Reasonably priced battery replacement

[bymep]

Thought I would pass this along. I had to replace a battery in my 2001 740i. Being a Ford guy and having had good luck with Motorcraft batteries I decided to check if they make a battery that would fit an E38. To my surprise Motorcraft has a 49 group battery and the price is very reasonable at $135(about $104 US) from a Ford dealer. The battery comes with a 3 year warranty too. All the previous Motorcraft batteries that I had lasted over 5 years. I usually sold the car before the battery had a chance to die and my Crown Vic was still rocking a 9 year old battery that came from the factory.

I know, I know Ford parts on a BMW, flame away.

[dannyzabolotny]

That’s a really good deal! I’ll have to keep that in mind next time I buy a battery. A battery is a battery, doesn’t really matter what brand it is— most batteries are made by one of several companies anyways, and then just rebranded endlessly.

[clarkitect]

Great tip! Thanks! I’ve always purchased mine from Wal-Mart but their prices have gone up over the years. I always suspected they were all made by one of a few battery manufacturers anyway like Danny said.

[Qsilver7]

Probably 97% of all batteries sold in the US market are manufactured by Exide, Johnson Controls, or East Penn/Deka...the other 3% are manufactured by "boutique" battery manufactures that make their own.

Once your start looking around for a 49/H8 or 95R/H9 battery class size...you'll start seeing the similarities & differences. The battery case will usually be the same design for each individual manufacture...but the case color may be different and the labeling will bear the brand name and colors it was contracted for.

Recently the Walmart EverStart Maxx 49/H8 was discussed and in some parts of the country, you could see Walmart contracted the battery from Johnson Control...and in other parts of the country Walmart contracted with Exide:

{Johnson Control 49/H8 battery w/Everstart brand label sold @ Walmart}




{Exide 49/H8 battery w/EverStart brand label sold @ Walmart}

[bymep]

The Motorcraft battery bares similarities to your top pic. It came with black terminal covers and black handle.

[Qsilver7]

The Motorcraft battery bares similarities to your top pic. It came with black terminal covers and black handle.

Other Johnson Control Batteries marketed under various brand names:

Autozone: Duralast Brand Name





Advanced Auto: AutoCraft Brand Name






Interstate Mega-Tron Plus (MTP) 49/H8

[Sabreslight]

yea i have a Duralast gold that has been good, But I paid the better part of 200 for.