I just passed 60k miles a couple weeks ago on my 2005 S, and it's still going strong as far as I'm aware. I've wondered how long the battery will last, but with the Winter approaching in a couple months of so, it might be time to replace it just in case.

There's also a few other parts I need to replace before the winter rolls around as well.

WOW, could this be a record on OEM? In Ohio no less.
I am on my original battery with 5 years 9 months, but I live in a mild climate. I know I am on borrowed time but will probably not change until it dies.

Mine quit without warning exactly 3 years and one day after taking delivery. Got a jump and drove around for 30 min. to charge. Got home, turned off and tried to restart with no luck. Battery was good as dead.

Just replaced my stock battery, got 5 years 9 months out of it. Was going to replace LAST winter.

Been a long time since I was in these parts. I came back specifically because of the battery. Just died. 2003 MCS. Took delivery October 2002. Just replaced the battery. 54K miles (and I'm one of the lucky ones that doesn't have a manual hatch release!). Note the funky username. I picked it just to see if I would get it. Does my 7 year old OEM get a prize?

I just put a RedTop in mine....



Mine is a Sept '05 build. Battery still worked, but I'm not taking any chances in this northern clime.

My oem battery just died a month ago I bought the car new in aug 2003 in germany its been overseas then to washington alot of road trips on the midwest. 6 years is a long time compared to most. I drove the car from tx all the way up to montana and took a left to washington state and and did three trips to that aswell. there wasnt any previos symptoms prior to kerplunk. yep and I put a good old red top optima in and it came alive...

Three years and counting.

Mine lasted almost 3 years. Went into the mall came out and it was toast. I however had a problem with my cooling fan staying on for a really long time for a month or so which probably drained the battery a bit, so it may have lasted a little longer if that hadn't happened. Took her to the dealership and they replaced it under warranty.

Aren't Mini's great?

My 05's battery was replaced 6 months ago....29,000 miles....but it tends to sit a bit!!

Just replaced 04 MCS original battery tonight with a NAPA #7574. Had both batteries side-by-side on the parts counter and height/width/length a perfect match. Only glitch in the project was my curious 11yr old managed to close the tailgate before I got back with the replacement battery. Not as easy, but I opted to work from the interior. Replacement fit was exact.

thanks for sharing!!!

Got 6 years and 7 months w/ 127,000 miles on the odo. Started having electrical gremlins. Turns out to be the ignition switch. prob would have left the factory battery, but had to start somewhere tracing the issue!

Just replaced the battery in my 04 MCS that had 62K on it. Battery was holding about a 60% charge as I tested each cell. Scan Guage showed 13.2 to 13.5 readings on the highway. But with Winter coming I figured do it now while it is warm instead getting stuck at 2 AM on a freezing morning while heading to work. Scanguage now has been showing 13.7 to 14.2 on the highway.

If this ever happens again or the boot just won't open, just lift the rear seat bottom and pull the manual/emergency boot release handle and pull, the boot should open right up.

Thanks for the tip.

first mini 3 years (114,098 miles)then I totaled mini
2nd mini 4 years (41,012) and still running

Mine died today. '05 MCS with 85,250 miles...

trying to figure out what's the best replacement.

hey Moreorless,

Is that a Optima RedTop 34R? Need to replace mine so want to know what works best, thanks in advance!

I have an 02 MCS 06/02 build and am still on the original battery. As I sit here and type this I wonder if it is a good idea to mention it. Maybe my battery doesn't know that it should have gone bad by now. SHHHH. Many cold winters here in Ohio, although I do keep her in a garage at night.

Mine lasted 3 years, 3 years of TX and FL hot summers and it died in the first northern winter. I put a red-top in and it died after 8 months. When I returned the battery they looked at me like i had 4 heads. I was told they sell hundreds of them a month and I was the first return... go figure. If I am the one in a million, why does it not happen when I buy a lottery ticket?

I just got my '03 MCS at the end of October with only 36054 miles on the odometer.

Nudnik came to me with a DieHard in there of unknown vintage, so I guess it lasted less than 7 years and 36k miles. It has no place to hook up the vent hose. I'm glad I don't smoke....

Phoenix is pretty hard on batteries. In my previous few cars, which had the battery under the hood soaking up all that wonderful engine heat, I considered myself lucky to get 3 years out of a 7 year battery.... I got a long time out of the VW Beetle's battery, but it was under the back seat.

Hopefully I'll get a good amount of time out of this battery, so I can put in one of those nifty Optima batteries....

C ya,
Dutch

Mine lasted 5 years w/ 51k miles.

The original battery in my 02 MCS which I bought new, died last winter and I replaced late winter 09. It had about 60,000 miles.

Jim

Mine lasted for 7 years/78k miles as far as I know, I bought the car in '07 with 39k miles so I assume it still had the original battery