You want how much for a battery???

[JimD]

Originally Posted by JB135MDCT

What the hell are you taking about????
My 1997 328 with 270k miles on the same battery since 2004.
My 2001 135i battery lasted 3 years and 40k. So much more intelligent?

IBS stands for "Integrated BMW Screw-the-customer-device"

Those kind of examples are what makes it hard to determine the benefit of the IBS system. I have a battery in my boat that was in there when I purchased it 15 years ago. It doesn't even get charged by the boat motor because the charging circuit doesn't work. I put it on a charger every once in awhile but it keeps working despite basically being abused. So I have personal experience with batteries lasting surprisingly long. But what we do not know is how long your 135i battery would have lasted in your 328. Or how long your current 135i battery will last.

Hopefully the logic that charging a battery "correctly" will lengthen it's life makes sense. It doesn't solve everything that can go wrong with a battery but over or under charging it can shorten the life. That is the logic behind the IBS. I think it is sound but the situation gets confused by the fact that there is a large variation in battery lifetime - regardless of how it is charged. That variation might reasonably be viewed as larger than the benefit of IBS.

[MightyMouseTech]

And the 135i has 42 more computers running. Batteries on today's cars are under a hell of a lot more stress, and even the slightest voltage drop and stuff stops working. This ain't the 90's anymore...

[aloksatoor]

Haha this thread is still going, I would just code it in myself or have a decent indy do it who warranties their work.

Otherwise just keep replacing cars after the lease ends or 4 years when the new car warranty runs out.

[128Convertibleguy]

Originally Posted by JB135MDCT

My 2011 135i battery lasted 3 years and 40k.

Something is wrong with that. Either you had a defective battery, or it led a hard life, like the car sitting for an entire long winter.

[Silenus]

Originally Posted by JimD

Those kind of examples are what makes it hard to determine the benefit of the IBS system. I have a battery in my boat that was in there when I purchased it 15 years ago. It doesn't even get charged by the boat motor because the charging circuit doesn't work. I put it on a charger every once in awhile but it keeps working despite basically being abused. So I have personal experience with batteries lasting surprisingly long. But what we do not know is how long your 135i battery would have lasted in your 328. Or how long your current 135i battery will last.

Hopefully the logic that charging a battery "correctly" will lengthen it's life makes sense. It doesn't solve everything that can go wrong with a battery but over or under charging it can shorten the life. That is the logic behind the IBS. I think it is sound but the situation gets confused by the fact that there is a large variation in battery lifetime - regardless of how it is charged. That variation might reasonably be viewed as larger than the benefit of IBS.

Thank you for saving me the time of saying exactly this. Using one car as an example, or one bad experience, is just bad science (I shouldn't have used mine as an example). Comparing the electrical demands of an E36 to an E82 is just hilarious.

[zoomnad]

WOW, I never knew this post would cause so many negative responses. My intent was to say that $432 for a battery at the dealer is bullshit! At the shop I am taking my BMW to, $276 is way too much. I am sure this will be my first BMW AND last BMW. Understanding that car are more advanced that 1970, everything on my BMW is way over priced ( I just replaced brakes). My VW was fast, fun to drive, sporty, and did NOT cost an arm and leg to maintain. I worked at a BMW motorcycle dealer for 12 years and they did the same thing to the bikes.

[Stock4Evr]

Just had to replace my battery on a 2012 135i with 17595 on the odometer. Parts: $228.42, Labor: $162.88, Total: $391.30.

[bmw1racer]

Originally Posted by SocHermit(2)

Just had to replace my battery on a 2012 135i with 17595 on the odometer. Parts: $228.42, Labor: $162.88, Total: $391.30.

That's not covered under warranty?

[Stock4Evr]

Originally Posted by bmw1racer

That's not covered under warranty?

I am checking on that right now. From what I understand, from other comments, they give you a really hard time trying to get them to cover it. I will do my best and see what happens.

[bmw1racer]

Originally Posted by SocHermit(2)

I am checking on that right now. From what I understand, from other comments, they give you a really hard time trying to get them to cover it. I will do my best and see what happens.

Good luck.

[EldRick]

The amazing part is that BMW dealers have the gall to charge for 1.5 hours of labor to replace a battery, which should take 20 minutes at most.

[Bill B.]

[stands up]

I hope this is the right place.

Hi, my name is Bill, and I'm an engineer. My entire house is filled with dimmers, and not just any dimmers, but dual-band RF/powerline dimmers... controlled... by...

