BMW 325XI 2006 Car Battery

[Chedman13]

Apparently, around 2006, BMW started using ECU's that have to be programmed to accept a new battery so it will charge correctly.

All said and done, it will cost me USD 412 + tax for part (battery is around $200) and labor (1 hour to diagnose + labor to install and program).

Even with a BMW extended warranty, certified pre-owned and extended maintenance package, this is excluded and I have to bear all the costs.

Service tech warned if I tried to put in a non-BMW battery (i.e. Optima or others), it would not last as long and might throw codes due to myself not being able to program the ECU.

Infiniti for the win (for my needs and the ability to fix things at a reasonable cost... I could have bought a red top optima and installed in under 5 minutes for 50% of the BMW cost in my FX45...)

 

[AeroBFA]

BMW's are only good with leases. Enjoy and drive them for a few years and return them without worrying about extended maintenance costs!

Infiniti for the win (for my needs and the ability to fix things at a reasonable cost... I could have bought a red top optima and installed in under 5 minutes for 50% of the BMW cost in my FX45...)

 

[Fire0nic3]

BMW's are only good with leases. Enjoy and drive them for a few years and return them without worrying about extended maintenance costs!

+1

BMW's you lease them and return them in a few years before the major problems show up.


Infiniti's you buy them, keep them, and run them till all four wheels fall off.

 

[jumbosrule]

If you have extra electrical loads in the car, Optima is the way to go. Amazing battery - you wouldn't imagine how much faster the starter kicks off. Start on first crank, every time, every single day of the battery's life.

The only downside is that the Optima Yellow tops don't match up exactly with our fixed harness. A little modding is required to make the yellow top 700CCA work properly.

 

[ThE Fx 45 BeAsT]

yeah a little modification is needed but the trade off is well worth it, I think that optima needs to be oem.

 

[PMG 705]

Ed, a friend of mine went through the same thing... He found a shop in the burbs that does good work on bimmers... He had it done for $220 with labor, programming, etc.. Guy there was a bmw tech for years and has all the equipment...He was quote b/w $400-600 at the dealers.. Let me know if you want the shop info..

As an aside, it's great to have advances in technology, but this seems like taking 1 step forward and taking 3 back... it's crazy..