SO MUCH CONFLICTING INFORMATION OUT THERE... Am I able to just replace the battery without reprogramming? Can anyone shed some light on this?
Thank you!

 

Is it possible that I am the only one with a '17 who has had to replace the battery? I figure 5 years is about the average lifespan of a car battery. Thanks again.

 

I think this is a pretty good lifespan. The battery in my Cooper convertible was replaced in late 2018/early 2019, before I purchased the vehicle. I've just had to replace that battery. I live in Arizona, and with the heat this is a fairly typical lifespan here.

 

I have a 2015 F56, and the battery is getting weak. All the info I have found says they take an AGM (absorbent glass mat) battery and due to that the car needs to be reprogrammed for the new battery, basically reset the charging system as the car will put more voltage to an older battery and this will damage a new AGM.

IMO: This should be something you can do in settings though not require the BMW/MINI dealer to do, but such is life when driving a cool car. My local dealer wants $495 to change the battery and reprogram, or $135 to just reprogram.

 

See my posts in the later part of this thread for video links to change out the battery and recode the car yourself. Removing the battery was pretty easy, and I bought an OEM battery at the dealer for cheaper than an alternative brand at Auto Zone. With the BimmerLink app ($35) and a V-Peak OBD module ($35), you can change out the battery yourself in less than an hour, with simple tools. The OBD also works with BimmerCode (another $35) to do code custom options for various functions.

 

Thanks Thunderball Where can I get the Bimmerlink and OBD module?

 

BimmerLink App website: https://www.bimmerlink.app
BimmerCode App website: https://www.bimmercode.app

The websites list a variety of OBD units that are compatible. I purchased the from Amazon, based on others recommending it on this and another forum. It's been easy to connect to and works flawlessly with the Bimmer apps.

Watch the YouTube videos in the thread I shared regarding the coding. The battery I purchased was identical to the one previously in the car, so I only needed to register the new battery using BimmerLink. If you get a battery with different crank amps or other parameters, I believe you'll also need to code the new specs into the car using BimmerCode.

I paid $234.77 for the OEM battery at my MINI dealer. When I returned my old battery, I received a $19.00 core refund. The BimmerLink app was $36.00 (I already had BimmerCode; it's $30,00). All in, I spent about $275.00 for the battery and both apps. My dealer quoted me $480 for the battery, coding, and labor. It took about 30 minutes to swap the battery, and less than five minutes to code it.

 

Yes, thank you very much for that info. I purchased a battery and will replace it myself. I have read that you can simply "let your car know" that you installed a new battery and all will be well. Some say you need an OBD or BimmerLink. Others say you can reset right from inside your own car using the odometer control. As I stated in my initial post, there is SO MUCH contradictory info out there, which I'm sure is to the great pleasure of the dealers and mechanics out there.

 

Hey Thunder, Can you do the battery coding with BimmerCode? Its a free app for the iphone, but shows in app purchases. Why spend the $35 on BimmerLINK if code will do the job?
Thanks,
G

 

Bimmercode WILL NOT register a new battery.
I know I have both Bimmercode and Bimmerlink.

 

Bastard dealers in Socal want $358 for a battery!!! Without installation!!

 

Called around yesterday to find an Interstate brand AGM for mine, finally found one at National Tire and Battery and they quoted $235 with install. I said "I'll be right there!, but once I got there, they informed me the price they quoted was not the AGM and their installer that does "Euro" cars wasn't there and no one else had the tools. Said they would give me the correct AGM battery for the price I was quoted and not charge me for the core, but couldn't do install. Thought I found a deal, but oh well. I'll install it once the temp gets above 40 deg F today. Shouldn't be too difficult with the information others have shared on here. Also I ordered the Veecheck OBD from Amazon, should be delivered today.

 

One caveat when buying a battery for your MINI.
You'll either use an H6 or H7 battery, depending on your factory options.
They are different in physical size, and the hold down bracket will not interchange.
Also the battery trays are different.
I would presume at 3cyl uses the H6 70AH battery.

There really is no way of knowing until you remove the covers, and measure the battery.

 

EXACTLY!
Here's how my install went yesterday: Took the front intake section off, took the air cleaner out, pulled the upper battery cover off, took the upper right corner cover off, pulled the front battery cover out, unhook the negative, then positive terminals, slid the battery out, set it next to the new battery and thought SH@T, this one is not the same size. It was ~1.5 inches shorter. I think well maybe it will work so I put the new one in and slide it back and there's no way to hold it in place. And of course the NTB where I bought it was not open on Sunday. I call around and find Advance Auto has TWO different sizes in stock and luckily I had my truck to go get the proper battery. I take my original BMW battery with me to Advance and verify the battery size, mine was the 80 AH, 800 CCA for my 3 Cyl Turbo. Once I get home with the proper battery it takes about 20 minutes to install and put everything back together. I then crank the car and she started right up.

Then time to reprogram the car: I used the VEECHECK OBDCheck BLE ($32.99 on Amazon) bluetooth dongle, and the BimmerLink app for iphone which was $35.99, which were suggested by user Therderball Kaboom. The hardest part of this was finding the OBD plug. Once the VEECHECK was installed and I opened the app, it connected right away and it was maybe 3 easy steps to program. This whole process took 5 minutes, saved me $100 and a trip to the stealership.