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Thread: battery query

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Feb 2012
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    Southern Ontario
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    93 850Ci, 2012 X5 35d

    battery query

    I've got one battery that's not holding a charge after coming out of winter storage. The E31seems very finicky when it comes to electrical components...what should I be looking for as a replacement battery? Something similar to the original lead acid? or something modern?

    What say the masses? AS always, any comments are appreciated...

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Mar 2011
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    Liberal Loontown, CA
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    Cool Volvo, Ugly BMW
    Bosch AGMs sometimes have a rebate/sale. I got a set for 330 out the door about 2 years back. I wouldn't go back to lead acid after using these.
    What "thumbs up" really means




  3. #3
    Join Date
    Feb 2012
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    Southern Ontario
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    weird, I go to the Bosch site, they don't show a listing under the S6 AGM....

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Oct 2008
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    Seattle
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    E31 E38 E65
    I run odyssey pc2150 AGM batteries...

    Many companies out there, just make sure u upgrade to newer battery technology vs old lead acid
    *~*Yamaguchi-gumi Syndicate Member #59,005 *~*
    [ Bippu Couture ] ( D_G ) [ FALKEN Tires]

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Jun 2009
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    Canada
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    95 BMW 850
    The BMW dealer should have AGM batteries in the correct size. I think they were less than $200 each. I won't buy the wet ones again.

  6. #6
    Join Date
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    The Bosch agm batteries (exact dimensions as originals, allowing for oe clamps use) are available @ Pepboys for about $168 each. https://www.pepboys.com/product/deta...847?quantity=1 Bought my agm set last summer @ Pepboys for about $280 with discounts.
    Bert
    91 850i-A
    1972 3.5 CSi (L-jet, Getrag 265 5 speed)
    1988 ///M6
    2021 X3 M40i

    The back to back BIG COUPE” duo

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Jun 2013
    Location
    Auckland, NZ
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    934
    My Cars
    1994 E31 850CSi
    I think you'll find that pretty much all modern batteries are Calcium type, rather than the old lead acid.
    VARTA is the OEM supplier of batteries to BMW/MB/VW etc. and are not badly priced.
    Have a pair of these in my E31 and highly recommend them.
    Current:
    1994 E31 850CSi Sterlingsilber/Anthracite Buffalo

    Previous:
    1987 E28 M5 Delphin
    1986 E23 M745iA Arctic Blue
    1986 E24 635CSi Polaris
    1976 E3 3.0 Si Arctic Blue

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Aug 2007
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    Unfortunately, Varta batteries have never been commercially availlabe in North America.
    Bert
    91 850i-A
    1972 3.5 CSi (L-jet, Getrag 265 5 speed)
    1988 ///M6
    2021 X3 M40i

    The back to back BIG COUPE” duo

  9. #9
    Join Date
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    Quote Originally Posted by M6csi View Post
    The Bosch agm batteries (exact dimensions as originals, allowing for oe clamps use) are available @ Pepboys for about $168 each. https://www.pepboys.com/product/deta...847?quantity=1 Bought my agm set last summer @ Pepboys for about $280 with discounts.
    Why not edit out the self serving affiliate link? not cool. Oh wait.... the stupid intermediary thing from Bimmerforums is injecting that? WTF, that's just wrong...
    https://www.pepboys.com/product/details/838845


    Last edited by cartoonz; 05-15-2018 at 07:09 PM.
    '91 Dinan 860 Stage III (new 6L engine)
    '91 Dinan 850 TT stage III (brand new engine) 21st Century Tech meets 18th Century Dinan...
    '91 850i 6sp (mint) (sold)
    '90 Dinan 750iL TT stage III (Guido - The Beast)
    '94 850 CSi The Detroit Auto Show car (restored to factory perfect) (sold)
    '96 850Ci, The George Carlin car
    ''73 3.0 csi, '08 535i, '03 X5 4.6is
    ...and a few other non BMW cars

  10. #10
    Join Date
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    Wtf???
    Last edited by M6csi; 05-15-2018 at 07:19 PM.
    Bert
    91 850i-A
    1972 3.5 CSi (L-jet, Getrag 265 5 speed)
    1988 ///M6
    2021 X3 M40i

    The back to back BIG COUPE” duo

  11. #11
    Join Date
    Jun 2012
    Location
    Mundelein, IL
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    837
    My Cars
    840Ci/6 528iT Europa TCS
    I went to one battery. AGM, half the weight and half the cost. Our cars are not so special that they need two batteries. Been a couple of years and no problems. It's your money.

