Good Replacement Batteries for the e39?

I had a 49-DL fail on me after about 2 1/2 years. They gave me 60 bucks for it (prorated warranty) and with the cost of replacement now at $110, I decided to look around and see if I could find a better deal. I ended up finding a great battery at a regional chain (Farm and Fleet). It was $80, part #4972, stock venting location, fits the same as the OEM battery, and is 900 CCA / 1080 CA with a 72 month warranty on it. Of course this doesn't help anyone outside of the upper midwest, but thought I'd throw it out there...

Has anybody installed the Optima Yellow or Blue battery on an E39?

Here's a discussion today covering a brand of batteries which may be of interest to others:
- > E39 (1997 - 2003) > AutoCraft H8-AGM battery only for $125.99!

Originally Posted by bowang

I installed a new battery (AutoCraft H8-AGM) from Advance Auto Parts last Saturday. So far everything works great. It's only $125.99 after using a link my friend sent to me. The link saved me $35 instantly. The battery can be used on X3, X5 and 5 Series. I got free installation at local store.

I just replaced my 4-year old Wally EverStart Group 49 ($63 back in 12/08) after it failed to start the E39 a couple weeks back (car sat idle for 4-5 days in near freezing temp). Although a charger brought the battery back to life, it was time to get a new one.

Pep Boys has a Bosch 49-850 with a 3yr replacement (plus roadside assistance jump start) for $109, minus a $25 coupon (via online - Google) and $20 rebate. Thus, $64 plus tax.

The EverStart and Bosch appear to be made by the same mfr given that the batteries' specs (850 CCA) and exterior details were identical.

Here are pics:

Yep...you've stumbled upon this little secret...only a few battery mfg's in the USA....which make most of the battery brands for the entire country.

Your list is missing one, East Penn Manufacturing. They make their own labeled batteries, as well as several private label, including for Battery Plus stores under the "Werker" and "Ray-O-Vac" brands. They also own the company that makes the BMW branded batteries, although I believe those are made in a seperate factory.

Their "exact fit" batteries for European cars are very high quality.
http://www.dekabatteries.com/assets/base/0379.pdf

Where to buy: http://www.dekabatteries.com/default.aspx?pageid=10

I have their standard Group 49 battery (they also make an AGM version) for over 6 years, and it has never needed water (though I check it every couple years) and when I load tested it last weekend, it tested at 925 CCA! Granted, this is a sample size of one, but I am impressed with their quality. I only paid $93 for it 6 years ago.... I think their current price is more like $140, but worth it.

I recently purchased a Duralast Platinum H8-AGM. The grey shirt working at the vato zone was about to grab the Duralast Gold lead acid battery, before I stopped him and got the Platinum instead just because it's an AGM battery. Newer may always be better. Glancing at the battery, it says that it was made in PA. Has all the same specs and housing as the Deka Intimidator and Ultimate AGM 9AGM49. I am not sure is Johnson Controls or East Penn manufactured it, but I have a few inclinations as to the latter.
My old BMW battery died sitting in my garage around freezing temperatures for over a week. The Duralast needs to be vented even with as an AGM battery, the vent tube spots are the same size and location as the OEM battery. I had also just reused the vent elbow and tube for the new battery. The Duralast is shorter by about 2cm thus the top hold down doesn't even touch the battery. It weighs about the same as the old battery, probably around 58-64 lbs. It was a slight pain in the ass to get the battery into the compartment(maybe I need to lift more weights ), but installation couldn't be any easier.

It sure starts my car much faster than before. With the good CCA rating, as well as RC I'm quite satisfied how it has been performing this winter. I think that the demands on the battery is pretty great even for a car made in 2001; Heated seats, DICE + music, heater, headlights and fogs, all running and the start up won't hesitate.

The price was less than Batteries Plus Duracell AGM, as well as Sears Diehard Platinum AGM. I also went with it because the AutoZone was closest to my house. I paid $160 +$12 core charge -$12 for my old battery. Warranty is 3 yrs. vs the Gold's 5 years, but I'm not a stickler for that kind of stuff. I'm not exactly sure how to review a battery, but I guess I will find out over time since this stuff varies by usage.

Thanks for the update...this is the first I've heard of the Duralast "Platinum" H8. Perhaps this is why the Duralast 49 DL has been discontinued.

Don't worry so much about the upper brace (#5) in the battery compartment (its made to work with item #9...which we didn't even get here in the States)...the battery hold down clamp (#15) to the rear is what really secures the battery in place to prevent it from sliding fore/aft as well as up/down. Just make sure that the hold down clamp and vent tubes are hooked & clamped down correctly.

Originally Posted by doru

Sorry for harping on you guys with the....Deka exact fit.
What the name implies - exact fit. Just like the OEM battery, exact same size, no need of adapting, splicing, re-routing vent hoses etc. The vent hose fits exactly like the OEM one, more CCA than the OEM.
Have it for the last 3 years now, no issues. Temp swings between summer & winter from -30°C or lower to +30°C.
They also have the new AGM style. And a good warranty.

I'm with Duro on this. The "exact fit battery" from DEKA/East Penn Manufacturing Co is exactly like the original. I bought the AGM version (9AGM49) for my 2001 530. I was able to get it from a local batteries plus (they had to order it but they got it in a day). Their website shows a duracell branded battery but when I called they said they could get the DEKA.

Link to a pdf on DEKA's website http://www.dekabatteries.com/assets/base/0379.pdf

Also Amazon and battery mart have it listed (battery mart shows it unbranded).

Serious car-batteries site

Originally Posted by doru

Serious car-batteries site

That's some great information on auto batteries good sir! Bookmarked!

When you change out the battery you might take a minute and wrap that metal battery hold down brace (#5 in the above RealOEM.com illustration) with some electrical tape. IF your wrench or ratchet ever falls out of your hand when working on the battery terminal (+) it will ground out on that metal hold down bar. Its not for the faint of heart when that happens. Ask me how I know!

Insulation.. almost always a good idea. I've had my fair share of f*** ups. A friend of mine had this beautiful beast of an E46 M3, but the PO had treated it poorly and the car had a bunch of electrical gremlins. I probably made it worse when disconnecting the battery and the wrench I was using touched the metal frame. The battery shorted out and bad shiz happened. So sad he ended up selling the car to some national car dealership network.

From what I have seen East Penn makes the Duracell brand sold at Sams Club. $99.87
BCI Group Size:49
CA at 32 degrees F:1080
CCA at 0 degrees F:900
DIN code:H8
Reserve Capacity:185
Volts:12