is there any "programming" to be done after the new battery is put in? I mean I can change a battery...

I'm also going to bring it in for a moonroof issue... so I guess I'll mention the startup thing as secondary and if they say it's the battery and it's not covered, I'll just run out with the old one and replace it on my own... if there's no programming involved. I just checked autozone's site and they have a Duralast battery along with this message: When replacing the battery in an iDrive equipped. vehicle, resetting of the system may be required at a dealership. Battery is vented to outside of vehicle.

Damn I shoulda just bought a Honda. :D

Yes, that's what we mean by 'registering'. You can skip this step, but the consequences vary...

I'm wondering if you could develop a 'cost/benefit' analysis for BMW versus Other battery replaceemnt:

Non-BMW: $180, every 3 years, maybe reduced life due to no 're-programming'...cost $60 per year

BMW: 5 years, $384 per replacement, optimizes life: cost $75 per year.

Just pulling numbers from the air, but IMO the lunacy of paying dealership prices needs to be offset by real value.

A

Your forgot "chance of having it exploded: priceless"
Obviously such chance is minimal, but why gamble?

I reject that there is a 'possible' causal relationship.

This mindset, often spoken on forums, of 'better safe that sorry' or 'why gamble' is nonsensical rationales: don't patch tires, just buy new; change oil every 2500 miles; DON'T change ATF ever; the list goes on.

I know the shop were this explosion purportedly due to not coding or not registering occurred. It was never confirmed other than this singular report despite a world filled with AGM battery replacements. Doncha think maybe the guy got a bad new battery?

Finally, the horror stories you read are non-AGM for lead acid, and vice-versa...and different size AGMs... people get so confused, the end result is "just bend over, go to the dealer, why gamble".

A

right there you've lost a lot of cred, at least in my eyes.

Uh oh, I've patched a RFT and I don't change my oil every 2500 miles. Here's the end of me, I replaced a lead acid battery in my E60 over 2 years ago and I did not register the battery. I even bought the battery from Autozone without a BMW sticker on it!!!!

With that being said, anyone know what size AGM battery is on the X5? Places to get an AGM at a decent price?

The last time I brought this up was in March when it was 0 degrees in my garage so I had no inclination to look at the battery. In July, it's now 100 degrees with high humidtiy.....I just can't win. I either need to man up or go to the dealer.....

I was pointing out 'nonsensical rationales'..one of them being the assertion by BMW a few years ago that ATF was 'lifetime', now it is "100k miles", and some people say 'don't change ATF on high mile cars it can cause problems', and finally many contort that into 'I just wont change it, it isnt worth the risk'

So I am not sure what you are citing in terms of 'cred'... but I can live with that.

have the appt tomorrow morning, but wanted to add that I notice this is only happening first thing in the morning in normal 70-80F temps. All subsequent starts during the day are perfectly normal.

Last 2 days, first time in the morning, it's a looooong choke that never turns over so I release the brake and it stops trying... next try it goes. Still battery?

my SA says these batteries are supposed to last 7 years. Maybe he's talking about normal driving with a lot of highway...

they are keeping it for the night and seeing what happens in the morning. Oh and he said batteries are covered - so that's a plus. And for some reason their computers indicated I needed an oil change and gave me one (6 months from the last one)...