what's the latest on battery replacement?

[TheDeep]

2011 xi328. Need to replace the battery. What's to do?

Carly? What exactly do I need to do here? (can't believe replacing a battery got so bloody complicated)

Thanks, Deep

[RocketSurgeon]

Ok, if you replace the battery with the same capacity and chemistry, you only need to register the new one. If you swap to a larger capacity cell or an AGM, you need to code the new chemistry and capacity along with registering the new battery. These steps are all very important to ensure proper function and battery life. Carly can do all of this, though I haven't used it personally. I code with NCS Expert and register with ISTA+.

[TheDeep]

Ok, if you replace the battery with the same capacity and chemistry, you only need to register the new one. If you swap to a larger capacity cell or an AGM, you need to code the new chemistry and capacity along with registering the new battery. These steps are all very important to ensure proper function and battery life. Carly can do all of this, though I haven't used it personally. I code with NCS Expert and register with ISTA+.

thanks. what's the easier/cheaper option to go with? I have no clue what NCS/ISTA is.....ugh....don't even know Carly except that it exists.

[RocketSurgeon]

Carly is easier, but you need their $60 app, plus their $65 obd bluetooth adapter, plus the $10 in-app battery feature.
ISTA+ is the dealership software and NCS Expert is an old BMW engineering program. Hacked versions of both are available for free, and they run on a $20 K+DCAN cable. They require a fair amount of work to setup on a windows computer, but then you can do anything the dealership can.