Battery Choices revisted
#1
08-26-2018, 06:39 AM
Battery Choices revisted
It's looking like I should change the battery on my 2009 R55 before winter sets in this year.
I'd like to stick with and AGM battery in group 47 or maybe 48 (10# heavier).
I don't have an IBS in this car so don't have to program or register it.
Most batteries are made by East Penn (Deka, etc.), Exide, or Johnson Controls (now owns Delphi).
I've had good results with Deka batteries in the past, and hear JC is better than Exide.
There's also Enersys which makes Odyssey and used to make DieHard Platinum (Sears
apparently pulled that line recently citing quality issues and excessive returns - does that have
any bearing on their Odyssey brand batteries?).
The
There's also Optima (34R), which seems to have gone down hill since their move to Mexico (made by JC now?).
There's also Braille, who make a nice 17# streetable battery which Detroit Tuned sells along with
a nice mount to hold it securely. They have the brass terminal which I'm not sure about.
Are these reasonable to use for a daily driver including Pennsylvania winters?
A lot of people seem to like Odyssey, but their site lists only the group 48 (48-720 or 0752-2020) which
weighs almost 50#.
Amazon and others say the Odyssey PC1200MJT fits well but it has brass terminals and only 540 CCA.
It's lighter (38# like most group 47 batteries). Are the brass terminals a good thing (better conductivity
and durability?) or a bad thing (galvanic corrosion?).
There's also XS Power Batteries whose 42 lD4700 has more CCA (745) than other group 47 batteries.
It's slightly heavier at 42#.
I can't seem to link this to any of the above manufacturers.
I know this general topic has been discussed before, but let's give it a go again.
I'd like to stick with and AGM battery in group 47 or maybe 48 (10# heavier).
I don't have an IBS in this car so don't have to program or register it.
Most batteries are made by East Penn (Deka, etc.), Exide, or Johnson Controls (now owns Delphi).
I've had good results with Deka batteries in the past, and hear JC is better than Exide.
There's also Enersys which makes Odyssey and used to make DieHard Platinum (Sears
apparently pulled that line recently citing quality issues and excessive returns - does that have
any bearing on their Odyssey brand batteries?).
The
There's also Optima (34R), which seems to have gone down hill since their move to Mexico (made by JC now?).
There's also Braille, who make a nice 17# streetable battery which Detroit Tuned sells along with
a nice mount to hold it securely. They have the brass terminal which I'm not sure about.
Are these reasonable to use for a daily driver including Pennsylvania winters?
A lot of people seem to like Odyssey, but their site lists only the group 48 (48-720 or 0752-2020) which
weighs almost 50#.
Amazon and others say the Odyssey PC1200MJT fits well but it has brass terminals and only 540 CCA.
It's lighter (38# like most group 47 batteries). Are the brass terminals a good thing (better conductivity
and durability?) or a bad thing (galvanic corrosion?).
There's also XS Power Batteries whose 42 lD4700 has more CCA (745) than other group 47 batteries.
It's slightly heavier at 42#.
I can't seem to link this to any of the above manufacturers.
I know this general topic has been discussed before, but let's give it a go again.
Last edited by cristo; 08-26-2018 at 09:14 AM.
#2
08-26-2018, 07:22 PM
08 R56 S - had the battery die on me in the middle of winter. I replaced it with a Duralast Gold H5-DLG battery, group 47. Has a 5 year warranty too. Worked perfectly for me in Wisconsin winters. I know nothing about batteries though, so you may be looking for something better than the Autozone brand haha
#3
08-27-2018, 12:52 PM
We like the Braille battery, but tend to not do it on street cars just in case, but they have other options in size, but the terminal options are not as nice. the brass will not give you any problems unless your cowl is broken. You will also need a J-hook mounting system. i have one in my car and when i am driving it all the time it's no problem, but if you do not drive it for a week or two, a charger is a must. and the Gen 2 cars are very battery dependent. I still feel you need to code the battery no mater what you have. I have talked to dealer techs and I have heard both stories so they don't even know, AND it's in the programing for every car so we do it. I know for sure I have had cars in here with a burnt out Alt and on batter 3 in a year all because they didn't code the car. We only charge 15 bucks so it's well worth the piece of mind.
Chad
Detroit Tuned
Chad
Detroit Tuned
__________________
#4
08-27-2018, 02:32 PM
I'd personally buy Optima or similar battery with glass-mat technology.
You can leave your car undriven for days and not worry about battery drain.
I've had an Optima Red in my 1993 Miata and it lasted for 9+ years. The new owner still uses it without any issues. It's costly and bulbous but it works well (even in the hot Southern California climate).
You can leave your car undriven for days and not worry about battery drain.
I've had an Optima Red in my 1993 Miata and it lasted for 9+ years. The new owner still uses it without any issues. It's costly and bulbous but it works well (even in the hot Southern California climate).
#5
08-27-2018, 03:27 PM
I do have the Schwaben (Foxwell) scan tool to code the battery.
I’ll see if that works even in the absence of an IBS module.
Sounds like the best, most robust battery I can put in is the group 48
Odyssey, and not fret about adding 10# to the car just under the windshield.
I can order it from my local Autozone (ship to home only, no in store pickup) or Amazon.
Contacting Odyssey about fitment as their application guide is a little vague about different models and years,
unless someone else has already put one in an early Gen 2 S model (space under passenger cowl).
I’ll see if that works even in the absence of an IBS module.
Sounds like the best, most robust battery I can put in is the group 48
Odyssey, and not fret about adding 10# to the car just under the windshield.
I can order it from my local Autozone (ship to home only, no in store pickup) or Amazon.
