X5 4.4 battery
 

Does anyone know for certain if the stock battery in an E53 4.4 is maintenance free and completely sealed, or are the cell screws just covered up by a sticker as was always the case on older BMW's? Also, does anyone know the exact specifications of the original battery and who actually manufactured it?

There are the screws covered by sticker

Thanks:thumbup:

I just peeled off the sticker on mine the other day. 2002 4.6is, and didn't have the screws. Went ahead and made the trip to Wally World.

Hmmm. Interesting. I wonder if BMW Canada specs different batteries than BMW NA?

A couple of related posts:
Replacement Batts(Non-OEM)
Possible OEM-Exide
Always happy with Interstate.

Scott

The official Battery thread.

http://www.xoutpost.com/bmw-sav-foru...apped-out.html

Thanks for the great links guys.

Could the battery eye showing black be a contributing cause to the Self Leveling Suspension being inactive? I am out on a limb here, but heck, it's all electrical probably, right?

I doubt it. You should be aware that just because the battery "magic eye" (which is just ah integrated hydrometer) is black it's not a reason to replace the battery altogether, it is just caused by acid lamination within the battery. If the battery reads a voltage of 12.7 volts and the eye is black, just turn the battery over once to remove the lamination and it should turn green. Also remember that the green / black eye is only an indicator of the cell to which it is attached.

In general if the eye is green the battery charge is adequate. If it is black the battery is inadequately charged and should be fully recharged. If it is pale yellow the acid level is too low and the battery should be replaced.

Interestingly according to a recent BMW document dated January 2010 it says:

"Since BMW uses only maintenance-free or AGM batteries, DO NOT ADD DISTILLED WATER!"

I don't know when this implementation took place though.

Update: Just checked. 2005 battery is a Douglas, maintenance free with venting tube and with the 'magic eye' (NO accessible cells under the sticker). p/n 61-21-8-381-762. 12 v, 90 Ah, 720A, 720CCA, 160RC. Retails for $144.50. Note that this is not an AGM battery. (AGM's do not have the magic eye nor do they have an venting tube) Apparently BMW does not spec an AGM battery for the USA E53. For Europe, BMW specs two different E53 batteries. A standard maintenance free battery and an AGM battery specifically for "vehicles with Auxiliary heating." It states it's "a new generation battery (AGM): for vehicles with critical charge level, the new generation battery can be installed." It retails for a heart-stopped $527.89

The battery used in the E70 X5 is also an AGM battery (90 An and 900 A) and apparently made by East Penn Manufacturing p/n 61-21-7-553-954 and retails for $299.00