[choking back tears]

...a series of computer programs and a homegrown automation controller...

I...I... organize.. the pens and pencils on my desk!

[sits down, weeping uncontrollably]

[BrokenVert]

Originally Posted by Bill B.

[stands up]

I hope this is the right place.

Hi, my name is Bill, and I'm an engineer. My entire house is filled with dimmers, and not just any dimmers, but dual-band RF/powerline dimmers... controlled... by...

[choking back tears]

...a series of computer programs and a homegrown automation controller...

I...I... organize.. the pens and pencils on my desk!

[sits down, weeping uncontrollably]

Be honest. How many Arduinos are in your house?

[zoomnad]

Your Honor, I rest my case.

Judge " Bill B. you will be shot at sunrise"

Thunderous applause from the BMW owners!

[shah269]

I come from a long line of engineers...i have no idea how i fell into the field.
But funny story my grandfather was an electrical engineer with Langly Motors...AKA Land Rover. Only person on the planet who understand Lucas Electrics....his entire house had dimmer switches. Even in the bathroom....why would you have a dimmer switch in the bathroom.....

I thought he was nuts...then i met other engineers...then i noticed how much they loved to overly complicate things....and couldn’t figure out why they thought i was crazy because i liked my simple life of accepting that when I take a poop…the lights will either be on or off……why? Because that’s enlightened and very zen…for it was fat Buddha who once said “there shall be ass or no ass there shall be no half ass!”

Still thought….OUCH! $150 to install a battery? Really? I mean ok I get it the car market is tough….but really? OUCH!

[JB135MDCT]

Originally Posted by shah269

I come from a long line of engineers...i have no idea how i fell into the field.
But funny story my grandfather was an electrical engineer with Langly Motors...AKA Land Rover. Only person on the planet who understand Lucas Electrics....his entire house had dimmer switches. Even in the bathroom....why would you have a dimmer switch in the bathroom.....

I thought he was nuts...then i met other engineers...then i noticed how much they loved to overly complicate things....and couldn’t figure out why they thought i was crazy because i liked my simple life of accepting that when I take a poop…the lights will either be on or off……why? Because that’s enlightened and very zen…for it was fat Buddha who once said “there shall be ass or no ass there shall be no half ass!”

Still thought….OUCH! $150 to install a battery? Really? I mean ok I get it the car market is tough….but really? OUCH!

What shall you do when your lady friend asks you to dim the lights???

[MightyMouseTech]

Originally Posted by JB135MDCT

What shall you do when your lady friend asks you to dim the lights???

He is an Engineer, has not come up.

Guess they forget. My first day in Engineering school, they spent half the day explaining the KISS rule.

Might explain why I like dimmer switches so much?!?!?

[BrokenVert]

Originally Posted by MightyMouseTech

He is an Engineer, has not come up.

Guess they forget. My first day in Engineering school, they spent half the day explaining the KISS rule.

Might explain why I like dimmer switches so much?!?!?

My first day was about ethics. Guess it's good because I nailed that section of the FE, but what a dry way to start an education.

[135ivert]

Originally Posted by EldRick

The amazing part is that BMW dealers have the gall to charge for 1.5 hours of labor to replace a battery, which should take 20 minutes at most.

It took me 20 minutes to replace the battery, and it took the indie shop 30 minutes to code it. If you factor in 20% slop - you're looking at an hour. At $120/hour that extra $60 does seem excessive (I'm guessing - I have no idea what shop labor rates are nowadays) for something that already feels unneccesarily expensive.

[jkoral]

Just replaced the battery in my wife's SUV. 4.5 years and AAA installed one in my driveway for $130 with a 3-year free replacement warranty.

Still on the original battery in my 1er, over 5.5 years so far. I can read the volts through the P3 gauge (though I've never bothered to check before starting the car).

[Spin_dry]

4 years ago I installed a $45 battery in my RAV4. It's just fine. Thankfully the battery in my (new to me) 135i was replaced by the dealer before it hit the sales lot.

[brocklanders]

Originally Posted by Spin_dry

4 years ago I installed a $45 battery in my RAV4. It's just fine. Thankfully the battery in my (new to me) 135i was replaced by the dealer before it hit the sales lot.

This post could have saved five pages of useless banter, if you dont want three to four hundred dollar battery changes buy a Rav4. Did anyone read about the $1300 starter? That guy has a reason to gripe, anyone who has owned a four or five year old BMW is used to this sort of thing, you must pay to play, there are more than a few affordable alternatives out there.