i just got a call from the dealership and they told me my battery is at the end of its legs, specially with the cold weather. slow to start. is there a more cost efficient way of buying a new battery? sales rep on the phone told me out the door its about $300. something im going to need to plan out and save for.

 

Just sold my 2013 battery for $70 dollars. The one I replaced it with was $150.

 

Goto advanced auto parts they should have it for under 150 and install it for free

 

If you need to "plan for" a $300 mx expense, i would hate to see a true emergency....
but to be honest, no real reason to spend $300 on an oem battery imo.
The height o gen2 batteries can be an issue in getting aftermarket ones fit, but i can say 100% that my local mini guy HAS found some that DO fit fine through trial and error....so it can be done.

 

no need to worry about me with emergencies. all that is fine. its just another expense put infront of my face. but anyways, the sales guy told me theres programming involved when replacing a mini battery.

i have no experience with newer cars, specially a mini cooper as this is my first one. so im a bit slow learning how to go about doing things with this car.

 

Repalced the battery a week ago at O'Reiliys for $145. The guy came out in the parking lot and took care of it. The only thing I had to reset was the clock.
Replacing a battery is standard maintenance like tires and oil filters. It ain't rocket surgery.

 

For $300 you can get a Braille battery for half of that and it will weigh half of what the stock battery does.
This is the one I have.
http://www.braillebattery.com/index....atteries/b2317

 

The stock battery is of DIN type (2 lifting handles and breather hole), L=278mm W=175mm H=190mm.

I changed mine two days ago with a Delkor 57539 rated at 75Ah, which is stronger than the factory OEM 70Ah unit. It also is only 175mm tall, so it fits nicely and is easier to place than the original one.

As I am at the other end of the world, pricing wouldn't be relevant to you, but just for the sake of it I was able to get it for 105€.

If you have an OBD tool, then also reset your DME to know the new battery is there.
PS: If your car has START-STOP then you need an expensive AGM battery.

 

ok so that means the rep was right about resetting something. but i dont see how it would cost 300 out the door. thanks for all the info guys!! will any OBD tool work? even the cheapo HF one?

 

That I dont know... But what I use is an INPA cable and BMW factory software (INPA, NCS).

Alternative is a J2534 tool which allows you to connect to the mini tech site, but that could be expensive.

Really, if your car isnt acting strange with the old battery, you dont need to reset anything. Resetting simply removes measures to conserve a weak battery. But even then, the car would know after a couple of starts that the battery is ok and function properly.

 

the only thing strange is the slow engine turn over in the beginning.