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Thread: What brand of battery is everyone using?

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Sep 2004
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    E24 633csi, E24 635csi

    What brand of battery is everyone using?

    I need to put a new battery in my 91 318i, previously I've always gone with whatever walmart / autozone had that fit but figured I'd ask and see if anyone was using a specific brand for any certain reasons i wasn't aware of!

    I saw one at autozone for about 100$ that had a 7yr warranty and was thinking about going to pick it up.

    is there really any advantage to using certain brands or those deep-cycle ones for a stock 318?
    Past: 1984 633csi / 1985 635csi / 1991 318i / 1987 325e / 1988 325is / 1986 325i / 1985 535i

  2. #2
    Join Date
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    No need for a deep cycle battery on any of these cars unless you're doing something special with the sound system.

    My E30 has an Interstate battery in it. No special reason other than the p.o. had one and it failed under warranty, so I got another one for a good price. And then that one failed 3 years later (to the day lol) so I got another one under warranty.

    After that I bought a floating point charger, which I recommend if your car sits for a couple weeks at a time like mine does. That kills batteries unless you keep them charged.
    9/2004 Chevrolet Suburban Z71, black, purchased March 2016, 270k miles.
    6/99 740i Cosmos Schwartz M Sport, 214k miles, purchased May 2017
    2001 740i OrientBlau M Sport, purchased March 2023
    1984 MasterCraft Stars and Stripes, Blue/White, PCM Ford 351W, PowerSlot, 912 hours, purchased September 2012 (not a car )
    4/99 323is/5. Titansilber, 211k miles. Straight body project.



    past BMWs: 5/1994 325isa (Arktisgrau), 3/1997 328is/5 (cosmosschwartz), 9/1990 535i/5 (calypsorot), 9/1990 318i/5 (brillantrot) 7/93 325i/5 convertible (samoablau) 2/92 325i/5 cabriolet (lagunengruen).
    SÜNDE REISEN



  3. #3
    Join Date
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    Britsh Columbia, Canada
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    1985 325e
    interstate in mine as well. hasnt let me down yet.

  4. #4
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    1989 325i Sedan

    Cool

    The PO's Bosch. Supposedly junk, but no issues.

    If I can't stuff young Mr. Johnson up the tailpipe, I don't want it ...

  5. #5
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    Need to replace mine as well and I'm looking at the Ultima Red Top as I've been happy with the Yellow Top (deep cycle) I have in my Escape. I actually did buy the Red Top for my first e30, and promptly wrecked it a week later.

    As far as deep cycle goes, their purpose is to allow you to run them flat without damaging the battery (but even with them there are limits). If you aren't in the habit of running the car's electrics (lights, stereo, etc..) while the engine is off, you probably don't need to spend the extra money.

    The other case that they are useful is the one strad mentioned. If you let it sit for long periods of time without disconnecting the battery and keeping a trickle charger on it is not practical (e.g. no garage), then a deep cycle could still be worthwhile as (again) it can take the strain of being run flat where a normal battery will get damaged.

    My decision to use a deep cycle in my Escape was because (at the time) I had a computer installed that drew power when the car was off. It was setup so that the computer *should* be sleeping and drawing minimal power while the car was off, but I wanted the protection that if things didn't go according to plan I wouldn't have to keep replacing the battery. Now that I now longer have the computer in it, I'll go back to a Red Top when I need a new one (it's 5 years old at this point and has been testing as "poor" for 3 years now, but it keeps cranking it every time I ask it too...).

  6. #6
    Join Date
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    I don't like the Duralast batteries. I've had them fail after a few months 3 times.

    I have one from Walmart, I believe it's produced by johnson controls.

  7. #7
    Join Date
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    Cool

    Glad to see that somebody's had some success with gel-cell batteries. Seems every report I've seen of their performance that didn't come from Optima was negative, but given the trunk-mount I'd much prefer one over a conventional lead-acid battery - provided it spins the starter when I turn the key.

