New battery

[peterb]

Peter.. have you bought yet?

If you get one from a Factor, see if they stock Yuasa. Very good battery.

If not, then you cvan get Exide or Bosch or Varta online from Amazon.

Varta make Bosch batteries for them, to the Bosch spec.

Cheap batteries weigh nothing and contain less lead. Period. Avoid the unknown brands.

Not yet, on the shopping list for this week! Yes, looked at Varta, look identical to Bosch! Thanks for tip about Yuasa, used their Dryfit range in UPS applications!

Try EuroCarParts in Millbrook. They do some pretty good deals and I've never had any problems with them. I think they do free/cheap delivery as well

They are the nearest, so if I go to them, I'll probably do 'click and collect'!

[peterb]

Hmm, gets more complicated. Had a look at the battery today - I suspect it may be the original, which means it is 8 years old (need to find a date code) which means it is probably an AGM battery.

And if it is, I may need to have the engine/car management system reset so it knows it is a new battery, as it affects the charging characteristics. However, it isn't fitted with IBS (intelligent battery system)....

Other way is decode the battery part number - its a BMW - the car is a 2005 E46 330 diesel. I'll have another look tomorrow and post a photo and or the part numbers.

Capacity is 80Ah, and the CCA is 800A.

Edit:
Just checked this site
http://www.advancedbatterysupplies.c...batteries.html

Code looks like the one in the middle..

Which is this

http://www.advancedbatterysupplies.c...stopstart.html

Ouch!

[Macadee]

I've used these for OEM parts several times- http://www.bmminiparts.com/DiagramVi...180&MOSP=47642 cheaper than a dealer, but ECP are more competitive.

[finlay666]

Ecp 15% off batteries with battery15 :-)

[peterb]

OK - so this is the battery label



It is the original battery, looking at the date code stamped on the -ve terminal so it is about 8 years old.

It is an AGM battery and the lowest cost alternative I can find is a Varta F21 for £143. http://www.performancebatteries.co.uk/product/F21/

ECP don't stock it or any equivalent.

However, just spoken to my local independent, who were surprised it is an AG battery, confirmed it doesn't need registering, and can get a BMW original part for £140 for fitting myself - which will take about 10 minutes!

[finlay666]

What makes that special over a regular battery?
Guessing you checked ECP with your car reg to see if they stock it, or is it too old to source parts for normally?

[peterb]

What makes that special over a regular battery?
Guessing you checked ECP with your car reg to see if they stock it, or is it too old to source parts for normally?

Yes, put in the Reg - came up with right model, but different battery.

AGM Batteries are sealed and have a different separator technology.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VRLA_ba...rbed_glass_mat

ECP stock the Bosch AGM ST 019 and 096, but not the 110 - and they are expensive - even with a discount.

I'l go for the BMW part from the local independent - lowest price, and if there is a problem - they are local. If the replacement last eight years, that'll be fine!

[robredz]

Euro Car Parts are pretty good, you could also try some other local factors. However Yuasa are the brand to consider, they seem to last well, and are usually well priced, Halfrauds do tend to be on the expensive side.

As an indication of differences, I bought a Yuasa a big 110 Ah beast for my Iveco Daily, from a factor for £100 inc VAT, Halfrauds were £139 for the same battery.

[peterb]

Euro Car Parts are pretty good, you could also try some other local factors. However Yuasa are the brand to consider, they seem to last well, and are usually well priced, Halfrauds do tend to be on the expensive side.

As an indication of differences, I bought a Yuasa a big 110 Ah beast for my Iveco Daily, from a factor for £100 inc VAT, Halfrauds were £139 for the same battery.

Thanks - but as you will see from the rest of the thread, ECP don't stock that battery, neither do Halfords - and my local independent can beat the best price of the on-line resellers, and that is for the mfr's OEM part.

[ik9000]

Thanks - but as you will see from the rest of the thread, ECP don't stock that battery, neither do Halfords - and my local independent can beat the best price of the on-line resellers, and that is for the mfr's OEM part.

then we have a winner!

[peterb]

then we have a winner!

Indded - never found battery buying quite so complex before!

(out of interest, the BMW main agent price for the same item was £248!!!)

[ik9000]

Indded - never found battery buying quite so complex before!

(out of interest, the BMW main agent price for the same item was £248!!!)

I'll do it you 20% off for £450. (Now where did you say you found it for £140 again?)

[Jasp]

Could be wrong but is this not the correct battery at Halfords? http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/s...Id_165762#tab4

Stuck in BMW, 3 Series, 2005, 330D

[peterb]

It seems there are several suitable batteries for the 330 - 017, 019, 010 which al fit. However, mine has an AGM battery, which surprised on of the BMW agents I contacted. Putting in the reg number for my car didn't bring up the battery you have referenced.

The AGM fited is nearly 8 years old, so it has been long lived, and I'll probably stick with it. If you look at one of the sites I quoted, the nearest equivalent I could find was a Varta F21.

[Apex]

Looked up the price for mine and the top of the line Bosch is best part of 100 quid..... and thats for a Mondeo

[peterb]

Looked up the price for mine and the top of the line Bosch is best part of 100 quid..... and thats for a Mondeo

Top of the line (S6) for mine is best part of £167 (from ECP's E bay site) So I'll stick with the OEM part!