  12. #12
    Join Date
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    Santa Barbara
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    Quote Originally Posted by M6csi View Post
    Wtf???
    you're seeing what I'm seeing, right? Click on either of our links and "?CID=2470763_affiliate&CID=2470763_affiliate" somehow gets magically injected between Bimmerforums and Pep Boys...
    '91 Dinan 860 Stage III (new 6L engine)
    '91 Dinan 850 TT stage III (brand new engine) 21st Century Tech meets 18th Century Dinan...
    '91 850i 6sp (mint) (sold)
    '90 Dinan 750iL TT stage III (Guido - The Beast)
    '94 850 CSi The Detroit Auto Show car (restored to factory perfect) (sold)
    '96 850Ci, The George Carlin car
    ''73 3.0 csi, '08 535i, '03 X5 4.6is
    ...and a few other non BMW cars

  13. #13
    Join Date
    Sep 2010
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    Augusta, GA
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    92 850, 95 840, E90 M3
    Quote Originally Posted by cartoonz View Post
    you're seeing what I'm seeing, right? Click on either of our links and "?CID=2470763_affiliate&CID=2470763_affiliate" somehow gets magically injected between Bimmerforums and Pep Boys...


    I only see Pepboys for the battery...
    Hurt

    Current project working on the E31 rebuild.
    1992 BMW 850i, 1995 E31 840ci, 2008 E90 M3, 2008 750Li

  14. #14
    Join Date
    Feb 2016
    Location
    Brooklyn, NY
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    1995 840Ci, 2013 X5
    A bit over 10 years ago I installed Optima Red Top batteries, RP 34's IIRC. They are slightly smaller than OEM, so I had to buy a clamp bracket that was held down by the original clamp. I wrote it up in a post if anyone decides to go this route. The Optimas are fantastic--no venting. I recently replaced them, not because they were failing, but because I had an extra H8 battery I just bought for an E39 that my daughter wrecked. The H8 is a much larger battery than the stock size for the 8 series. But there's an unused clamp hole that is in the exact location needed. The battery just slid right in and clamped perfectly. So I'd recommend trading your two batteries for one larger one. I installed it on the right.

    Brett

  15. #15
    Join Date
    May 2007
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    Tampa, FL
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    '93 850Ci, '07 X5 4.8
    Sears actually has compatible ones I have to check and see what I installed - its been about two years now. One thing to note, the Sears web site had referred to a battery about half the size claiming it was compatible - NOT!~ Don't know if they updated it (you'd think they would by now). So when searching online check the battery dimensions against the original or at the very least the CCA ratings. Anyhow, I was shooting to get as close to 850CCA AGM of the shelf as possible. I went with the Diehards because of a dead cell event where they replaced both no questions asked.

  16. #16
    Join Date
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    TT, Ridiculous amount of $$. Not suggesting anyone do this! But I like it!!

    TTbatt1.jpgTTbatt2.jpgTTbatt3.jpg
    Last edited by TTTXGreg; 05-17-2018 at 12:39 AM.

  17. #17
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    Did the same, One of the best things you can do for your Trunk interior, Great cranking power, Can even be mounted upside down.

  18. #18
    Join Date
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    2011 BMW 135i coupe
    I went everstarts from walmart 2 years ago, perfect fit and pretty sure they are made by interstate about 220 for both
    Keep them on battery tender during winter storage

  19. #19
    Join Date
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    Indianapolis, IN
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    Quote Originally Posted by Joe850V12 View Post
    I went everstarts from walmart 2 years ago, perfect fit and pretty sure they are made by interstate.....
    Ditto!
    1993 850Ci.....18 years & 165,000 miles and counting!