    If I can't stuff young Mr. Johnson up the tailpipe, I don't want it ...

  8. #8
    Join Date
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    I have bought several carquest euro batteries and have been very impressed.

  9. #9
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    Quote Originally Posted by Stroke5 View Post
    Glad to see that somebody's had some success with gel-cell batteries. Seems every report I've seen of their performance that didn't come from Optima was negative, but given the trunk-mount I'd much prefer one over a conventional lead-acid battery - provided it spins the starter when I turn the key.
    Been thoroughly happy. As I said, my Yellow Top is 5 years old now and still going strong regardless of what the battery tests keep saying. For a daily driver it seems like 3-4 years is what I've gotten out of other batteries and that is without all the extra electrical crap I've added to the Escape. I don't know if that is luck, something Optima does, or just the nature of sealed vs open batteries. As expensive as that damn thing was, I'm not complaining though

  10. #10
    Join Date
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    ... brand new Interstate battery came in mine when I bought it
    ... I have had Interstate batteries before and never had an issue with any of them
    ... forty-three years of driving before I get behind the wheel of a BMW .... and I am thinking, "why did it take me so long?"
    ... and then after another 4 years I can't believe that I have two of them !!

  11. #11
    Join Date
    Sep 2007
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    los angeles
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    1988 325is
    Unless you're using a lot of sound stuff or want to get a lightweight battery like braile or dekka any costco, autozone, wallmart battery get's the job done soundly

  12. #12
    Join Date
    Feb 2008
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    red bluff, ca
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    bmw 325i
    optima red top

  13. #13
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    Quote Originally Posted by LJSE34 View Post
    I don't like the Duralast batteries. I've had them fail after a few months 3 times.

    I have one from Walmart, I believe it's produced by johnson controls.
    I have a Duralast in my 328 (from the p.o.). We've owned the car since jan 2008 and we're still going with that battery. I'm not saying you haven't had issues, but not everybody does apparently
    9/2004 Chevrolet Suburban Z71, black, purchased March 2016, 270k miles.
    6/99 740i Cosmos Schwartz M Sport, 214k miles, purchased May 2017
    2001 740i OrientBlau M Sport, purchased March 2023
    1984 MasterCraft Stars and Stripes, Blue/White, PCM Ford 351W, PowerSlot, 912 hours, purchased September 2012 (not a car )
    4/99 323is/5. Titansilber, 211k miles. Straight body project.



    past BMWs: 5/1994 325isa (Arktisgrau), 3/1997 328is/5 (cosmosschwartz), 9/1990 535i/5 (calypsorot), 9/1990 318i/5 (brillantrot) 7/93 325i/5 convertible (samoablau) 2/92 325i/5 cabriolet (lagunengruen).
    SÜNDE REISEN



  14. #14
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    I like the interstate ones have them in my 318 and it starts no matter the temperature never let me down

  15. #15
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    Quote Originally Posted by strad View Post
    I have a Duralast in my 328 (from the p.o.). We've owned the car since jan 2008 and we're still going with that battery. I'm not saying you haven't had issues, but not everybody does apparently
    Bad personal experiences, could have been bad luck. This was on different cars, just to rule out any car related issues.

  16. #16
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    I have a Duralast in mine, if I let my car sit more than a couple weeks it tends to need a jump. Although I have a duralast in my Tacoma and It always starts so I'd say I most likely have a very slow drain somewhere.

  17. #17
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    Quote Originally Posted by assoutE12 View Post
    I have a Duralast in mine, if I let my car sit more than a couple weeks it tends to need a jump. Although I have a duralast in my Tacoma and It always starts so I'd say I most likely have a very slow drain somewhere.
    Ditto.

  18. #18
    Join Date
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    91 318i 04 325i
    I've had an Optima Red Top in my 91 318i 5+ years. Solid performer, and no worries about it crapping all over my battery box.
    On Christ the solid Rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand. (Edward Mote 1797-1874)

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