My 2004 MCS with 77K still has the original battery, which has until recently never given me any problem. I had not driven the car in several weeks, and yesterday it would not start although there was enough juice to open the doors and illuminate the dome light. After a jump start the car started fine and has done so several times thereafter. However, after more than an hour of driving the indicator light on the battery still has not returned to green (healthy); it is either black (insufficiently charged) or yellow (time to replace.) These are sealed units and there is no opportunity to check the level of the electrolyte. Should I assume that the battery is terminally ill and should be replaced, or will more driving return it to a healthy charge? TIA.

 

Use a meter or have it load tested that way you can be sure. Don't rely on it to much to tell you the state of the battery.

 

The MINI batteries have a 3 to 4 year life-span in most cases, and it sounds like yours has reached that point. I'd go shopping for a new one asap, 'cuz when they finally go, they go quickly. Lots of options out there in the autoparts world - OEM, Optimas, etc.

 

If ya get it runnin head to PepBoys, AutoZone or Advanced Auto....they'll slap a battery tester on it for free....no need to guess.

I replace my battery at 5 years if it lasts that long....to have one die b4 that isn't unusual. It depends a lot on where you live. FL heat is as hard on bat' life as northern cold.....

I'm a believer in OPTIMA red top once I need to swap....have one in the 79 and see many of them on the show car circuit.

And yes, I agree...now a days they go from "works" to "doesn't work" seemingly overnight .... the days of a slow crank warning are long gone.

 

Since we are on the topic of Battery`s. Someone told me that the battery on a Mini Cooper (S or Justacooper) is located in the trunk?!

Can you confirm or deny this?

 

The word your looking for is "boot= trunk" and its only on the S- Just a cooper it is under the "bonnet= hood". This completes the getting to know your English made car

 

Merci beaucoup pour votre reponse, désole pour avoir faire une si grande erreur. Prochaine fois je demanderais en francais!

 

Yep, its under the carpet in the back.

 

Time to change it. Even if it tests OK 5 years is all you can really expect and when it get colder (assuming you live in a place where it gets cold) it will be even more marginal.

You can read all about options in other threads but for me there is nothing better than the Optima Red Top 34r. More capacity than OEM. Cheaper than OEM from the dealer and a direct bolt in replacement other than you will not need the vent from the original.

Rich

 

Merci beaucoup pour votre reponse, désole pour avoir faire une si grande erreur. Prochaine fois je demanderais en francais!

Le Boot, Le Bonnet. Does that help? No F1 in Canada....? sad very sad

 

Actually Le Bonnet means a hat and there is no suck thing as Le Boot. It would be Coffre or Valise and Capote.

All in all, who cares what ever we call it, we understand either way if its boot or trunk. Its being picky on the details.

 

The OEM battery appears to be 'group 47' and fitment category '12' but Costco apparently does not carry any batteries in fitment 12. Does anyone know what the Costco alternatives are?

 

bump

 

Optima Red Top 34R is a direct fit, although you need to bend a connector straight on the positive lead for proper connection.

 

AutoZone http://tinyurl.com/5hrlrc

Paul

 

Thanks Paul, this thread went right in my bookmarks under "battery & misc"

 

where can optima Red tops in the 34r configuration be found for under 150?

Autozone, and all those other chain stores (pepboys, etc) will not order one for me because when they pull up MINI cooper it does not say that battery number. Weird eh? Does anyone know what cars under autozone's website uses a 34R battery?

 

Safe to get a battery...

Where are you located ?

I bought a Optima Red top and had it in my car for 5 days before my Deka came in ..
It is only 2 months old and good as new ...

 

is the Deka better? Is there a reason you choose it over the red top?

 

Here's how the Deka batteries commonly used for the MINI compare to the OEM battery:

MINI OEM - 480 CCA, 55 amp-hour capacity, 36 pounds
Deka ETX14 - 200 CCA, 14 amp-hour capacity, 8.4 pounds
Deka ETX18L - 300 CCA, 21 amp-hour capacity, 11 pounds

So, there's a significant weight savings to be had with the Deka batteries, although you're not going to be able to run your stereo as long with the engine off, and if you live somewhere it gets really, really cold, you might have starting problems.

The Deka batteries are also cheaper. The first place I looked had the EXT14 for $68, and the ETX18L for $70 - they're probably even cheaper elsewhere.

 

It’s lighter than the OEM or Optima and if that is what you are looking for it makes a big difference.

Otherwise the Optima has much higher capacity and better for a “daily driver”.

Rich

 

The deka is in my race only car.

Not the best option for a daily driver.