Help! Does a new battery need to be 'registered' to my car?

blue-coupe · 06-13-2011, 02:27 PM

Over the weekend my car stalled out. I had to towed to the dealer. They told me, among other things, that it needs a new battery, at $500!

They said it had to be 'registered' to my car so it would not over work the alternator. I'm assuming she meant 'calibrated'.

At any rate, does this hold any water? Has any one ever heard of this? What is to stop me from just buying a quality battery and replacing it myself?

Thanks!

1NS0MN1A · 06-13-2011, 02:29 PM

I didnt for my car, and its been a year and its going better than ever

Chriztofor · 06-13-2011, 02:36 PM

If replacing with the same type of battery then it needs to be registered otherwise it needs to be programmed. http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=542737

gary88 · 06-13-2011, 02:37 PM

Yes. And it can only be done at the dealer or an independent shop that has a GT1 tool. Welcome to modern BMW ownership.

Chriztofor · 06-13-2011, 02:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gary88

Yes. And it can only be done at the dealer or an independent shop that has a GT1 tool. Welcome to modern BMW ownership.

BT Tool can register the battery, not sure about programming though.

blue-coupe · 06-13-2011, 03:07 PM

I guess I'll just have them install it. Better safe than sorry.

I'll probably trade it in in a few months so i don't want to over-invest.

1NS0MN1A · 06-13-2011, 03:57 PM

Dont listen to these guys. You dont have to program or it set it or anything. Just swap out the battery for one ( i paid 100$ for an oem one at a battery store), and continue your everyday life. Thats another bs way for the dealership to make money off you

Chriztofor · 06-13-2011, 04:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1NS0MN1A

Dont listen to these guys. You dont have to program or it set it or anything. Just swap out the battery for one ( i paid 100$ for an oem one at a battery store), and continue your everyday life. Thats another bs way for the dealership to make money off you

Where are you getting your information from? Just because you did whatever does not make it right. Have you looked at the Bentley Manual? Do you think BMW and Bentley are conspiring with each other? Have you checked for fault codes? Your car might be throwing codes and you don't even know it. Ah, don't worry about it, close your eyes and do what you want.

Chriztofor · 06-13-2011, 04:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1NS0MN1A

Dont listen to these guys. You dont have to program or it set it or anything. Just swap out the battery for one ( i paid 100$ for an oem one at a battery store), and continue your everyday life. Thats another bs way for the dealership to make money off you

By the way, there was a whole debate about this. Take a look at this member's "foot-in-mouth" moment. http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=445615

Legion5 · 06-13-2011, 04:42 PM

Usually your dealer is a fairly trustworthy source of information. If they say your battery needs to be registered that's legitimate.

With that said you can get them to give you a price break on the registration. BMW suggdests a rip off price to make money but you can get it registered for $30.

If you don't register it a bunch of systems will give you low voltage errors, and the battery will be charged too hard. Over charging it may lead to explosions, which at least 1 member has had.

gary88 · 06-13-2011, 04:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1NS0MN1A

Dont listen to these guys. You dont have to program or it set it or anything. Just swap out the battery for one ( i paid 100$ for an oem one at a battery store), and continue your everyday life. Thats another bs way for the dealership to make money off you

It's an issue that's been covered in Roundel numerous times, the battery does need to be registered. I'll find the article later.

Saintor · 06-13-2011, 04:54 PM

Quote:

I didnt for my car, and its been a year and its going better than ever

I plan to buy a Wal-Mart battery.....100$ 108-94R 9 years warranty and 3 years replacement warranty.

4-500$ for this is outrageous.

Chriztofor · 06-13-2011, 04:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Saintor

I plan to buy a Wal-Mart battery.....100$ 108-94R 9 years warranty and 3 years replacement warranty.

4-500$ for this is outrageous.

I am going to do the same thing, but I will also have it registered either with the BT tool or by an INDY.

fdriller9 · 06-13-2011, 05:45 PM

You don't NEED to register your battery....but if you care about your investment and your charging system, you will.

Registering will prolong the life of your battery. It also takes strain off your alternator because as our cars age, the battery loses it's ability to hold a charge. And the car adapts to that.

Not registering a battery will undercharge it....cause it to sulfate over time. And youll need to replace the battery sooner than if you were to register it.

