Battery Weak found Replacement

My 03 530i arrived with its original battery still in the trunk...The current local cold spell has really taken a toll on its cranking ability.

I read here that a lot of you have been purchasing the AutoZone 94R or modify the hold down for the 94DL.....and at a wide range of prices. I called my local autozone and the recommended 94R with an 3/8 year warranty was priced at 149.99....HOLY CRAP!!!!!

I went to my local Walmart and found they carry a MAXX Everstart 94R battery and installed it for me for 75.00 + tax ...out the garage for less than 82.00 installed. Best part was I got the same 3/8 year warranty as Autozone Battery.

When I got home did some research and found Autozone is the same mfg as Diehards and Walmart was mfg by Delphi.

Love to save money!!!!

Originally Posted by Meinfarr

My 03 530i arrived with its original battery still in the trunk...The current local cold spell has really taken a toll on its cranking ability.

I read here that a lot of you have been purchasing the AutoZone 94R or modify the hold down for the 94DL.....and at a wide range of prices. I called my local autozone and the recommended 94R with an 3/8 year warranty was priced at 149.99....HOLY CRAP!!!!!

I went to my local Walmart and found they carry a MAXX Everstart 94R battery and installed it for me for 75.00 + tax ...out the garage for less than 82.00 installed. Best part was I got the same 3/8 year warranty as Autozone Battery.

When I got home did some research and found Autozone is the same mfg as Diehards and Walmart was mfg by Delphi.

Love to save money!!!!

Nice find. Just go back and make sure...positively make sure...that they INSTALLED THE VENT tube to the battery. You do NOT want to be driving around with the battery NOT vented. If it's an EXCIDE mfg'd battery, then the battery's vent hole should be on the side of the battery like the original BMW battery that was installed. So you won't be able to see it because it's on the side of the battery by the positive battery post. If it is a Johnson Control mfg'd battery...then the battery vents from the top center (like the Duralast pictured below).

BTW, the other Autozone battery that is the cost leader is the Duralast 49 D or 49 DL...that is the one that runs from $79-$92. But your EverStart (as you mention) is in the same ball park spec wise.

Do you mind taking a pic of the label or at least typing up the specs? The RC (reserve capacity), CCA (cold cranking amps), and CA (cranking amps) is what we like to see.

For example...the Duralast 49DL: CA-850 CCA-1000 RC-155

Very good news!

Yes, good for you.....I was actually surprised at how good the price was for the battery having priced both AZ and Napa. Nice to know there are other options....

Thanks for the advice....Looks like I'm going back to Walmart tomorrow.

Looks like the vent is just hanging there. Obviously it is not on top at the standard location.

Label says made by Exide...

3 year free replacement is an extra year more than Duralast 49DL

Originally Posted by Meinfarr

Looks like the vent is just hanging there. Obviously it is not on top at the standard location...

Them little buggers...always gotta watch them. Your battery hold down clamp is also missing. It is the triangular clamp with a LONG bolt that goes over the foot of the battery and get's threaded down into one of 3 holes in the bottom of the battery comparment. It is more important to secure the battery with the hold down clamp than just the brace across the top. The top brace doesn't prevent the battery from moving forward/backwards under hard driving.

(battery hold down clamp)

Sometimes I just don't understand how some folks think. Now I know the person who removed your old battery had to see that gray tube in the battery compartment...and then to install you new one without even considering what that tube was for...and that your battery is completely enclosed inside the trunk.

The style battery you have is the oe set up...where the car's vent tube is inserted into the side of the battery instead of on top.

Sad thing is...the little black elbow is missing in the pic you posted. Hopefully it fell out and is laying in your battery compartment...if not...and your old battery was designed the same way....they probably threw the little elbow away because it usually winds up staying inside the battery. Check out the little BLACK elbow in the image below. If the threw it away...you may need to purchase another one from the BMW dealership...they only cost a few bucks (or make Walmart pay for it if they can't find it, or don't have anything to connect the tube to the battery).

-

(you can see how the little BLACK elbow can remain behind stuck in the old battery...it's circled in RED)

And if the battery is NOT vented...hydrogen gases that are produced by the battery could ignite if built up and spark is introduced...which can happen if the battery gets overcharged by the alternator. Again, this can happen and then...KABOOM. See the image below of what can happen when the battery is not vented when it's in an enclosed location:

Originally Posted by Meinfarr

My 03 530i arrived with its original battery still in the trunk...The current local cold spell has really taken a toll on its cranking ability.

I read here that a lot of you have been purchasing the AutoZone 94R or modify the hold down for the 94DL.....and at a wide range of prices. I called my local autozone and the recommended 94R with an 3/8 year warranty was priced at 149.99....HOLY CRAP!!!!!

I went to my local Walmart and found they carry a MAXX Everstart 94R battery and installed it for me for 75.00 + tax ...out the garage for less than 82.00 installed. Best part was I got the same 3/8 year warranty as Autozone Battery.

When I got home did some research and found Autozone is the same mfg as Diehards and Walmart was mfg by Delphi.

