what I want to kinow : when I switch batterys is it a big deal to drive 6 miles to Mini to get my new battery re-programmed ? my last batt. cost me $482 @ Mini 800 cca (I'll know if it's H6 or H7 beforehand) I can take off tower brace & expose batt. that way Auto Zone will put it on for free, I'm gonna price out Register(reprogram) next time I'm down there. want to cover all options ahead of time. Getting charged $482.82 by Mini set me off. Living in a condo where you can't work on your car makes me a guerilla mukanik. I can live with $235.25 for a 800 CCA AGM batt. $247.50 reg.(reprogram) & labor & tax will be whacked back consideraby. I learned the hard way first time, now it's time to cut thier throats. I've got a few years to pin down details.

 

You could always buy a device and do it yourself.

 

See this thread for a great discussion on how to change your battery out yourself and reprogram:

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...placement.html

You’ll save time and money. There are some links in my comments for a video on how to remove the battery, and about the coding apps and OBD reader needed to register the battery once installed.

I believe this is easiest to do if you buy the OEM battery for your model. Surprisingly, an OEM battery at my dealer was cheaper than non-OEM brands!

 

Took some time in the freezing cold to remove all the trim but overall very easy and used Bimmerlink to program. My F54 takes an H7 AGM. Got Diehard at Advanced Auto for $200.
My wife has an F57 so similar process to the F55/56. I found the locking pins used to keep the plastic cowl trim in place a bit annoying compared to the slide in and lock system used on the F54. Only challenge is working in a relatively tight space. Still as long as you're careful to keep metal and body parts away from the cabling and battery terminals it's the same as changing any other battery save the trim removal and Bimmerlink one button registration.

Much better than spending 3-600 to have dealer do it. Plus my dealer is an hour away. 😁 Fwiw

Make sure you get a battery with the same amp-hour rating, otherwise you need to do some extra programming.

Also FWIW, although some may argue that the Mini/BMW is over engineered, I love how everything fits perfectly together. Like a work of art. Contributes to pride of ownership and IMO how much the designers paid attention to detail and fit and finish. IMO

 

thanks gents, Ima 66 yr. old man with a bad back. my physical abilty is limited, tough when you're an old Harley Rider ! yeh, 25 years ago I got run over & died twice, so now I'm on 4 wheels. I remember drivin' FWD when I was a kid. Boy ! times have changed !

 

on my phone/google I found @ Amazon a bundle : veepeak mini bluetooth OBD 11 scanner for android autocheck engine light code reader for $11.42 & veepeak OBD 11 scanner wired car engine fault code reader reset diagnostic tool for $19.57 totaling $30.99 sounds like The CAT'S *** to me, is that the gig ? if so, I'll order & when I'm holding it IN MY HAND I'll worry about bimmercode/bimmerlink. bimmerlink

 

I don't trust those Chinese bundled apps. They are buggy as heck.
I have dealt with Stephen at Bimmercode/Bimmerlink, he's money well spent.
Saved on the battery, but not on the software.

You also need the same AH battery, as the mounting plate is made for either a 70AH, or an 80 AH, they are different sizes.
Its not like a Toyota.

Im also 66, and died at 30 on a GSXR1100H doing 90 mph!!! I hurt waking up every morning, and cant even go through a metal detector peacefully!!
But enjoy working on my own car, it just takes a little longer!!

 

. I'm thinking that you d/l bimmercode on your android phone & use that + a OBD 11 plug-in in your OBD slot ? I'm totally new to this gig but I'm smart enough to not throw away chingawa ! . my receipt from MINI says 800 cca, all I gotta do is expose it once & get all the details to find out if it's H4 or H6. no rest for the wicked. I would like to have a separate controller to push buttons on other than my phone, but if you say it's easy to do on your phone, SO BE IT. I MADE IT TO 40 BEFORE I GOT HAMMERED ! METAL DETECTORS ARE A GAS ! how do I get in touch with Stephen @ bimmerlink ?

 

Download Bimmerlink, plug in the OBD II dongle. Im not sure about Android, but iPhone, there's no configuration, just open Bimmerlink, and connect.
Click the 12 V battery icon, and click register after confirming the battery size, mileage and date will self populate.

Theres an email link in the app.

H6 70AH or H7 80AH, CCA is not used.