Buy your own battery and take it to an Indy...screw the dealer!

bumere90 · 06-13-2011, 06:37 PM

After replacing my battery and not registering or programming it the car started having electrical issues. OP, I would recommend you getting the same spec battery and registering it.

tibra1 · 06-13-2011, 06:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1NS0MN1A

Dont listen to these guys. You dont have to program or it set it or anything. Just swap out the battery for one ( i paid 100$ for an oem one at a battery store), and continue your everyday life. Thats another bs way for the dealership to make money off you

Battery registration allows the alternator to optimize the speed and current with which it charges a battery..there is basically a battery adaptation algorithm that learns the battery overtime, when you replace an old battery with a new one without registration/programming the alternator can over or under charge the battery and significantly shorten it's life

this isnt a honda, guy.

Tom K. · 06-13-2011, 07:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1NS0MN1A

Dont listen to these guys. You dont have to program or it set it or anything. Just swap out the battery for one ( i paid 100$ for an oem one at a battery store), and continue your everyday life. Thats another bs way for the dealership to make money off you

You might want to research the part of a modern BMW's charging system called the IBS (Intelligent Battery Sensor) unit.

If it doesn't play nice with both battery and alternator, electrical system repair costs may greatly exceed the $500 for a properly installed and registered battery.

Tom

fdriller9 · 06-13-2011, 07:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gary88

Yes. And it can only be done at the dealer or an independent shop that has a GT1 tool. Welcome to modern BMW ownership.

Or autologic or ista.

1NS0MN1A · 06-13-2011, 08:17 PM

Actually, the reason they make you register the battery is for the battery itself, not the car by any means. The car by default will charge the battery harder than it should (as opposed to less, which they have to avoid). When you register the battery, you ensure that you will get the maximum life out of your battery. This will normally increase the life by maybe 4-5% if you are lucky. So, pay $500 and get an extra few months OR for $500 get 25 years worth of batteries if you plan to keep it long (got a 5 year warranty one for $100)

Im sorry, i could not be happier that i did not register my battery. In fact, when i went to an indy shop to get my tires rotated, he checked my codes and found absolutely nothing.

Once again, its foolish to register. And no, your car will not blow up if you dont, stop being ridiculous, were talking about a car that doesnt let you raise the windows with the door open.

ceb · 06-13-2011, 08:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1NS0MN1A

Dont listen to these guys. You dont have to program or it set it or anything. Just swap out the battery for one ( i paid 100$ for an oem one at a battery store), and continue your everyday life. Thats another bs way for the dealership to make money off you

Correct

. Listen to the guy with 33 posts and disregard the advice of people with thousands of posts.

The battery will have a much shorter life if not registered.

tibra1 · 06-13-2011, 08:25 PM

LOL..whats w the bit at the end re windows not rolling up w doors open??? wth

fdriller9 · 06-13-2011, 09:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1NS0MN1A

Actually, the reason they make you register the battery is for the battery itself, not the car by any means. The car by default will charge the battery harder than it should (as opposed to less, which they have to avoid). When you register the battery, you ensure that you will get the maximum life out of your battery. This will normally increase the life by maybe 4-5% if you are lucky. So, pay $500 and get an extra few months OR for $500 get 25 years worth of batteries if you plan to keep it long (got a 5 year warranty one for $100)

Im sorry, i could not be happier that i did not register my battery. In fact, when i went to an indy shop to get my tires rotated, he checked my codes and found absolutely nothing.

Once again, its foolish to register. And no, your car will not blow up if you dont, stop being ridiculous, were talking about a car that doesnt let you raise the windows with the door open.

No one wants to pay the $500 the stealership charges. That's why you get your own battery for $100 and take it to an indy to get it registered for $50.

BTW, when your car detects the battery isn't able to hold a charge, it will charge the battery less to put less strain on the car. When your car still thinks it has a battery that isn't able to maintain a charge, it under charges it.

Batteries that are discharged, sulfate. This decreases a battery's ability to hold a charge. So you never get a fully charged battery.

4-5%. Nice %'s...where did you get them from? Your

? I won't even give you a % because it's not possible to gauge it.....