Love to save money!!!!

I purchased a Duralst battery from Autozone that will not hold a charge. Unfortunatley Autozone will not abid by the warrenty but only wants to charge it when it goes bad. DO NOT Buy from AUTOZONE they are not trustworthy! I am sitting with my second dead battery in 5 months. Btw...their policy is rechange not replace.

BTW, you are also missing the plastic cover for the positive battery clamp. Make sure that is replaced as well.

The Maxx batteries in other sizes have tested well by Consumers Reports in the past, you did well, once the installation issues are resolved.

Originally Posted by roger52732

I purchased a Duralst battery from Autozone that will not hold a charge. Unfortunatley Autozone will not abid by the warrenty but only wants to charge it when it goes bad. DO NOT Buy from AUTOZONE they are not trustworthy! I am sitting with my second dead battery in 5 months. Btw...their policy is rechange not replace.

Something is wrong....not sure what is going on with the AutoZone in your part of Iowa...but that is NOT what the warranty stipulates. Maybe their store's policy is to recharge not replace..but that is NOT the Duralast NATIONWIDE warranty that clearly state 2 or 3 year free REPLACEMENT.

For example, you can go directly to their website...and it clearly states the warranty standards...depending on if you have the regular Duralast or the GOLD Duralast...it is 2 or 3 year free REPLACEMENT + a pro-rated warranty for the remainder 7 or 8 years.

"Recharging" instead or replacing is NOT the warranty. And if the battery is dead and the free 2 or 3 yr period has past...then you should be able to buy a new one at the pro-rated discount based on how old the battery is.

My friend, you are getting screwed...but your situation is NOT everyone else's experience. Is there another Autozone in your area? Or is it just one store. Perhaps the store personnel are NOT clear on what the true warranty is on the Duralast. Time to ask for someone higher up in the chain of command. Or drive over to the next city of state and take it to another Autozone that understands what the Duralast warranty is. Again, it's a NATIONWIDE honored warranty from any AutoZone.

Good luck...here's a link to the Duralast advertised warranty: http://www.duralastparts.com/index.php?page=batteries#

..

Actually, that is not true...I am a store manager for Autozone. The policy is to confirm if the battery is bad and if so replace it. It is up to the person handling it to make that judgment based on the results of the test. Bottom line is if you are insistent enough they will replace it. If not you let me know the store and the person who told you No, and I will address it. How's that?

Originally Posted by QSilver7

Something is wrong....not sure what is going on with the AutoZone in your part of Iowa...but that is NOT what the warranty stipulates. Maybe their store's policy is to recharge not replace..but that is NOT the Duralast NATIONWIDE warranty that clearly state 2 or 3 year free REPLACEMENT.

For example, you can go directly to their website...and it clearly states the warranty standards...depending on if you have the regular Duralast or the GOLD Duralast...it is 2 or 3 year free REPLACEMENT + a pro-rated warranty for the remainder 7 or 8 years.

"Recharging" instead or replacing is NOT the warranty. And if the battery is dead and the free 2 or 3 yr period has past...then you should be able to buy a new one at the pro-rated discount based on how old the battery is.

My friend, you are getting screwed...but your situation is NOT everyone else's experience. Is there another Autozone in your area? Or is it just one store. Perhaps the store personnel are NOT clear on what the true warranty is on the Duralast. Time to ask for someone higher up in the chain of command. Or drive over to the next city of state and take it to another Autozone that understands what the Duralast warranty is. Again, it's a NATIONWIDE honored warranty from any AutoZone.

Good luck...here's a link to the Duralast advertised warranty: http://www.duralastparts.com/index.php?page=batteries#

Originally Posted by koolkoko02

Actually, that is not true...I am a store manager for Autozone. The policy is to confirm if the battery is bad and if so replace it. It is up to the person handling it to make that judgment based on the results of the test. Bottom line is if you are insistent enough they will replace it. If not you let me know the store and the person who told you No, and I will address it. How's that?

+1

I have used Autozone batteries for years and I have never had a problem with replacing my batteries if they were suspect. In fact, I just replaced one free of charge after 8 months after the GMIII died, and my car was completely dead. I thought the battery was not holding the charge during the process and they had no problems replacing it once tested.

Also, I don't know about any modifications necessary for the 49DL or where this info came from. I simply bought one and installed it in the factory location/harness without any modification at all - direct fit in my case.

Originally Posted by mmm635

... I don't know about any modifications necessary for the 49DL or where this info came from. I simply bought one and installed it in the factory location/harness without any modification at all - direct fit in my case.

I can only assume that this "modification" you see turn up in these battery threads...can only be from owners slightly confused about securing the battery. They see the brace across the top and assume it to be the component that secures the battery...not realizing that what actually secures the battery from fore/aft/up/down movement is the silver 2-piece battery hold down clamp that has the large triangular piece & the long threaded screw.

