Batteries

Originally Posted by phrider

Ron,

Is there an AGM battery that's known to fit in the S54 MZ3 Roadster? If so, is it worth the trouble?

Or should I just go with the new size Interstate (MTP-H6)?

There is but BMWNA won't bring it in. The new Z4's show an AGM one but that one, part # wise, is not in my car. BMWNA has a contract with a NA company.

I would go with the MTP 91 one.

what kind is in the Z4M?

Originally Posted by Ron Stygar

There is but BMWNA won't bring it in. The new Z4's show an AGM one but that one, part # wise, is not in my car. BMWNA has a contract with a NA company.

I would go with the MTP 91 one.

My reaction at first was "I don't need that cranking power." But on the day it dies, I will....

On Roadfly, Dane Kane mentioned a 61-21-6-924-021 AGM battery. Is this the one that's not imported to the US?

Originally Posted by phrider

On Roadfly, Dane Kane mentioned a 61-21-6-924-021 AGM battery. Is this the one that's not imported to the US?

Yes. That is stock on the Z4 M except here. 021 is (70A).
The 61 21 6 924 023 (90A) is supposedly available but is larger.

Ron, thanks!

Been trying to order a BMW AGM battery going on three years.

Ordered one a couple of weeks ago. Jay called last week and said that he got it.
BMW changing venders from Douglas to Exide allowed this to happen.
Will post some info when it shows up.
It's less money than the 021 one mentioned above.

AGM battery (70A) 61 21 7 553 952 $152r

Originally Posted by Ron Stygar

Been trying to order a BMW AGM battery going on three years.

Ordered one a couple of weeks ago. Jay called last week and said that he got it.
BMW changing venders from Douglas to Exide allowed this to happen.
Will post some info when it shows up.
It's less money than the 021 one mentioned above.

AGM battery (70A) 61 21 7 553 952 $152r

thanks for the update Ron

Originally Posted by Ron Stygar

Been trying to order a BMW AGM battery going on three years.

Ordered one a couple of weeks ago. Jay called last week and said that he got it.
BMW changing venders from Douglas to Exide allowed this to happen.
Will post some info when it shows up.
It's less money than the 021 one mentioned above.

AGM battery (70A) 61 21 7 553 952 $152r

Update:

UPS won't ship the AGM battery.

I thought the AGM was supposed to immobilize the acid without needing a gel.

Originally Posted by johnf

I thought the AGM was supposed to immobilize the acid without needing a gel.

Yep.
Will call UPS and see what they say.

Truck freight from TN is $213.

Will probably end up having my dealer sales guy ordering it locally.

I have 745i my battery is having issues. what type of battery does the E65 745i has in it. Alsp, what sort of warranty does it have. I have looked every where in my owners manual but cant seem to find the info

Also, if it has to be replaced would it be free my car has 6-year 100K cpo warranty.

Ron, I talked to exide a week or so ago. They said they are gearing up to make the AGM battery in the U.S. some time in the future. Didn't know when.

Originally Posted by CORONET

Ron, I talked to exide a week or so ago. They said they are gearing up to make the AGM battery in the U.S. some time in the future. Didn't know when.

They already have the BMW ones. Jay ordered one in locally but UPS won't ship it.
Supposedly made here.

Douglas used the Varta one which they wouldn't bring into NA.

AGM part number is 61 21 7 553 952 $152r

BMW WV Exide contact is in Charleston 304-345-5616. Not sure they will deal with us.
Will be trying the CT one soon.

http://www.mynssa.com/image/download...ch-locator.pdf

Ron, just out of curiosity...the battery in my M Coupe has the "magic eye". Does this mean it's AGM?

Originally Posted by Ben Carufel

Ron, just out of curiosity...the battery in my M Coupe has the "magic eye". Does this mean it's AGM?

No. See post #6.
AGM is black with no magic eye.
No acid tube either. Another advantage.

Originally Posted by Ron Stygar

No. See post #6.
AGM is black with no magic eye.
No acid tube either. Another advantage.

Got it, thank you. That first SIB you posted seems a bit confusing to me, as I read that the one with the magic eye is the AGM battery.

Originally Posted by Ben Carufel

Got it, thank you. That first SIB you posted seems a bit confusing to me, as I read that the one with the magic eye is the AGM battery.

Yep. Started with batteries and then went to AGM.

Originally Posted by johnf

I hope your car batteries aren't following the trend of PCs turning into mush. <-- WARNING: link contains indirect Mac propaganda.