06-13-2011, 02:27 PM	#1
blue-coupe Second Lieutenant 115 Rep 253 Posts Drives: 1999 Z3 Coupe Join Date: May 2008 Location: Dallas TX iTrader: (0)	Help! Does a new battery need to be 'registered' to my car? Over the weekend my car stalled out. I had to towed to the dealer. They told me, among other things, that it needs a new battery, at $500! They said it had to be 'registered' to my car so it would not over work the alternator. I'm assuming she meant 'calibrated'. At any rate, does this hold any water? Has any one ever heard of this? What is to stop me from just buying a quality battery and replacing it myself? Thanks!
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06-13-2011, 02:29 PM	#2
1NS0MN1A Lieutenant 50 Rep 573 Posts Drives: IS Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Location iTrader: (7)	I didnt for my car, and its been a year and its going better than ever
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06-13-2011, 02:36 PM	#3
Chriztofor Colonel 103 Rep 2,783 Posts Drives: '06 325i and '13 X5 Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Chicago Burbs iTrader: (1)	If replacing with the same type of battery then it needs to be registered otherwise it needs to be programmed. http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=542737 __________________ If no codes are being thrown use Chevron Techron fuel injector cleaner (concentrate). It solves rpm fluctuating upon cold start-up. Also, for most BMW problems start off by scanning your car with the Peake Research Tool. It contains the actual BMW codes. If you want to register a newly installed battery for free (just buy a $10 cable) and google/download BMWLogger
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06-13-2011, 02:37 PM	#4
gary88 Ikea enthusiast 334 Rep 8,140 Posts Drives: '07 E92 335i Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Chicago, IL iTrader: (3) Garage List 2007 E92 335i [7.96]	Yes. And it can only be done at the dealer or an independent shop that has a GT1 tool. Welcome to modern BMW ownership. __________________ garyhebdingjr.com \| flickr \| Instagram
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06-13-2011, 03:07 PM	#6
blue-coupe Second Lieutenant 115 Rep 253 Posts Drives: 1999 Z3 Coupe Join Date: May 2008 Location: Dallas TX iTrader: (0)	I guess I'll just have them install it. Better safe than sorry. I'll probably trade it in in a few months so i don't want to over-invest.
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06-13-2011, 03:57 PM	#7
1NS0MN1A Lieutenant 50 Rep 573 Posts Drives: IS Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Location iTrader: (7)	Dont listen to these guys. You dont have to program or it set it or anything. Just swap out the battery for one ( i paid 100$ for an oem one at a battery store), and continue your everyday life. Thats another bs way for the dealership to make money off you
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06-13-2011, 04:42 PM	#10
Legion5 Major 175 Rep 1,379 Posts Drives: e92 Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: USA iTrader: (12)	Usually your dealer is a fairly trustworthy source of information. If they say your battery needs to be registered that's legitimate. With that said you can get them to give you a price break on the registration. BMW suggdests a rip off price to make money but you can get it registered for $30. If you don't register it a bunch of systems will give you low voltage errors, and the battery will be charged too hard. Over charging it may lead to explosions, which at least 1 member has had. __________________ Clean cars are happy cars! CANON PHOTOGRAPHER
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06-13-2011, 05:45 PM	#14
fdriller9 Banned 253 Rep 7,089 Posts Drives: '06 AW 330xi Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: North Jersey/Philly/NYC iTrader: (4) Garage List 2006 330xi [6.44]	You don't NEED to register your battery....but if you care about your investment and your charging system, you will. Registering will prolong the life of your battery. It also takes strain off your alternator because as our cars age, the battery loses it's ability to hold a charge. And the car adapts to that. Not registering a battery will undercharge it....cause it to sulfate over time. And youll need to replace the battery sooner than if you were to register it. Buy your own battery and take it to an Indy...screw the dealer!
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06-13-2011, 06:37 PM	#15
bumere90 Grozniy 177 Rep 2,602 Posts Drives: Carless Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: FL iTrader: (12)	After replacing my battery and not registering or programming it the car started having electrical issues. OP, I would recommend you getting the same spec battery and registering it. __________________ -fatman
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06-13-2011, 08:17 PM	#19
1NS0MN1A Lieutenant 50 Rep 573 Posts Drives: IS Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Location iTrader: (7)	Actually, the reason they make you register the battery is for the battery itself, not the car by any means. The car by default will charge the battery harder than it should (as opposed to less, which they have to avoid). When you register the battery, you ensure that you will get the maximum life out of your battery. This will normally increase the life by maybe 4-5% if you are lucky. So, pay $500 and get an extra few months OR for $500 get 25 years worth of batteries if you plan to keep it long (got a 5 year warranty one for $100) Im sorry, i could not be happier that i did not register my battery. In fact, when i went to an indy shop to get my tires rotated, he checked my codes and found absolutely nothing. Once again, its foolish to register. And no, your car will not blow up if you dont, stop being ridiculous, were talking about a car that doesnt let you raise the windows with the door open.
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06-13-2011, 08:25 PM	#21
tibra1 Banned 127 Rep 6,773 Posts Drives: 2011 ZCP M3 - 2007 335i crashd Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: NYC iTrader: (4)	LOL..whats w the bit at the end re windows not rolling up w doors open??? wth
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