Contacting Odyssey about fitment as their application guide is a little vague about different models and years,
unless someone else has already put one in an early Gen 2 S model (space under passenger cowl).
Last edited by cristo; 08-28-2018 at 03:15 AM.
The following users liked this post:
ECSTuning (08-30-2018)
#6
08-27-2018, 08:20 PM
#7
08-28-2018, 12:18 PM
It's always best, just so we know your coming. be we can normally do something like that on a moments notice. We can also change they type or style of batter as well as the CCA that the car thinks it is. We have a dealer level tool, not at dealer level prices.
__________________
Trending Topics
#8
08-28-2018, 04:23 PM
Ordered an Odyssey 48-720 (0752-2020) group 48 AGM battery after sliding my group 47 battery side to side to confirm I have plenty of room for the larger battery.
Will arrive at my work day after tomorrow in time for the long weekend. Will just have to wait for a brief break in the rainy forcast.
Checked my scan tool and it does have battery registration in the menu. Will do that even though no IBS, especially given the increase in specs.
Not the lightest option at 48#, but what's an extra 10# in a JCW R55 that I already can't keep from going too fast.
Should last like a tank. 69 Ah, 723 CCA.
Thanks to all for the posts and advice!
Will arrive at my work day after tomorrow in time for the long weekend. Will just have to wait for a brief break in the rainy forcast.
Checked my scan tool and it does have battery registration in the menu. Will do that even though no IBS, especially given the increase in specs.
Not the lightest option at 48#, but what's an extra 10# in a JCW R55 that I already can't keep from going too fast.
Should last like a tank. 69 Ah, 723 CCA.
Thanks to all for the posts and advice!
#9
08-30-2018, 11:44 AM
Put in the battery at work today on my lunch hour. It arrived there at 11:55 am, just in time for that.
Used a 12V Lantern dry cell to keep voltage on the system so I wouldn't lose the trip odometer setting or need to reinitialize anything.
Used a Schwaben/Foxwell NT510 to register the new battery. I changed the listing from flooded to AGM battery type, but couldn't change the Ah setting,
so it's still listed as 55 Ah.
It seems to only let you do that with an OEM BMW battery and/or IBS present.
I did get a few error messages that IBS is not present.
Used a 12V Lantern dry cell to keep voltage on the system so I wouldn't lose the trip odometer setting or need to reinitialize anything.
Used a Schwaben/Foxwell NT510 to register the new battery. I changed the listing from flooded to AGM battery type, but couldn't change the Ah setting,
so it's still listed as 55 Ah.
It seems to only let you do that with an OEM BMW battery and/or IBS present.
I did get a few error messages that IBS is not present.
#10
09-21-2020, 10:16 AM
#11
09-25-2020, 07:46 AM
Sorry to hear about the Odyssey, thanks for the update.
FWIW I just bought an AGM Interstate Group 48 from Costco (late August). We'll see how it does.
I had a similar rationale about just going with the 10-20lb heavier battery. This one is 45lbs. I think my aftermarket radio runs for 5-15 minutes after shut down, which made me wary of trying smaller batteries.
I'd have to learn from my own experience if the 20-30lb savings of the light weight batteries would be worth the reduction in capacity + possibly higher price. I have a hard time imagining that I could tell the difference blind.
For anyone searching in the future-
The prior battery was a BMW labelled h5- AA33 N (January 2013?). It probably should've been replaced 6 months ago, because I've had to jump it a couple times in the last few months.
As I understand it, Group 48 = same size as OE. Group 47 = a bit smaller (narrower), Group 40 = same footprint as OE but shorter.
The interstate MT48= 35lb, 615cca, 50ah reserve. I think $115 from costco
The interstate MTX48 (agm)= 45.6lb, 760cca, 70ah reserve. $160 from costco.
I don't think costco actually sells either of these as "MT" / "MTX" models, but the specs match.
The alternative lightweight I was looking at was the 15.4lb Odyssey PC680 (170cca, 16ah reserve $125) which is popular here.
I think the pc950, and pc925 or pc1100 were the next step up away from lightweight towards cranking performance. Pretty sure these would've physically fit (smaller), but didn't verify pole location, mounting options, or anything like that.
FWIW I just bought an AGM Interstate Group 48 from Costco (late August). We'll see how it does.
I had a similar rationale about just going with the 10-20lb heavier battery. This one is 45lbs. I think my aftermarket radio runs for 5-15 minutes after shut down, which made me wary of trying smaller batteries.
I'd have to learn from my own experience if the 20-30lb savings of the light weight batteries would be worth the reduction in capacity + possibly higher price. I have a hard time imagining that I could tell the difference blind.
For anyone searching in the future-
The prior battery was a BMW labelled h5- AA33 N (January 2013?). It probably should've been replaced 6 months ago, because I've had to jump it a couple times in the last few months.
As I understand it, Group 48 = same size as OE. Group 47 = a bit smaller (narrower), Group 40 = same footprint as OE but shorter.
The interstate MT48= 35lb, 615cca, 50ah reserve. I think $115 from costco
The interstate MTX48 (agm)= 45.6lb, 760cca, 70ah reserve. $160 from costco.
I don't think costco actually sells either of these as "MT" / "MTX" models, but the specs match.
The alternative lightweight I was looking at was the 15.4lb Odyssey PC680 (170cca, 16ah reserve $125) which is popular here.
I think the pc950, and pc925 or pc1100 were the next step up away from lightweight towards cranking performance. Pretty sure these would've physically fit (smaller), but didn't verify pole location, mounting options, or anything like that.
Last edited by R55Clubman; 09-25-2020 at 08:22 AM.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post