If you are referring to the exploding batteries, Apple issued two recalls on batteries. One recently and another back in 2004. Don't remember much about old one, but the recent one really gave Sony (the supplier) a beating. Macs aren't impervious to virus attack. There are just fewer people creating such things for them. Less than a year ago there was a bluetooth related virus, but Apple was quick to release an OS update to address the problem.

Originally Posted by Mpire

Well, I wouldnt mind having an optima or whatever, but I just dont like the idea of paying for it.

Not sure if that was meant to be funny, but I found it hilarious. Feel the same way about a lot of things.

Originally Posted by felonious monk

If you are referring to the exploding batteries, Apple issued two recalls on batteries.... Macs aren't impervious to virus attack. There are just fewer people creating such things for them. Less than a year ago there was a bluetooth related virus, but Apple was quick to release an OS update to address the problem.

I had to go back and try to recollect what I was thinking a couple years ago.

I believe I was in awe of just how quickly a PC can get infected and slow to a crawl.

From what I remember, the bluetooth "virus" you mention was a proof-of-concept, Java-based worm that never infected an OSX system outside a testing lab. Unfortunately, OSX's poor support of certain features of the Windows API and runtime environment make it hard to earn a living writing such things for the Mac, so few try. (Windows is the industry standard.)

Harking back to batteries, does anyone know how much a single deep discharge will shorten the life of an AGM battery?

Got on the phone today to see how I could get my BMW AGM battery.
Started with Exide NA in GA. Lucked out and got a guy willing to help.

He said that he would call me back, and he did, confirming that UPS will not ship their AGM battery.

He talked with somone and he said that my parts guy only needs to contact his local Exide support (Memphis)
and tell them that he has a customer in anywhere USA. Memphis contacts anywhere USA placing the order.
Battery should be in stock. If not, they will get one.
Anywhere USA bills Memphis. Memphis bills Jay and Jay bills me just like any other part.
Anywhere USA gets the customer name for pick up.

I called anywhere USA and they said Mr. Stygar we have your battery on charge and will be holding it for you.
I told him that I would be picking it up Friday and he said that it will be here waiting for you.
Pretty neat. Jay thinks so too.

Picked up the AGM battery Friday.
Nice people. They had it ready and carried it to the car.
They will sell anyone a non BMW Exide battery.
BMW Exide battery has to go through BMW like I did with Jay.

My M-Z3 and M-Z4 stock battery are identical in size to the AGM one I picked up today.

MZ3 stock one weighs 43 lb
MZ4 stock one weighs 45.6 lb Exide part number 61 21 7 553 951
AGM one weighs 45.55 lb Exide part number 61 21 7 553 952

M-Z3 old stock one measured 12.44 volt
M-Z4 stock one measured 12.75 volt
AGM one measured 12.66 volt
Voltage at jump points measured 14.37 volt with car running at idle.

The 951 and 952 look identical except that the 951 has the acid vent tube. It also has a plug
on the opposite side of the vent tube.
There is no documentation for the 951 at BMW or Exide so far. Will try calling Exide NA
to see if they know anything Monday. Wondering if it's a AGM too or not.

Install went well. Also did the fuel control line recall bulletin. Mine was fine but cleaned it up a little.
Also removed the vent system going down through the floor and plugged the hole with part number 51 71 8 110 199.

Took some pics and will post them assuming I can get them into the bandaid machine.

Will see if the car starts Saturday. Curious what the voltage will be after a drive.

Rather than returning the AGM battery he brought in for me, Jay will be installing it in his S54 roadster.
So there will be two Z's in test mode.

My M-Z3 and M-Z4 stock battery are identical in size to the AGM one I picked up today.






Install went well. Also did the fuel control line recall bulletin. Mine was fine but cleaned it up a little.



If the wiring goes over the vent tube it is not routed properly.



Also removed the vent system going down through the floor and plugged the hole with part number 51 71 8 110 199 $0.17r.








Ground cable torque is also 5 Nm.

Thanks for th e writeup Ron. To add to the info: I picked up a new battery for my Z3 M Coupe last week. Part number is 61 21 6 946 332, lists as 70AH Battery. List price $111.00, my girlfriend's price (w/ employee discount, she works at the dealership) $79.31+ Tax.

Originally Posted by Ben Carufel

Thanks for th e writeup Ron. To add to the info: I picked up a new battery for my Z3 M Coupe last week. Part number is 61 21 6 946 332, lists as 70AH Battery. List price $111.00, my girlfriend's price (w/ employee discount, she works at the dealership) $79.31+ Tax.

Why didn't you go with the AGM one?
Dealer net on it is $99.

332 is the one shown for the Z4. Somehow we got the 951.
Still trying to get info on the 951. Have to call back again Friday.