Quick question: what is the OEM battery specs?

[luiscarlos59]

I need to replace my battery and dealer is quoting me a 80AH battery. I found on other posts it's a 92 AH.

Can anyone please confirm thanks.

[Yellow Snow]

What year? which model?

[luiscarlos59]

Sorry

M3 E92 2009

[tom @ eas]

Originally Posted by luiscarlos59

Sorry

M3 E92 2009

90Ah, 900CCA. AGM type.

[luiscarlos59]

hmm its strange that the dealership is quoting me as OEM replacement two options:

80AH "white battery": ~244 USD
80AH "black (Gel) battery": ~430 USD

When I asked about the difference they said only that the gel would last longer.
I found an aftermarket battery of AGM - 760Amperes at $207 USD

Should i go for the "white battery" ?


Plus $70 USD of coding

[tom @ eas]

Originally Posted by luiscarlos59

hmm its strange that the dealership is quoting me as OEM replacement two options:

80AH "white battery": ~244 USD
80AH "black (Gel) battery": ~430 USD

When I asked about the difference they said only that the gel would last longer.
I found an aftermarket battery of AGM - 760Amperes at $207 USD

Should i go for the "white battery" ?


Plus $70 USD of coding

Black is AGM, White is still lead acid (from what I recall). For those in cold climates or do not drive daily, a higher CCA is recommended. Daily drivers can get away with lower specs (think lighter Z4M or MINI/CSL).

Either will be fine, as long as registration (proper term) is properly carried out for the exact battery that is installed.

[BPMSport]

I would go for the AGM battery. If you switch batteries you will need both coding and battery registration for the job to have been completed successfully.

[dparm]

You need to stick with the AGM battery. Don't bother with the dealer as you're going to get royally ripped off.

You can find an AGM battery that match OEM specs for $200 or less at most auto parts stores.

[luiscarlos59]

I found one aftermarket AGM but it has 760 Amperes instead of the 800-900 OEM capacity.

If I get that 760 Amp should I get any problems in the car?

[tom @ eas]

Originally Posted by luiscarlos59

I found one aftermarket AGM but it has 760 Amperes instead of the 800-900 OEM capacity.

If I get that 760 Amp should I get any problems in the car?

No, you'll be perfectly fine. Just give the details to the service writer so your M3 is properly registered for that type of battery.

[R_lara]

It's a group (BCI) 94 OEM it's a white box lead acid battery manufactured by Exide, the car comes with a breather hose that attaches to the battery to vent gases. No need to go AGM unless you want to spend more money.

[dparm]

Originally Posted by R_lara

It's a group (BCI) 94 OEM it's a white box lead acid battery manufactured by Exide, the car comes with a breather hose that attaches to the battery to vent gases. No need to go AGM unless you want to spend more money.

AGM has a lot of benefits for almost no extra cash. I won't go into the details here because a Google search will explain it in far greater detail than I feel like typing.

[luiscarlos59]

Originally Posted by R_lara

It's a group (BCI) 94 OEM it's a white box lead acid battery manufactured by Exide, the car comes with a breather hose that attaches to the battery to vent gases. No need to go AGM unless you want to spend more money.

Hi, I think you mean Group 49.

I just checked and my car came with the 80 AH - black battery (AGM). I called yesterday the dealer and they said very clearly that they won´t code/program a non-oem battery.

I'm not planning to have the car for more than 1.5 years so I don't want to spend that much in the AGM OEM battery.

Additionally I don't want to have the trouble of finding someone to code/program outside BMW, so I'm left with the only option: to buy the OEM "white" lead acid battery.

Anyone here running its E92 M3 with the "white" battery? what drawbacks can I expect with this kind of battery?

Many thanks for all your help.

[R_lara]

You can use the grup 48, 94 and 49 the battery compartment can fit any of them,it's ready for all three sizes. Just get a grup 49 or 94 from Costco or something and have a tuner or a BMW shop register the battery for you. It's against the law that the BMW dealership monopolizes your car by saying you have to by an BMW brand battery. All BMW in America come from factory with an Exide Battery and the ones sold in Europe come with Varta. Don't let the Steelership give you the shaft.

[///mawana]

Originally Posted by luiscarlos59

Hi, I think you mean Group 49.

I just checked and my car came with the 80 AH - black battery (AGM). I called yesterday the dealer and they said very clearly that they won´t code/program a non-oem battery.

I'm not planning to have the car for more than 1.5 years so I don't want to spend that much in the AGM OEM battery.

Additionally I don't want to have the trouble of finding someone to code/program outside BMW, so I'm left with the only option: to buy the OEM "white" lead acid battery.

Anyone here running its E92 M3 with the "white" battery? what drawbacks can I expect with this kind of battery?

Many thanks for all your help.

Well, it appears the latest battery part # is 61217639053, AGM 92AH. I have an '08, just purchased, and it has the 92AH in it.

The 80AH is a 640A and has part # 61218381749. Then there is the 90AH 720A with part # 61218381762 also still being sold.

If you are going through the dealership, I don't understand why they haven't given you the 61217639053, AGM 92AH as that seems to be the latest battery part available. Unless you asked for the cheapest option possible at which point they will sell you from any unsold old stock.

[luiscarlos59]

I will go for the "white battery" lead-acid at the stealership.

[dparm]

Was there a larger battery as part of the move to auto start-stop? I would think they want something with a bit more capacity since it will be starting the car repeatedly.

[luiscarlos59]

My '09 doesn't has auto start-stop