 

I'll get Veepeak OBD 11 plug-in like you got one day & bimmerlink ? on my phone.but first I'm going to measure my Batt. & report back.tried to see what happens when you try to pair your phone. boy, that was weird ! didn't pair. I assume you have to have the app. & OBD sender. what is DONGLE ? the plug-in ?

 

The DONGLE is the OBD II adapter.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dongle

You DO NOT try to pair the the Bluetooth adapter, the software will do it internally when open.

 

Dongle - roger that. will order 1 this mornin', went out next day, plugged in phone, BOOM ! with both on settings I looked & they paired & I don't have Bimmerlink yet. I'll run down to AutoZone today size up batt.s (H-6 size, amp. hr. & H-7 amp. hr. & size) that way I'll know it all when I start playin' around - this has really given me the old mech. bug back - I love playin' around with car stuff & saving chingawa ! next mech. job is exposing my batt. to make sure. & coppin' Bimmerlink

 

- H6 battery: 278 x 175 x 190 mm,

- H7 battery: 315 x 175 x 190 mm.

If I remember correctly, Bimmerlink will tell you what size battery is already in the car.

80 AH is H7

70 AH is H6

 

most excellent - my $40 Veepeak Dongle arrives today & I'll be workin' on Bimmerlink & Batt. size, BUT one thing I'm wondering is how do you take off that OBD cover on pass. side w/o tearing it up ? looks like somebody did it bass-ackwards or didn't put it on right. pull it out at top & slde forward, pull it out at bottom & slide forward ? just what is the PROPER way to remove the cover ? I don't want to tear it up on first go-round ! apparently somebody did it before with iphone 'cause it said that when I went into Settings BUT my phone showed up too, & I went there & it was accepted. 278 & 315 mm long H6 & H7 is the only diff. ? 1 & 1/2" ? can you please convert to inches on total length ? I just woke-up ! does Dongle & phone communicate by the USB or Wireless or both ? (I'll be plugged into USB) seems to me it would be through USB but it said Wireless was an option in car ? Thanks Man, you wised me up BIG-TIME this is so cool

 

Only RHD MONOs have OBD pn what US calls passenger side.

LHD the OBD is about a foot under the dash left (US Drivers side)

 

https://www.metric-conversions.org/l...-to-inches.htm

 

well, looks like I can't put it off any longer ! I've acquired all the data & I'll have to see my OBD plug-in. hafta get actual batt. size & go to bimmerlink.com/app & d/l. it'll happen when my back will let me ! I'm gonna play with this long time ! I imagine there's things you can check with just your juice on & things you gotta fire up the motor on & drive. mebbee when you get a chance you could wise me up on that. I'm really impressed that DIY AUTO has come this far ! so, my OBD is on driver's side under dash ? somebody monkeyed up pass. side kick panel. that's what happens when you buy a used car. I'm getting it back to "roll off the assembly line" stature. + all the custom work. I patd $16.6K for a $50K car w/40K mi. on it. WOW ! Thanks Bud

 

OBD Slot found, can you say clutch ? ah ha ha ha ! batt.'s only 5 mo.s old, will expose one day. I Need Bimmerlink installed on me Phone ! got to re-set service warning on speedo - it lit up for Brake Fluid Change.@ 40K ? put on JCW rotors & calipers couple years ago, and got plenty of new fluid on bleed. .bimmerlink.app - I'm thinking car juice off, plug-in Dongle, plug-in USB cable, turn on car juice, go to SETTINGS, plug ON phone into USB cable, push Bimmerlink icon on phone, scroll around. sound like proper sequence ?

 

Couple years ago? I thought you just got the car a few months ago.
USB? I thought you bought the Bluetooth version.
Yes, you can reset service warnings with Bimmerlink.

 

got the car 8/20 already built to the teeth, didn't get into NAM for awhile, tryin' to figure out previous owner's pro-build. got veepeak OBD BLE dongle for $41 & Android Bimmerlink for phone for $44.99 yasterday afternoon. today is the big Set-Up day. I hope I follow directions right ! I think it's Bluetooth model, can I do that wirelessly ? I just want to do proper set-up & I'm pretty much in the dark. + TBI is no fun. So it's Wing & a Prayer ! going by Carfax when it comes to JCW brakes. 1st owner had 3 yr.s & put 25K mi. on it, 2nd owner had it 2yr.s built it HUGE & put 15K mi. on it. I got it 8/20 w/ 40.5K mi. inch by inch I'm figgerin' it out !