Photos: Duralast Platinum H6-AGM Battery into Z4M

As set up in this thread, I didn't want to pay $275 - $295 for an OEM battery. So after a quick trip to AutoZone, I returned with a Duralast Platinum H6-AGM and got started:

One of the hardest parts was getting my hand in there to loosen the Velcro straps. Thankfully those little knobs on each side raise the tray the top folds into. Marginally.


BMW Strip-o-matic fasteners hold the bottom and three massively torqued 10mm nuts hold the top. This is the worlds most securely fastened flimsy battery cover.


Opening the wrong door on the positive terminal. Shut that now and never touch it again.


The correct positive terminal door. Thanks Ron! This level of visibility is impossible when changing the battery in a roadster.


Duralast Platinum H6-AGM left, BMW 61 21 7 553 951 right. Twins except for the stickers.



Duralast Platinum H6-AGM left, BMW 61 21 7 553 951 right. Note that the BMW battery has one of the venting holes plugged. You'll need to remove this and transfer it over to the Duralast. These batteries have vent holes on each side.


The vent plug.


Vent plug installed with vent plug installation tool.


Slightly different specs.



And now to hook up the negative terminal so we can test start it. Note the impressively tall screw for the battery bracket.


Started up like a champ. Reassembly commemorated with one last terribly fuzzy iPhone photo. Now to reprogram the Nav for clock/date and reprogram the auto-up on the windows. It somehow remembered my radio stations.


One extremely happy, unexpected change is that somehow my DICE came back to life with the new battery. I thought I had fried it with my CTEK during a reconditioning cycle, but it works once again, quirky DICE functionality and all.

Also the remote unlock and roof opening range has increased from about three feet to at least 25. I have not tested to determine its max range.

Nice write up! I guess that since I still drive my same OLD Z and the battery in under the hood I won't be able to enjoy the benefits of your instructions. OH wait! The M3 has a buried battery too! Any chance you can make the drive next weekend? It's kinda like the year you were the ring master.

Wow they look totally identical!

> BMW Strip-o-matic fasteners hold the bottom and three massively torqued 10mm nuts hold the top. This is the worlds most securely fastened flimsy battery cover.

Hahaha.... hilarious!

Thanks heaps for the write-up.

Sweet dude. I put one of these Duralast Platinums ( H8-AGM ) in my 540i and it works nicely. I wanna see how long it will hold up though.

I am sure it will last as long(if not longer) than the OEM battery did.

Originally Posted by Zuzax

BMW Strip-o-matic fasteners hold the bottom and three massively torqued 10mm nuts hold the top. This is the worlds most securely fastened flimsy battery cover.

On realoem.com it looks like this fastener is #8, p/n 07147120304 (plug). Can anyone confirm this? My car didn't have any of these fasteners although I noticed that the holes are there.

Originally Posted by chickdr

I am sure it will last as long(if not longer) than the OEM battery did.

I sure hope so. The OEM battery had a production date of September 2001 so almost 12 years is awesome. Some research says that AGM batteries don't last as long as traditional lead-acid.

Originally Posted by senser

...Some research says that AGM batteries don't last as long as traditional lead-acid.

What research is that? The original Miatas used AGM batteries and 10+ years was the norm for those.

What will destroy an AGM battery is a fast charging rate that a wet-cell battery could more easily tolerate.

Hi,

My batter died in my 2006 BMW 325i, and I am looking to buy the Duralast Platinum from AutoZone, I remember I called the dealer one time and asked them about battery replacement, and they told me the battery has to be registered at the dealer after you install it, its gonna coast $140 just to do the registration,so if i buy it and install it myself, i will still have to go to the dealer, is this true?

Registration electronically mates the new battery to the car's charging system and can extend the life of the new battery by charging it more intelligently.
http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/sho...gister+battery

However, registration is not cost effective if you must buy a new battery from the dealer that costs $350 including registration. Or if you buy a $150 Duralast from Autozone and must pay a dealer $140 to register it with your car's ECU.

It is cheaper to just buy the Duralast and replace it when it goes bad in 3 to 5 years. Like we have done for decades.

Originally Posted by salameh13

Hi,

My batter died in my 2006 BMW 325i, and I am looking to buy the Duralast Platinum from AutoZone, I remember I called the dealer one time and asked them about battery replacement, and they told me the battery has to be registered at the dealer after you install it, its gonna coast $140 just to do the registration,so if i buy it and install it myself, i will still have to go to the dealer, is this true?

I would assume an 06 325 is similar to the E85 Z4. If so there is not a registration process so the dealer is pulling your leg. I could be wrong and the E46 forum should be able to confirm, but I think I saw threads there where folks were swapping E46 325i batteries on their own.

Originally Posted by chickdr

I would assume an 06 325 is similar to the E85 Z4. If so there is not a registration process so the dealer is pulling your leg. I could be wrong and the E46 forum should be able to confirm, but I think I saw threads there where folks were swapping E46 325i batteries on their own.

A 2006 325i should be an E90, they do require battery registration. The E46 3-series was the same as the E85/6, not requiring registration.

Ok, I bought a battery Yesterday from Autozone, and I was able to install it myself, and i started the car, it worked fine, the next day, I start the car,it start but with a weired noise, so i turn it off and start it again, the noise is gone, so once i started driving i had the ABS light comes on suddenly, and the radio Led were so weired,it seems they were getting more current than what they should, and also i noticed that the turn signal light, when i turn it on it wont go back to be off by itself ,like it used to be, i had to move the controller back to turn it off, so I parked my car and turn it of again and turn it on , and everything went back to normal like it was before,radio led is normal, turn signal back to normal, the ABS light is gone,so i am wondering if its gonna happen or its gonna be ok.
But I really want to thank every body for their response.

Sometimes when a battery supplies marginal voltage, the car's electronics go "crazy" (yea, that's a technical term). Perhaps the battery came with only a partially charge. Did you charge the battery before the first use?

No I didnt, i just bought it and install it.

Double check the battery's connections are clean. Then charge with one of the "smart" chargers (CTEK, Battery Tender). The battery may recover.

I will double check it once i get home, thank you though so much for your responses.

I have a question i don't know if i should ask it here, I read in one of the forums about resetting the throttle by holding it all the down to the ground for 30 seconds then push the start button, i know the process steps right,but what does it do to my car if i do it?is it gonna be like adding more power when i press the accelerator paddle cause i am not really satisfied with the way it is when i go from the 0