4x4xFAR]

***I know ANOTHER Battery Thread?!?! I’ve searched and read pages of battery threads, obtaining lots of good information. But most are a few years old, and the landscape of available batteries seems to be ever changing. So please forgive me.****

Well It appears the time has come…

My wife called yesterday when leaving work, saying she got a message about the “Battery Charge Level Low!”. Manufacture date for the car is 6/21/2013, and it shows as the original battery, so just over 9 years of service seems about right (or pretty good I guess).

Pulled out the Foxwell NT520 when she got home and plugged it in. Shows Battery charge state at 41.02%, with the highest charge state in history at 58.20% five days ago (When it was 40 degrees warmer out). Shows last battery replacement at 0 KM, consistent with it being the original battery, but it lists capacity at 106 Ah (?)..

Set the Foxwell to monitor Battery voltage and Alternator load, and took the car for a ride (was 26 degrees, and car did not seem to struggle to start). Voltage seems to run around 14.6-14.7 V, and Alternator load ran from 28% to a max of around 51%. I’m assuming (and hoping) this means alternator is healthy and battery is just old and in need of replacement.

So It seems hard enough to find any 105 Ah AGM Replacements, much less a 106 Ah. And of course, I found out that Foxwell removed the ability to change the battery type/size in the NT520 software (Bang Head – should have bought the older NT510 I guess). I haven’t had a chance to check the battery itself to see if it is actually labeled at 106 AH, as it was dark last night, and snowed this AM, but I suspect it is not, as that is an odd size. So here come the questions:

1) Assume it really won’t make a difference to leave the Capacity set at 106 Ah, with a 105 Ah battery in place (of course will register the new battery after installation, but not the capacity change)
2) Anyone know if you can even code for a 106 Ah (doesn’t seem likely) or why the Foxwell would report the capacity as such?
3) Anyone’s experience with brands/model batteries (there are a lot of battery threads out there, but I don’t see much current when it comes to actual battery recommendations

So the Original Replacement Part number from BMW seems to be NLA: 61217628740

FCP Euro lists an Odyssey 49-950 as a replacement. Odyssey makes great batteries, but this is only 94 Ah capacity..
Interstate Battery Only Lists up to a 95 Ah option..

This is what I have found for replacements thus far:

Local BMW Dealer has a BMW Branded 105 Ah AGM - $220 (It strikes me as odd that this is one of the more affordable options, what am I missing?)
(Have no Idea who the manufacturer is, of course, believe the originals were Exide?)

Rock Auto – Bosch S6-95R AGM - 105 Ah - $245.00
Rock Auto – Deka Intimidator 9A-95R AGM – 105 Ah - $247.00
Local Deka Distributor – Deka Ultimate 9A-95R AGM – 105 Ah - $367.00 (??)
Batteries Plus - Duracell SLI95R –AGM (appears to be made by Eastern Penn) – 105 Ah - $309.00 (??)

Advance Auto – DieHard Platinum H9 AGM – 100 Ah - $210.00
Auto Zone – Duralast Gold H9 AGM – 100 A - $210.00


Thinking Best Option is to purchase a BMW Branded Battery from the dealer and register it with the Foxwell..

Thoughts?

[andrewwynn]

The histogram and charge state look normal for end of life battery.

There is no difference of course between 105 and 106.

Are you sure you didn't just miss where to set the AH? When I registered a battery a while back I did have to pick the "next best" choice as the exact value was not available.

[13brian]

Often if you purchase from dealer, they program for no extra $. Ask for it?
Last time I was looking for AGM I found best deal at sams for Duracell, but that was over 3 years ago.

[Best4x4xFAR]

Well, for those who care, I went with the BMW Branded Battery from the dealer. My wife picked it up on her way home from work Friday, and I put in in Saturday evening.

I asked them to pull the one with the latest date code, but was pleasantly surprised to find it had a date code of 12/21 on it, so less than a month old. Resting voltage when received was 12.85v. Perfect...

Took apart the hatch area to get to the battery (why on earth doesn't the E70 have some way to hold the hinged cargo floor open, or E53 did?!?!

Disconnected the negative cable, then all the cables from the 'brick' attached to the Positive terminal, in the hopes of being able to get the whole assembly off to the side, but I couldn't for the life of me disconnect this small two wire connector right next to the flap that opens to access the positive terminal screw (I have more trouble getting electrical connectors apart on this beast than anything else I have ever worked on).

So I ended up having to very carefully wiggled the 70 lb battery out, and the new one into place. But everything went back together without issue.

Resting voltage on the original Battery was 12.35V (done)..

Registered the new battery with the Foxwell, closed it up and left it alone till the next morning.

No issues, other than my numb fingers (it was 21 degrees out)..

The next morning my wife left before I could check on things, and she texted me photos of the DSC and xDrive malfunction warning on iDrive, and to let me know the clock needed to be reset.

I called her to have her perform the steering angle sensor reset (all the way left, all the way right, back to center, turn off car, restart), but she said it had cleared on its own after driving it.

So total damage was really only $201(plus tax) once I return the old battery and get my $20 core back. Still can't believe buying a battery from the dealer turned out to be the most cost effective option

Photos of the new battery, with the new part number visible, if anyone is interested..

[13brian]

Scott, thanks for sharing details, glad to hear about your positive experience. Good to know about the Foxwell version you have. Dealer = go figure, still no idea on mfr of battery?
Mine (2011 w/ factory face-lift) doesn't have cargo cover prop either, but has 3 holes in bottom side of lid)
https://www.ebay.com/itm/13392947248....c100935.m2460
https://www.getbmwparts.com/p-e70-x5...kit-pke70shock

[josiahg52]

Agree that there is no difference 105 and 106 Ah.

I installed a 95 Ah battery, which wasn't an option with Carly. I contacted a tech at the battery manufacturer and gave them my capacity options and they gave me a recommendation which I used.

BMW has a hydraulic "trunk opening" strut for the rear trunk floor. I installed it years and years ago. A buddy at Bav Auto (before ECS bought and destroyed it) when it was down the road from me recommended it. I might be able to track down a P/N.

[Best4x4xFAR]

Originally Posted by josiahg52

I might be able to track down a P/N.

Looks Like 13Brian beat you to it, Thanks to both of you!

Originally Posted by 13brian

Scott, thanks for sharing details, glad to hear about your positive experience. Good to know about the Foxwell version you have. Dealer = go figure, still no idea on mfr of battery?
Mine (2011 w/ factory face-lift) doesn't have cargo cover prop either, but has 3 holes in bottom side of lid)
https://www.ebay.com/itm/13392947248....c100935.m2460
https://www.getbmwparts.com/p-e70-x5...kit-pke70shock

Another gentleman was kind enough to do so for me in this thread as well

Looks Like about $100 in parts. I already have them in my 'save for later' list on FCP Euro, But 13Brian linked a 'kit' above for the same parts. Either way, not a priority right now, but thank you both!