Do I really need AGM Battery?

[RichardTS]

Originally Posted by Roffle Waffle

pretty sure thats not an AGM battery either, and its heavier than stock

Says right on the web page its an AGM...

[ZStig]

foot in my mouth

[chickdr]

Originally Posted by johanness

Bingo. LA battery off-gassing is no joke

Again- the batteries construction is identical between LA and AGM. They have the same vent hole and tubing as well(when I removed my OEM AGM battery I hooked the same vent tube to my new LA battery). How would there be any difference in the gas produced? BMW used both LA and AGM batteries in Z4's from the factory. Not arguing, just want to be informed if I missed something. I have heard of no issues with folks who use LA batteries(me included).

[beta]

I thought the LA battery had less CCA. The AGM is 760 CCA, same as stock.

[johanness]

Originally Posted by chickdr

Again- the batteries construction is identical between LA and AGM. They have the same vent hole and tubing as well(when I removed my OEM AGM battery I hooked the same vent tube to my new LA battery). How would there be any difference in the gas produced? BMW used both LA and AGM batteries in Z4's from the factory. Not arguing, just want to be informed if I missed something. I have heard of no issues with folks who use LA batteries(me included).

My understanding is they vent less gas than flooded lead-acid batteries which is an advantage in our cars confined space (like a gel-cell battery). Could be wrong...

[chickdr]

Originally Posted by beta

I thought the LA battery had less CCA. The AGM is 760 CCA, same as stock.

They do, but it is a difference of 60cca (LA is 700 vs 760 AGM). I didn't think an <10% difference was significant.

[chickdr]

Originally Posted by johanness

My understanding is they vent less gas than flooded lead-acid batteries which is an advantage in our cars confined space (like a gel-cell battery). Could be wrong...

Maybe in the coupe it is more significant since you are in the same space as the battery vs the trunk location in the roadster? Don't know one way or another...

[BIMMERGUY91]

while I understand the weight savings the problem is the battery is in the back for a reason and thats for weight distribution. idk how much difference it would make I just went with a stock sized battery when replacing mine

[doozyj]

Anybody know the part number for the LA battery? The AGM is nearly $300 with tax. Nobody even really has them in stock and don't know when they will get them. I tried ordering it from Tischer but I guess nobody ships batteries.

[mhughett]

Originally Posted by nwflbimmer

As I Understand the atlernator has to be adjusted so the output voltage is considerable less than oem. Now I don't know if this is done through an alternator shop or via computer at the dealer. This maybe be referred as registered with the car. IDK

This only applies to the E90, E65 and newer BMW's. Our cars do NOT have alternators that "learn" the charge of their batteries. I have the Bavarian Technic software that "registers" new batteries but after talking to these people, basically all the "registration" process does is clear the history that the computer has been reading regarding the condition of the old battery. If the old battery was weak, the newer BMW's can sense this and they will increase the amount of voltage drawn by the alternator. By clearing this history, it starts over and assumes a new battery. Once again, our cars do not have this feature.

[doozyj]

Originally Posted by mhughett

There is no registration process required or available for new battery installations for our cars. Anyone that tells you otherwise is just trying to milk a little more out of a battery sale. Our cars are based primarily on E46 technology and this was one of the last BMWs to not require battery registrations.

Are you 100% sure or are you assuming? Our CPU is totally different from the E46. I want to be completely sure.
EDIT: Looks like it has been confirmed over and over about this feature.


Just one more question? Who has a M Coupe and is running a LA battery with 570CCA? Do I really need 760CCA for warm climate in CA?

Isn't 570CCA sufficient for our cars?

[Caddyshk]

I have a new stock Exide BMW AGM on charge in the garage ready to go. It's the new larger, and heavier version introduced 2 years ago after all the warranty claims. Got it a year ago thinking the original would be close to giving it up...

[aerobod]

Originally Posted by doozyj

Are you 100% sure or are you assuming? Our CPU is totally different from the E46. I want to be completely sure.
EDIT: Looks like it has been confirmed over and over about this feature.


Just one more question? Who has a M Coupe and is running a LA battery with 570CCA? Do I really need 760CCA for warm climate in CA?

Isn't 570CCA sufficient for our cars?

It depends on where you live, here a 760CCA battery is about the bare minimum that will start the car at -30°C.

[beta]

Originally Posted by doozyj

Anybody know the part number for the LA battery? The AGM is nearly $300 with tax. Nobody even really has them in stock and don't know when they will get them. I tried ordering it from Tischer but I guess nobody ships batteries.

The o'reilly AGM that has been mentioned is only $160. My local store didn't have it in stock, but even though it was a Saturday they were able to get it from their warehouse 2 hours after I called.

As an aside, my car was acting terribly when the old battery started going. Idle was irregular, limping, etc. Changed the battery and everything went back to normal.

[doozyj]

Originally Posted by aerobod

It depends on where you live, here a 760CCA battery is about the bare minimum that will start the car at -30°C.

I live in L.A.

[doozyj]

Originally Posted by beta

The o'reilly AGM that has been mentioned is only $160. My local store didn't have it in stock, but even though it was a Saturday they were able to get it from their warehouse 2 hours after I called.

As an aside, my car was acting terribly when the old battery started going. Idle was irregular, limping, etc. Changed the battery and everything went back to normal.

Yeah, my car is starting to act goofy with the brake light going on, TCS light going on, clock resetting to --:--, air conditioner not working (it went into transport mode, blowing only hot air on the front windshield, but took itself out of it, strange!). Plus starting is getting sluggish.

Anyhow, anyone using a regular white OEM BMW battery?

[chickdr]

Originally Posted by doozyj

Yeah, my car is starting to act goofy with the brake light going on, TCS light going on, clock resetting to --:--, air conditioner not working (it went into transport mode, blowing only hot air on the front windshield, but took itself out of it, strange!). Plus starting is getting sluggish.

Anyhow, anyone using a regular white OEM BMW battery?

I doubt it as you can get the identical battery for so much less at various parts stores(Advance/O'Reilly etc) why spend more for a BMW battery when it is not better than all the others? You most likely get a much better warranty from non dealer suppliers anyway.

[doozyj]

I end up getting an OEM AGM battery from South Bay BMW, they had a pretty good price on it and they gave me 15% off on top. Came out to around $215.

[chickdr]

Originally Posted by doozyj

I end up getting an OEM AGM battery from South Bay BMW, they had a pretty good price on it and they gave me 15% off on top. Came out to around $215.

Wow 215 seems steep compared to the $110 I paid for my LA battery last fall. It does seem all batteries have gone up recently though. O'Reilly's AGM is currently $160 while the LA version is $136.

[doozyj]

$215 is cheap for an OEM AGM battery. Another dealership locally wanted nearly $300 (inc taxes).

[mhughett]

Originally Posted by doozyj

$215 is cheap for an OEM AGM battery. Another dealership locally wanted nearly $300 (inc taxes).

Still 30-50% higher than non-dealer batteries that are every bit as good.

[David70]

Originally Posted by mhughett

Still 30-50% higher than non-dealer batteries that are every bit as good.

I agree, BMW doesn't make the OEM battery and it isn't a German battery. I would go by the specs and purchase a non OEM battery that is just as good and for significantly less money.