za3879

I actually broke that this morning trying to attach it. Looks like I have to get a new tube and remove the whole battery to do it.
Sucks.

cobradav

Battery is easy to change as DIY or by any chain auto parts store. tool kit has wrench of correct size and most proper batteries have the either th ecorrect vent location or an extension to run from the OEM tube to the new location.

850 CCA OEM battery weighs 60 pounds (Exide is the provider)
850 CCA typical aftermarket brand typically weighs 40-44 pounds (group 49-1).

BMW actually lists three different electrical specs for batteries based on build (or MY) year. 850 CCA is highest, 650 CCA is lowest and 720 CCA is in middle. If you change from what OEM spec to another you should have dealer run recode of the charging system to account for the difference in amps. Otherwise you risk under or over charging.

BTW at an autoparts store they will try to plug in a keep alive voltage to prevent some systems from resetting while the batteries are changed out. They do this for liability reasons. I have found that most of these attempts are not very successful as shoun by date and time, trip computers resetting, etc.

ATLESixty

Thanks for all the help guys! I installed the new battery from batteries plus last night and it was pretty easy. The hardest part was getting the metal plate that holds the back of the battery down lined up with the screw hole and then screwed down with that bizarre half-a-foot long screw (but even that was easy once I found the lock washer that holds the plate to the screw for you, it had fallen off while I was unscrewing it). As soon as the negative terminal was connected my baby sprang back to life. Also, all my settings were still there even after 12 to 18 hours with no power, the only thing I had to reset was the clock. And don't worry about the battery not being compatible with your model year, Batteries plus is aware that different model years had different spec batteries and carries different spec batteries for those specific model years. Nothing has blown up so far and I do not see any need for recoding right now. Hope this helps!

Scott

Spaceroach

Thanks for the feedback Scott.

bimmerluuvr

Question for ya: you said the car was with out power for 12 to 18 hrs., are you saying that you took your old battery out and had no battery in the car for 12 - 18 hrs., or do you mean the dead battery was still in the car for 12 - 18 hrs. before you exchanged it for the new one? because I don't think your settings would still be there if there were no battery in the car, though I could be wrong, which is why I'm asking

cobradav

10 days ago I had my battery out for 2.5 hours as I rushed to exchange my dead battery for a good one. Only trip computer and time reset (date was good in that case). Of course alarm and locks were deactivated and had to use key to get in trunk to reinstall battery.

bimmerluuvr

O.k., so if I understand you correctly, your car had no battery in it for 2.5 hrs. and the ONLY settings you lost were your clock, and your trip computer? if so, that should at least remove one headache related to diy battery exchange.

ATLESixty

The battery was still in the car but it was completely dead, no lights or anything would come on in the car .