I don't get this post. So, with a Honda you don't need to (ever) change the oil or battery after warranty? If you don't like what the dealer charged you, go somewhere else, but don't blame the manufacturer.

My point is that if I need a battery in a Honda, it costs $120 at AutoZone and they install it for free. Doesn't cost $350 and need $200 of ridiculous reprogramming and a scope. Im also pissed that the battery died because the repair they did to the alternator under recall broke and killed it due to not getting any charge at all. Since it's a diesel, I had no clue I wasn't getting power until all the electronics went out with no warning. Their excuse when I wanted the battery replaced for free - ah it's 4 years old anyway so you should be happy it lasted this long.........That is piss poor customer service and Im drafting a letter to corporate as we speak.

Same with oil changes and not needing sensor resets. Some of this may be my amateurishness in maintaining a BMW since it's my first one but this type of gauging is ridiculous.

I get these are higher performance vehicles, but still. A battery is a battery.

You can put the same $120 battery in the X5. I just did last month. You don't have to program the car for the new battery. Many say you do, but you don't. A good battery has a 5 year warranty. Not programming/registering the car/battery does not void the battery manufacturers warranty. So if it fails in 3 years, get a replacement.

yes, a battery is a battery and treat it as such. yes, four years out of any battery is excellent. Your replacement will probably not last as long. Like others have said, stay aware from the dealer and find a good Independent.

I bought an aftermarket battery (non-AGM) and the shop where I bought it had in their online system that my vehicle (2007) needed registering. If I hadn't done so I would not have been able to claim on the warranty, due to the likelihood of overcharging the battery and causing an early failure. I demonstrated to the shop that I didn't require registration on my particular model, an E83.

Sure you can get away with it sometimes. But if you have an early failure of the new battery you could be SOL. If you don't care about the warranty, go right ahead.

how did you demonstrate it to them? sometimes (most of the times!!) they are stubborn and like doctors, don't use their brain and rely on what computers tell them what to do...

Anyone can purchase a battery from your FLAPS and never tell them what vehicle it will be used in. When you bring it back to them due to failure, you get it replaced under warranty. All the while never telling them the application.

To reiterate, an oil change and battery change is a sub $300 maintenance/repair item. Same cost for any make vehicle. Sure, you can spend more if you want to, your choice.

While technically you're right, there such thing as ethics that some people still value...

BMWNA reaction when they get a confirmation that someone actually does pay $500 for an oil change:

http://images.rapgenius.com/77o6kwhj....440x282x1.gif

$700 battery replacement.:rofl: Just got a coupon from the dealer for a Car wash, inspection, and oil change $79.00.

It in no way is unethical to purchase a battery and place it in a BMW (or any other car) and return said battery under warranty if it fails. If the seller ask you what vehicle the battery will be used in and then requires the battery to be registered, and you do not, and subsequently make a warranty claim, then that would be unethical.

99.9 out of 100 employees in the FLAPS would look at you like you are crazy if you even mention that BMW requires the car to be programmed to "register" the battery.

I am in the camp that NOT registering the battery causes no harm.