Average Battery Life

mac-z4 · 01-22-2016, 10:50 AM

Curious what the average battery life is for the e89. I'm sure it depends on many factors; e.g. use of a battery tender, car usage, etc. Those who replaced their battery, can you please respond with life of your original battery.

RedRabbit · 01-22-2016, 02:36 PM

6 years, '09-15 in the AZ heat

Asbjorn · 02-01-2016, 03:02 AM

My car's first battery lasted until early 2012 I think (it is a 2009/April Z4)
Second battery lasted until late 2015
Currently running battery number three...

I used to open and close the roof a lot with the engine off. Now... not anymore. I also moved to an area with subtropical climate. That may help as well. Also I ended my habit of listening to music for +1hr after parking and shutting the engine off.

On a positive note, the long crank issues I had last year vanished after replacing the battery.

jpwolfe31 · 02-01-2016, 03:19 PM

6 years - Northern California in a garage.

kosd · 02-06-2016, 09:16 AM

6.5 years in Chicagoland, garage kept.

I learned the hard way when I took it off the battery tender last weekend to take it out for the first time in about 6 weeks. Started fine, went for gas and the car wouldn't restart. Had to figure out how to manually get it to neutral, push it out of the gas station and call for a jump. Took it home and it would not restart or crank at all...

Still deciding what replacement battery to put in, oem or aftermarket.

Big pain in the...

mac-z4 · 02-06-2016, 03:47 PM

Kiod, My OEM battery is a Varta which to my knowledge is not available in the USA. Not sure what brand is being installed by BMW dealers today. Sears has Diehard Gold Batteries for the e89 for $200 - $210 group 94 and 48. Not sure which is the correct group for your car. In any event when you install the new battery, it will require registration with the e89's ECU by the BMW dealer to ensure proper charging. Let us know what you end up with and if satisfied.

kosd · 02-10-2016, 10:56 PM

I ended up going with an oem battery from my local Indy mechanic that specializes in German cars. He only installs oem parts. $379 installed/registered. Not as cheap as aftermarket but significantly cheaper than the dealer charges.

mac-z4 · 02-11-2016, 01:54 PM

Kosd, I'm just curious, do you know the manufacturer of the OEM battery installed?

ManiacGT · 02-18-2016, 01:05 PM

Mine started to give out at 6 years mainly due to less use of the car.

kosd · 02-20-2016, 01:37 PM

Mac, unfortunately, I can't find any markings on who manufactured the battery. It says BMW and its 800cca but no markings from any other companies...

mac-z4 · 02-20-2016, 07:09 PM

Kosd, Thanks for investigating.

rking117 · 03-09-2016, 09:19 AM

I got 5 years out of the OEM battery before i had to replace it.

01-22-2016, 10:50 AM	#1
mac-z4 Private 8 Rep 66 Posts Drives: 2011 Z4 Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Pittsburgh, PA iTrader: (0)	Average Battery Life Curious what the average battery life is for the e89. I'm sure it depends on many factors; e.g. use of a battery tender, car usage, etc. Those who replaced their battery, can you please respond with life of your original battery.
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01-22-2016, 02:36 PM	#2
RedRabbit Enlisted Member 3 Rep 43 Posts Drives: Z4 sdrive 30i Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: LHC iTrader: (0)	6 years, '09-15 in the AZ heat
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02-01-2016, 03:02 AM	#3
Asbjorn Captain 89 Rep 833 Posts Drives: Z4 N54 DCT (VTT GC lites) Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: European in China iTrader: (0)	My car's first battery lasted until early 2012 I think (it is a 2009/April Z4) Second battery lasted until late 2015 Currently running battery number three... I used to open and close the roof a lot with the engine off. Now... not anymore. I also moved to an area with subtropical climate. That may help as well. Also I ended my habit of listening to music for +1hr after parking and shutting the engine off. On a positive note, the long crank issues I had last year vanished after replacing the battery.
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02-01-2016, 03:19 PM	#4
jpwolfe31 Private 7 Rep 60 Posts Drives: 2009 Z4 35i Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: San Francisco Bay Area iTrader: (0)	6 years - Northern California in a garage.
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02-06-2016, 09:16 AM	#5
kosd Private First Class 37 Rep 180 Posts Drives: 2015 YMB M4 Convertible Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: naperville, il, usa iTrader: (0)	6.5 years in Chicagoland, garage kept. I learned the hard way when I took it off the battery tender last weekend to take it out for the first time in about 6 weeks. Started fine, went for gas and the car wouldn't restart. Had to figure out how to manually get it to neutral, push it out of the gas station and call for a jump. Took it home and it would not restart or crank at all... Still deciding what replacement battery to put in, oem or aftermarket. Big pain in the...
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02-06-2016, 03:47 PM	#6
mac-z4 Private 8 Rep 66 Posts Drives: 2011 Z4 Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Pittsburgh, PA iTrader: (0)	Kiod, My OEM battery is a Varta which to my knowledge is not available in the USA. Not sure what brand is being installed by BMW dealers today. Sears has Diehard Gold Batteries for the e89 for $200 - $210 group 94 and 48. Not sure which is the correct group for your car. In any event when you install the new battery, it will require registration with the e89's ECU by the BMW dealer to ensure proper charging. Let us know what you end up with and if satisfied.
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02-10-2016, 10:56 PM	#7
kosd Private First Class 37 Rep 180 Posts Drives: 2015 YMB M4 Convertible Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: naperville, il, usa iTrader: (0)	I ended up going with an oem battery from my local Indy mechanic that specializes in German cars. He only installs oem parts. $379 installed/registered. Not as cheap as aftermarket but significantly cheaper than the dealer charges.
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02-11-2016, 01:54 PM	#8
mac-z4 Private 8 Rep 66 Posts Drives: 2011 Z4 Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Pittsburgh, PA iTrader: (0)	Kosd, I'm just curious, do you know the manufacturer of the OEM battery installed?
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02-18-2016, 01:05 PM	#9
ManiacGT Major 85 Rep 1,448 Posts Drives: Z4 sDrive 35i Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Manchester, UK iTrader: (0)	Mine started to give out at 6 years mainly due to less use of the car.
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02-20-2016, 01:37 PM	#10
kosd Private First Class 37 Rep 180 Posts Drives: 2015 YMB M4 Convertible Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: naperville, il, usa iTrader: (0)	Mac, unfortunately, I can't find any markings on who manufactured the battery. It says BMW and its 800cca but no markings from any other companies...
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02-20-2016, 07:09 PM	#11
mac-z4 Private 8 Rep 66 Posts Drives: 2011 Z4 Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Pittsburgh, PA iTrader: (0)	Kosd, Thanks for investigating.
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03-09-2016, 09:19 AM	#12
rking117 Lieutenant Colonel 118 Rep 1,668 Posts Drives: Z4 3.0i & 320i Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: USA iTrader: (0)	I got 5 years out of the OEM battery before i had to replace it. __________________ Enjoying an E89 Z4, F30 320i and Fiat Abarth // E85 Z4 (sold), E82 128i (sold), Fiat Pop 500 (sold)
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