Recently bought a used 2004 530i that the dealership said had a dying battery. The old battery was a DEKA 70 @ 900 CCA. Bought a Duralast AGM-H8 to replace it and after installing it, the car won't start. The lights and iDrive turn on but no start. Figured putting the old battery back in would at least get it to start (as it did before) but no cigar with that either.

Any ideas anyone?

 

A new battery, especially when changing from a standard battery to an AGM one, has to be coded into the car. If the new battery would have been the same kind as the original, then the coding would not have been necessary.

- Antti -

 

The DEKA battery was an AGM battery, but 900 CCA vs 850 CCA. I'm guessing it still has to be recoded?

Also, shouldn't putting in the old battery still be okay since that's what it was coded for?

 

Oh, ok...
I'm not sure actually. I believe others will chime in on this.

- Antti -

 

Hope so! But thanks for the help

 

I was told that a 2004 e60 cannot be coded to accommodate the AGM battery. That was only introduced as an acceptable battery replacement in the mid-production date 2007's.That said, registering the battery instructs the electronics (alternator, etc) how to charge the battery. Is it possible that some other parts are at fault? (Starter / etc)

 

The AGM battery can be used in any yr E60. It was not introduced until the LCI era.
It doesn't matter what battery you put in as lock as it has the appropriate cranking amps and is similar. YOu bought and H8 which is dead on for specs. I bet it's even made in Europe probably CZ.
This may sound stupid but are you pressing on the brake pedal?
Also, use a different key and see what happens.'

There is nothing special about your E60, it's like any other car really except for a few things which I won't go into because it's simply not worth talking about. The major changes came later on in the E60 life

 

Yeah, I have been pressing the pedal. I also tried a different key. My friend I talked to said that it was the fact that it has to be programmed at the dealership.. but I'm not so sure.

 

You may need to program it, but it should still start.

 

If the old battery isn't even starting, then obviously it's something else.

Have you tried jumping it?