Hello,

I have a 2006 MCS and I am need of a new battery. The dealership told me I had to register the battery, so of course I wanted to get some more information.
I have been doing a lot of research regarding this subject. I found some interesting information for both Mini and BMW as far as the reason for the registration (mainly from BMW techs), but they kind of sound like they are just spouting what they were taught not if it really matters in the long run or not. I have definitely figured out which battery I would like to use instead of the OE, but no articles/threads I have found go into detail as far as the programming. The closest I found is the following:

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...w-battery.html

It has some feedback, but not really enough to give me peace of mind for not registering it. Sorry if there are other threads somewhere covering this, I was not able to find one through all my searches.

Just wanting to hear from people who have replaced their Mini battery without having the dealership register it and see if any problems have arisen from doing so.

Also would like to hear from those who did register it, and if you can actually tell the difference.

If it matters, I am planning on installing an Optima RedTop. Don't know if the ECM needs to know the type of battery in the vehicle; whether it is flooded, GEL, or AGM.

Any feedback would be appreciated! Thanks in advance.

-Keith

 

First,

Make sure you have the battery monitor installed on your car. Not all models have it. I have an 09 JCW and the dealer told me the same thing. However, the car doesn't have the monitor. On an 09 it is a small rectangular box that is connected right next to the loop for the neg terminal.

Not sure about an 06.

As explained to me, Its a matter of telling the car the battery is new. Not the type. That changes the way the battery charges which will keep the car from over charging the battery. (As a battery ages the car charges it longer).

 

I'm removing my battery every year when I store my car during winter and I even replaced the oem one that died about 2 months ago, never had a problem. The only thing I can think of in a situation like this is that you might los dealer programmed features (all windows and sunroof open with remote, etc). So if anything, I'd grab one of those memory saver that plugs into the cigarette lighter (or other methods) and call it a day. I can't guarantee you anything, but from my personal experience, I never had any issues at all.

 

Thank you!

I will have to check. My guess is that it probably will have it with my luck. The previous owner got basically every package except the JCW edition.

Any R53 owners know the location of said box? I am going to check mine when I'm off work, but I want to make sure I am looking in the correct place.

05r50 - Assuming that I do have the monitor; It would be the smart thing to just have the dealer register it, correct? To avoid issues of overcharging.

 

Afaik battery monitoring is only required with (a) AGM batteries and (b) MOST bus cars, which the r53 isn't.

 

there is no battery registration program on a 2006 MINI so you don't need to worry about it.
That feature is only for 2007+ Gen 2 cars.

 

Wow... I can not believe that the dealership will straight up lie to me. The service adviser is a new one, so he probably told me what he is told. We never lied to our customers like that when I was at the Infiniti dealership. I rather take the hit on the flag hours and retain the customer.

I appreciate the feedback from everybody. I did check the battery in the back for that monitor, and there is nothing on the negative cable. The cable goes directly from the terminal and bolts to the body. The positive side connects to a junction box attached to the side, but I did not see any circuit boards/modules. I did find a tool kit in a styrofoam block that I did not know was there. Just learning all sorts of new stuff today.

 

The more likely explanation is incompetence rather than dishonestly. The new service advisor probably doesn't have a clue about different requirements for different years.

 

Bet it is YET another dealer that is so new it has never sold a gen1 car.......maybe a cabriolet in 2007/2008.....but many of dealers that have opened in the last couple years know next to nothing about the gen1 cars.....kinda sad...

 

I think the same dealer I go to is the one the previous owner got the car from back in late 2005/early 2006. The 1st owner left a lot of paper work (including the mahoney sticker) with the owner's manual. I think the problem is that none of the old knowledgable staff no longer works there. When I first got the car, had this one service adviser named Jeff. He knew his stuff. Unfortunately, he went to San Antonio to a different Mini dealer because they were going to pay him what he was worth. I think he was the only one holding together the dealership where I'm at. Loved the dealership at first, now I am kinda dreading them...

 

Find a GOOD independant shop....once a car is more than 5 years old...the dealer is kinda $$$$....they make their $$ on warrenty work and (usually) double the hourly rate for labour....
Local mini clubs usually have a few folks who specialize in mini's...some by design...some by accident.... Heck...my independent mini guy worked at a nonmini shop..owned a r53... And worked on them soo much (after hours) he opened a shop....now 5+ years later he has a 3 bay shop. Texas has a pretty strong mini community....
A competing mini board has a huge Texas following...the founder did move out of Texas....but the expertise remains. Typing their name results in ***** for a name....but alliance is in the name.... Google is your friend!!
These boards are actually complementary IMO.......

 

As WMW stated. No battery monitoring on the 2006 model.
I recently replaced my OEM battery with a Optima Red Top with no issues.

 

@ZippyNH - True, but I can do most of the repairs myself. I am a certified tech for Nissan/Inifiniti. With the Mini, I just do not know the little quirks they have yet. The only reason I go to them is for an alignment or oil change when they send me a $100 coupon to use. I did purchase an extended warranty when I bought the car (regretting it some, can not mod like I want) because I was thinking of supercharger or engine failure. I am milking that extended warranty for any small thing that I can, got to get my money's worth. Once that warranty is out, believe me, I will find a good euro shop.

Thank you!