They wind up using blocks of wood etc to fill the gap between the top brace and battery...or the use something as a spacer between the hold down clamp and the battery...not realizing that there are THREE holes to choose from...and some may not realize that the WIDE part of the hold down clamp is supposed to go over the FOOT of the battery as the long threaded bolt get's screwed into one of the 3 holes.

I've read owners describe how they've misused the hold down clamp...that's where all the examples above come from.

Originally Posted by QSilver7

I can only assume that this "modification" you see turn up in these battery threads...can only be from owners slightly confused about securing the battery. They see the brace across the top and assume it to be the component that secures the battery...not realizing that what actually secures the battery from fore/aft/up/down movement is the silver 2-piece battery hold down clamp that has the large triangular piece & the long threaded screw.

They wind up using blocks of wood etc to fill the gap between the top brace and battery...or the use something as a spacer between the hold down clamp and the battery...not realizing that there are THREE holes to choose from...and some may not realize that the WIDE part of the hold down clamp is supposed to go over the FOOT of the battery as the long threaded bolt get's screwed into one of the 3 holes.

I've read owners describe how they've misused the hold down clamp...that's where all the examples above come from.

Thanks for the clarification Q. I was beginning to think I might have not paid attention to something during the installation process.

Michel, love your sub set up set up in the ride....is that a custom box?

Originally Posted by koolkoko02

Michel, love your sub set up set up in the ride....is that a custom box?

Thanks! Yes, I made it myself and about to build the final version out of MDF since the mock up was constructed of pine - I have had the material sitting in my storage room for months. However, the existing box sounds pretty darn good the way it is. So, the MDF can only be better. The box does not take up much trunk room at all for the amount of bass that is projecting through the cabin.

Can you share the specs? I'd love to make something similar...I'm not experienced at making boxes though..

Originally Posted by koolkoko02

Actually, that is not true...I am a store manager for Autozone. The policy is to confirm if the battery is bad and if so replace it. It is up to the person handling it to make that judgment based on the results of the test. Bottom line is if you are insistent enough they will replace it. If not you let me know the store and the person who told you No, and I will address it. How's that?

when i had my autozone battery replaced, the manager hooked it up to a tester and it topped out at 11.9v. he had no problems replacing it.

i guess a lot has to do with your swagger. if a person is not a complete d*ckhead about it, the manager pretty much just gives a replacement; what's it to the manager to do this? cost him nothing and at the end of the day the customer would rave about the store and CS they received.

good to know we have an autozone rep here!

Ok I got a delima and can use some expertise...I went back to Walmart tonight and had them pull the battery. It has NO VENT! It is a sealed model r49RN said R stands for reverse and N means Northern Manufacture for cold climate.

I personally looked at the battery and there is NO vent tube. It is sealed as they said. The computer shows this as the model for replacement...

Anyone else have a similar experience?

Originally Posted by chivas

when i had my autozone battery replaced, the manager hooked it up to a tester and it topped out at 11.9v. he had no problems replacing it.

i guess a lot has to do with your swagger. if a person is not a complete d*ckhead about it, the manager pretty much just gives a replacement; what's it to the manager to do this? cost him nothing and at the end of the day the customer would rave about the store and CS they received.

good to know we have an autozone rep here!

Yep, let me know if there are any problems and I will help where I can. AZ is not the best place for Bimmer parts on the whole but its good for the basic necessities...

Originally Posted by koolkoko02

Yep, let me know if there are any problems and I will help where I can. AZ is not the best place for Bimmer parts on the whole but its good for the basic necessities...

can we order parts from your store and have it shipped?

We really don't have a shipping set up. Each store does that for their area. So to do that would be counter productive costwise. The main ways I can help is if you have any customer service issues. Like I said, AZ isn't the best place for Bimmer parts. I've looked up things since I've had mine. Alot of it is non stock or not available. But if you have a specific issue with anything, let me know.

Originally Posted by Meinfarr

Ok I got a delima and can use some expertise...I went back to Walmart tonight and had them pull the battery. It has NO VENT! It is a sealed model r49RN said R stands for reverse and N means Northern Manufacture for cold climate.

I personally looked at the battery and there is NO vent tube. It is sealed as they said. The computer shows this as the model for replacement...

Anyone else have a similar experience?

Is this a lead-acid battery that has electrolyte fluid...or is it a gel type battery?

If it's lead-acid...then make sure there aren't some plugs located on each side of the battery that can be punched into (hopefully on the positive side of the battery). Or make sure it's not on top like some of the Johnson Control mfg'd batteries.

If not...then that battery's application is for BMWs that have batteries mounted in the engine bay.


Note the black plug in the side of this battery (in image below). Not sure what color your EverStart r49rn battery is...but look for either a plug...or a thin sealed over section that can easily be pierced:

Originally Posted by koolkoko02

We really don't have a shipping set up. Each store does that for their area. So to do that would be counter productive costwise. The main ways I can help is if you have any customer service issues. Like I said, AZ isn't the best place for Bimmer parts. I've looked up things since I've had mine. Alot of it is non stock or not available. But if you have a specific issue with anything, let me know.

thanks for the heads up! much appreciate it.