Interesting Article in Battery Replacement on newer BMW
 

With the recent weird glitch I was having with the battery, I decided to order up a Portable Battery pack to have in the stash. Ordered me up a JNC XFORCE 1400 CCA unit.

Anyhow, while googling, I came across this article.

Interesting, not sure how ACCURATE it is

http://independentmotorcars.com/2010...tons-of-dough/

I can see how a new battery needs to be registered so that the vehicle knows the battery specs and applies whatever charge profile to it. But the latter, with the modules and such, but are these newer vehicles THAT sensative ?

I find it funny how he warns about the complicated procedure BMWs require to change the battery, but when he actually explains it, it is just like every other car aside from registering the battery.

^Agreed. Just because some jack frigged it up from AAA doesn't mean its that bad.

Bingo

Bingo

Look, someone screwed something up on this jump. Raise your hand if you thing the AAA tow truck driver might not have been exactly accurate in what he did? To cover his butt when the boss grilled him....

There is a common theme in many of these 'helpful' articles:

"Leave it do the experts, these things can really cost you a lot"

The bigger the number, the bigger the fear, the more people will think $535 is OK for a complicated battery replacement.

Couple of comments on the article:

"Sonically test the cells"?!?!? How much will that cost?!?!? You have a 5-6 year old battery and the car is showing starting issues? $200 and replace it. Only a moron (or repair shop salesman) would think spending $120 on diagnosing is a good idea.

Sometimes, some control modules must be updated when the battery is registered with the car.

Liar.

And while you "should" get it registered if replacing with the same size and rating, there is really no rush. A week, two..DO NOT feel you cant replace the battery because "I dont know how to register it".

Oh, finally, there is this sad truth-

Someone screws up a jump or battery replacement and a module gets fried....two days later the lying SA is calling the owner with "Well, it turns out the LCM was bad and THAT is what originally had killed your battery- the new battery just highlighted the bad LCM- good news it that we were able to combine the labor so it is only $3400."

Im just a cynic.....

I change the battery with another brand but had the dealer register it.

Dealer is quite nice no charge as part of other work.