Average OEM Battery Life?
 

on 6th year now (01/3.0i)? is it something that needs to be changed as a preventive measure? no sign of dying .. maybe i just want to change something on it?? TIA!

I'm on the same track: 3.0 '01 delivered 9-'01, build 8-'01...
I suspect the clock is ticking for both of us.

I cannot locate a non-oem batt. anywhere in my area, however.

The stlr's oem replacement, for $200+ would be my last pick.

wow, pretty good battery life then huh! i have an '03 so i hope i have a couple more years left on mine.

although, i am paranoid about it though...had battery on my other SUVs died on me before and its not a good thing getting stranded at 3am on the freeway for sure...that's why i'm paranoid now...hehehehe!

I bought one at Sears for around $130. Its good to replace them every 3 - 4 years.

think about the cost/benefit
 

most batteries last 4 or 5 years. sure i've had batteries that last longer. but they don't always show signs of age until they croak for good. My '02 3.0 died last year at just 4 years of age.
My point is that you can change it now under controlled circumstances or risk getting stuck. Then you have to call AAA or get a jump and you're wasting time that is probably worth way more than the little bit more use you get by keeping it.

Do you have a model # from Sears? Perusing the Sears site
shows that group 94R doesn't exist there...this is one hard to
find fookin battery.

well, in that case...i'll definitely change mine as well as my wifes SUV as well, both are 2003 models and so therefore are 4 years old

I just replaced my failed OEM (X5 4.4I built April 2001) battery on 06/09/07 with an NTB (National Tire & Battery) Exide battery. Cost was $130.99 but because they had just "dinged" one of my rear wheels while installing new Diamaris tires they sold me the battery at half price so I got the battery for $70.37 tax in.

There are lots of non-oem battery options out there.
I paid $66 for a battery for my 4.4l at Sam's Club. Fit perfectly.

http://www.xoutpost.com/x5-e53-forum/...s+club+battery

The 4.4 batt is a group 49...there are several brands of that
group on the mkt.; the tough find for me, here in western NC,
is the group 94 batt. for the 3.0.