  20. #20
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    Quote Originally Posted by Joe850V12 View Post
    I went everstarts from walmart 2 years ago, perfect fit and pretty sure they are made by interstate about 220 for both
    Keep them on battery tender during winter storage
    Just converted to a single H8 size Everstart from Wally World. 900 CCA, 3-year full replacement and 5-year pro-rated warranty for only $125 plus 90-minutes of my time well spent. The original batteries were dated 2009, so it was time. The e31 already has a bolt hole in the correct position for the hold down to mount the larger size battery, so no additional parts were needed. Had to restart the car several times along with feathering the accelerator for a minute or so to keep it running upon first restart, presumably for the ECU to learn the new configuration (Forgot to leave both batteries connected before disconnecting the left side battery completely ).
    "Asphalt is evil, it must be punished!"
    '89 Z1 Dream Black/Alcantara/Camo, Racing Dynamics, the coolest doors known to man -- Sunny days & Sundays
    '90 Z1 Red w/custom red/black French leather, Ground Control coil overs, BBS RV-F --Mais Oui!
    '91 850i Mauritius Blue/Black --1 of 179

    '85 M635CSi Alpine -- "Explosive!!!"
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    '17 “30 Jahre” M3, Macao Blue -- 1/500 made


    Previously owned: 74 2002 (x2), 85 325e, 80 323i Baur, 94 325iC, 03 325CiC, 80 633CSi, 90 325iC, 98 318ti (Budget M3), 01 X5, 02 X5 4.6is (x2), 94 M3, 98 M3/4, 16 340i

  21. #21
    Join Date
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    Too many ;-)
    Quote Originally Posted by ltbrett View Post
    A bit over 10 years ago I installed Optima Red Top batteries, RP 34's IIRC. They are slightly smaller than OEM, so I had to buy a clamp bracket that was held down by the original clamp. I wrote it up in a post if anyone decides to go this route. The Optimas are fantastic--no venting. I recently replaced them, not because they were failing, but because I had an extra H8 battery I just bought for an E39 that my daughter wrecked. The H8 is a much larger battery than the stock size for the 8 series. But there's an unused clamp hole that is in the exact location needed. The battery just slid right in and clamped perfectly. So I'd recommend trading your two batteries for one larger one. I installed it on the right.

    Brett
    Yep...a single H8 does the job at half the cost!
    "Asphalt is evil, it must be punished!"
    '89 Z1 Dream Black/Alcantara/Camo, Racing Dynamics, the coolest doors known to man -- Sunny days & Sundays
    '90 Z1 Red w/custom red/black French leather, Ground Control coil overs, BBS RV-F --Mais Oui!
    '91 850i Mauritius Blue/Black --1 of 179

    '85 M635CSi Alpine -- "Explosive!!!"
    '03 M3 Conv, Imola w/ SMG -- her daily driver
    '17 “30 Jahre” M3, Macao Blue -- 1/500 made


    Previously owned: 74 2002 (x2), 85 325e, 80 323i Baur, 94 325iC, 03 325CiC, 80 633CSi, 90 325iC, 98 318ti (Budget M3), 01 X5, 02 X5 4.6is (x2), 94 M3, 98 M3/4, 16 340i

  22. #22
    Join Date
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    93 850Ci, 2012 X5 35d
    if you go from two to one battery, What do you do with the extra positive clamp? just insulate it?

  23. #23
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    Quote Originally Posted by Budget M3 View Post
    Yep...a single H8 does the job at half the cost!
    And half the weight balance in the rear!

  24. #24
    Join Date
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    1998 BMW 740i
    Quote Originally Posted by Sundancer View Post
    if you go from two to one battery, What do you do with the extra positive clamp? just insulate it?
    You can remove the cable completely. If you remove the carpet in the trunk you will see a black plastic shroud that houses the cable.

  25. #25
    Join Date
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    Quote Originally Posted by rotomoto712 View Post
    You can remove the cable completely. If you remove the carpet in the trunk you will see a black plastic shroud that houses the cable.
    How do you compensate for the weight imbalance? Was this a V8 car? Dual 750 CCA vs single 900.


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

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