How does one remove the batttery. do you have to remove the windshield wiper and molding?

 

You have to remove the "Right apron cover" #4 in the illustration on RealOEM.com. To remove the apron, you have to remove a rubber molding #5, and one bolt and (IIRC) two nuts. The there are plastic snaps that hold the front edge of the apron down. Unfortunately, the structure below the apron is fragile. It takes some force to get the snaps to let go, and the plastic they snap into is not very strong. They pull straight up.



Once the apron is off, there is a long bolt and bracket that holds the battery down. This is on the front side of the battery.

 

NAPA 7547 is a perfect fit. Also, if you go to NAPA, it will be more $$ than if you reserve online and then got to NAPA to pick up. About a $30 difference.

 

Thanks. I've save the info. This one is vented, right?

 

http://www.carcarekiosk.com/video/20...eplace_battery

I googled for you.

=D

 

yes, this one at NAPA is vented

 

I would recommend the new AGM battery from NAPA. Just installed one, was $152 plus tax, cheaper than a regular battery from Autozone.
To remove the cover is one nut and one bolt, then you lift and slide it out from under the wiper arm.

 

OK, watched enough Youtube videos ...
Read enough blogs about all the bad things that can happen replacing the OEM battery on a 2007 Mini Cooper S ...

Oh well ... It's stuck in the driveway (thankfully), no warning light, no alarms, just failed to unlock the driver door using the remote ... I'm not going to have it towed for a battery, and after reading the Owners Manual - I'm not even sure of the correct way to "jump/boost" the vehicle? Says something about turning OFF the vehicle that is providing the jump prior??? [I've never done that in 42 years of owning vehicles], so I'm not taking chances ...

I decide, I'm just going to replace the OEM battery, after all, my luck has finally run out ... 59K and 7Yr 1Mnth on the original OEM battery! Actually made it thru the extended sub-zero temperatures of the NE this winter ... Amazing ...i

I bring the battery to NAPA, and they recommend a NAPA BAT 7547 OEM replacement ... $130.79 (+$5 core deposit if not swapping your old).

I'm concerned, looking at the 2 batteries side-by-side, same height and depth, but significant difference on length ... PLUS, instead of a single factory vent hole, the 7547 has 2 vent holes (opposite sides of battery).

Turns out, the battery tray has 3/4" clearance on both sides of the 7547 and the factory installed vent tube fits perfectly on the passenger side. It basically slips right in place ... Battery cables line up perfectly (length wise) ...

My concern is now focused on the extra vent hole with no tubing to connect to. I'm not comfortable just letting the 2nd hole vent in the compartment due to the open hole in the firewall that you can now reach an adult hand into and touch the inside climate control air filter ...
NOTE that the 7547 battery DOES come with a 90 degree vent hose adapter, similar to the factory installed vent hose. I take it back to the store and purchase 3' of appropriate Hose. I routed the 2nd vent hose to the far left and down an existing hole as close to the factory vent tube as possible ...

ONLY thing I had to do, after reconnecting the battery that was disconnected (almost 1 1/2 hours), was reset the TIME ... all Radio station presets were still there. Car leaped to life when started ... I decided to drive it around and test. After all the DOOM-and-GLOOM stories on the blogs about reprogramming ??? I was very concerned ... despite all my concerns, I haven't had a single issue materialize. Car runs/starts fine ...

Possibly the dealer will tell me otherwise when some routine maintenance gets performed in the future ...

Hope this helps someone ...

 

Info helped me, thanks. My car just died today, not sure why its 2010 with 45k miles. I had the car parked for a week at the airport (covered), and when I returned it started to crank slowly but started. But today after work, no start. A very quick jump from a portable jump started (?) it feels back to normal. I just put my friends charger on it overnight, but just in case i'm getting ready to buy a new battery. Great info on NAPA, i'll search locally.