Replacing battery on 2006 BMW 330i Dealer or Autozone?

[hm1]

Battery needs to be replaced on my sister's car. Can I get the replacement battery @ autozone? The dealership says battery is $248 w/o labor. W labor it's $364. Hoping to find a cheaper option. anyone know if it's ok to put in a battery from autozone?

TIA

 

[PottedMeat]

what's so special about a bmw battery that they charge $248 for it?


i put in a 06 330i into autozone and it has one for $154

 

[hm1]

Yea I have no idea why the dealership charges so much for it. I called a reliable mechanic in the area and he said he can put the battery in but that I should buy it from bmw and not autozone. Just wondering when ppl replace their battery what route they take

 

[PhoKingGuy]

Hell they're all made the same factory anyway. Interstate or DieHard are the two better ones, but anything from walmart/autozone will be fine as well.

 

[StageLeft]

$100 in labor to put in a battery WTF

 

[bruceb]

Do it yourself .. use this .. said to be very good, 75 month warranty

NAPA has a replacement battery (7594R) that has a 75 month warranty - first 18 months if anything goes wrong it is replaced for FREE. Cold Start AMPS are a bit more then the OEM and it is priced a little high ($144.00), but seems to be a great replacement. Vent tube is an exact fit.

See more info here:

http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/showthread.php?t=99612&page=2

You may want to bookmark and join here:
http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/

No reason to pay a dealer $248 for the part and 2 hrs labor ($120 total) to do it.

 

[Painman]

The BMW battery emits special Bavarian electrons. That's why it costs more.

 

[hm1]

LOL thanks guys appreciate the help

 

[Arkaign]

I replaced a battery in an '04 325i that I had, it was really easy (in a trunk compartment), and IIRC the only reason it was so pricey was because it was some weird 18V standard. I could be completely misremembering though, but I'm 1000% sure that it's an easy job that anyone with a pair of pliers can do in less than 5 minutes.

 

[sdifox]

Do BMWs have 2 batteries like the Benz? One for accessories?

 

[thescreensavers]

Autozone batteries are the same as die hards, go to autozones site and search battery, it will pop up to select what car you got and show you which ones will work.

Is your battery in the trunk or under the front seat?

edit a bit of searching got me

I have seen this mentoned in older threads, but a quick search for "new battery" and "replacement battery" did not identify the thread... so thought I would post a new thread with a clear title for others.

Last weekend the battery on my 2003 330i (two years since delivery) started slow cranking, so I decided to replace the battery. I remembered reading in a forum somewhere that Autozone Duralast 49-DL was a direct replacement.

Cruised down to the local Autozone and purchased 49-DL for $64.99 (the sales dude will tell you it is not in his computer and won't fit... but ignore him).

The install was simple and it fits perfectly. The battery even includes the rubber vent tube. You will need to trim about a quarter inch from the battery side of the rubber tube to get clearance for the hold-down bracket. Works great.

Hope this helps some fellow Bimmerfester's looking for a new battery.

P.S. Before someone asks.... I know the car warranty would have replaced the battery, but for $64.99 I did not want to take the day from work to mess with the dealer. Plus this is a higher CCA battery then OEM.

http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/showthread.php?t=81820&highlight=battery+49-dl

 

[Don Vito Corleone]

The battery in a 2006 330i is not a standard size or shape. The battery is longer and narrower than a conventional battery, since it drops into a compartment on one side of the trunk.

Many retailers' fit guides will SAY they have a battery that fits but it often won't. I actually bought one for my 2006 330i at Sears but once I got it out to the car it wouldn't fit. I also tried Costco to no avail. Since I desperately needed one I ended up buying it at the dealer (for $200 or so) and they installed it during a routine service visit. I have no discomfort installing a battery but the install on this car is a little weird in that there's a large plastic unit over one of the terminals rather than a simple clamp (I believe it actually contains a small explosive and is intended to disconnect power to the starter in the event of a major collision). I couldn't figure out how to get it off and was a little concerned about damaging it.

 

[LTC8K6]

(I believe it actually contains a small explosive and is intended to disconnect power to the starter in the event of a major collision).

I refuse to believe that anyone believes that.

 

[Don Vito Corleone]

I refuse to believe that anyone believes that.

Apparently BMW not only believes it but touts it as a safety feature:

Battery Safety Terminal
The battery safety terminal (BST) will avoid short-circuiting of the high amperage starter circuit in an event of a collision. BST is actuated by the air bag control unit and uses a pyrotechnic charge to separate the starter cable from the battery in a crash. Other electrical systems, such as warning lights and cabin lighting, possess conventional protective mechanisms and remain connected to the battery. The single safety battery terminal adds to passive safety and reduces the threat of fire in the wake of a collision.

 

[SickBeast]

I've read that the batteries at Costco are great, and they're cheap.

 

[LTC8K6]

Apparently BMW not only believes it but touts it as a safety feature:

Yes, I have read it before.

 

[StageLeft]

Yes, I have read it before.

I refuse to believe that.

 

[LTC8K6]

I refuse to believe that.

There's a bomb in your trunk!

 

[PricklyPete]

There's a bomb in your trunk!

Try explaining that to airport security.

 

[Throckmorton]

Go to Sears and buy an Odyssey (rebadged as Die Hard Platinum) battery. They are known to be very very good, and are sealed.

 

[Throckmorton]

Don't put a regular unsealed battery in your trunk

 

[DivideBYZero]

Well I'm probably going to jinx it, but my 2001 M3 has never needed a battery to my knowledge. The unit it has is huge and appears to be bullet proof. However, I know batteries always have a life span, so I'm just on borrowed time I suppose.

 

[Don Vito Corleone]

Well I'm probably going to jinx it, but my 2001 M3 has never needed a battery to my knowledge. The unit it has is huge and appears to be bullet proof. However, I know batteries always have a life span, so I'm just on borrowed time I suppose.

Even in the relatively mild climes of the UK (I know it's chilly in winter but never truly cold nor truly hot relative to any number of other places), I don't know that a single battery could last nine years. 4-5 years would be typical before giving up the ghost. Did you buy it secondhand? Maybe the first guy bought a replacement . . .

 

[LTC8K6]

I guess you really don't want to carry a can of gas in your BMW's trunk...

Although that's a bad idea for any car, really.

 

[exdeath]

$100 in labor to put in a battery WTF

BMW tax.