How many 08's Still Running Factory Battery? - BMW 1 Series Coupe Forum / 1 Series Convertible Forum (1M / tii / 135i / 128i / Coupe / Cabrio / Hatchback) (BMW E82 E88 128i 130i 135i)

HIPSI · 01-02-2013, 10:10 PM

I'm nearing 70k miles and 4.5 years on my orginal battery. Trying to decide if I should just go have it replaced before it fails or should I expect it to last a while longer?

BrokenVert · 01-02-2013, 10:25 PM

I'm sitting at 82k on a june 08 car. The battery is definitely aging. It doesnt have issues starting the car - the motor catches as quickly as it did 4 years ago. But the battery has issues motivating my top now. It struggles with it, when the car was new the top went up and down on battery as quickly as it did on the motor.

So ive effectively lost that functionality, but its nothing major. I still expect the battery to start the car for another couple of years.

PA135i · 01-03-2013, 12:23 PM

After 54 months and 60,000 miles, no apparent issues with battery related problems.

$300 - 400 for new battery puts a damper on switching it out every 3 years for the heck of it. Many here say that it should last 6 -7 years. I'm going to replace mine at 6.
I see no reason to push it, just to see how long it lasts. No need to be stranded somewhere.

135Pats · 01-03-2013, 02:27 PM

just cleared 40K on my '08, zero battery issues.

JimD · 01-03-2013, 03:24 PM

I'm chiming in to say I am happy I can do the coding for battery replacement myself. I don't expect to need one soon in my 2009 but I expect my cost to be less than $200 for the battery since I can do the coding.

Jim

BrokenVert · 01-03-2013, 03:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimD

I'm chiming in to say I am happy I can do the coding for battery replacement myself. I don't expect to need one soon in my 2009 but I expect my cost to be less than $200 for the battery since I can do the coding.

Jim

Is there anything on this car that you dont need to spend oodles of cash to code?

NoirthernDancer · 01-03-2013, 04:44 PM

buy a high tech 1 amp or 1.5 amp battery charger/maintainer (Battery Tender, CTEK come to mind) and put it on overnight couple of times a month and ESPECIALLY if you don't drive the car for a week or more.

miro2296 · 01-03-2013, 06:00 PM

Feb '08 built 1er here and zero battery issues

Simon_135i · 01-03-2013, 06:10 PM

I've had problems but I don't drive it too often and i went ahead and invested in a battery tender. April '08

dtwyim · 01-03-2013, 09:15 PM

37,000 miles
3 season car, try to drive it at least once a month during winter months
Mostly highway driving
Original battery still good.
No trickle charger

JimD · 01-04-2013, 08:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BrokenVert

Is there anything on this car that you dont need to spend oodles of cash to code?

I bought the cable and downloaded the software mainly to get my top to go up and down with the key fob. I really like having the doors unlock themselves too, however. Once you are set up to code, the cost to make changes is just your time. In theory, I guess the engine management software is available too but I do not plan to mess with that. Maybe if somebody else figures it out and posts instructions.

Jim

Lexington · 01-04-2013, 08:36 AM

July 08 delivery. No battery problems yet, but now I know where to go for coding when needed. Thanks Jim.

PA135i · 01-04-2013, 12:15 PM

I'll go to the dealer for my $300 battery. $300 every 6-7 years doesn't exactly break the bank.

InlineSix · 01-04-2013, 02:44 PM

still running strong..

FIRST1 · 01-09-2013, 04:54 PM

Had my battery tested today, they said it's fine but needs to be charged more... I drive it every day though so I'm not sure how that can be.

I've noticed that it takes a split second longer to start the car up now though

dtwyim · 01-09-2013, 09:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FIRST1

Had my battery tested today, they said it's fine but needs to be charged more... I drive it every day though so I'm not sure how that can be.

I've noticed that it takes a split second longer to start the car up now though

But how much do you drive? Short trips around town are not as good as long ones on the freeways.

awns729 · 01-10-2013, 11:00 PM

I wantto say i remember reading in the manual, that the battery isn't supposed to need replacement for an extremely long time, especially in warm climates. Worth looking it up in the manual if you're curious.

Edit: nevermind, i'm makng stuff up.

PA135i · 01-12-2013, 09:41 PM

If that is true.. (I hope it is) .. then why doesn't my know about it. I have asked them how long it will last and I get really no answer. I'm at 4 1/2 years now and have zero signs of the battery being weak or slow starting in Winter.

Tom K. · 01-13-2013, 05:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by awns729

I wantto say i remember reading in the manual, that the battery isn't supposed to need replacement for an extremely long time, especially in warm climates. Worth looking it up in the manual if you're curious.

I looked it up and the online '08 manual (with iDrive) says on p. 220 that the electrolyte will last the life of the battery. It says nothing about how long that battery life will be.

Average BMW battery life seems to be around 5 years, but YMMV!

Tom

Jmanscotch · 01-13-2013, 07:20 PM

^ I'd agree with Tom. I've always bought 3-5 year old BMWs and have milked 5+ years out of each original battery, two made it to 7 before I replaced one because it needed it and the other for PM basically.

awns729 · 01-13-2013, 08:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tom K.

I looked it up and the online '08 manual (with iDrive) says on p. 220 that the electrolyte will last the life of the battery. It says nothing about how long that battery life will be.

Average BMW battery life seems to be around 5 years, but YMMV!

Tom

Yep, looked i tup too. you're right - i completely made that up. i guess i remembered wrong.

Carolinagirl · 01-13-2013, 09:15 PM

No problems here, however, now that I said that I may have jinxed myself.

01-02-2013, 10:10 PM	#1
HIPSI Second Lieutenant Drives: Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 216 iTrader: (0)	How many 08's Still Running Factory Battery? I'm nearing 70k miles and 4.5 years on my orginal battery. Trying to decide if I should just go have it replaced before it fails or should I expect it to last a while longer? __________________ 135 Coupe SGM/Terra 8/13/08 Infiniti FX - Family Hauler Mustang Cobra Vortec enhanced - Sold
	Tweet

01-02-2013, 10:25 PM	#2
BrokenVert Extremist Opinion Fighter Drives: Topless Electric Boogaloo Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Fahrvergnügen Posts: 9,400 iTrader: (0)	I'm sitting at 82k on a june 08 car. The battery is definitely aging. It doesnt have issues starting the car - the motor catches as quickly as it did 4 years ago. But the battery has issues motivating my top now. It struggles with it, when the car was new the top went up and down on battery as quickly as it did on the motor. So ive effectively lost that functionality, but its nothing major. I still expect the battery to start the car for another couple of years. __________________

01-03-2013, 02:27 PM	#4
135Pats Gooby Pls. Drives: 135i Join Date: May 2012 Location: Maryland Posts: 1,550 iTrader: (0)	just cleared 40K on my '08, zero battery issues. __________________ E88 FBO N54 Alpinweiss/Coral Red/Meisterschaft Race/Berk Resonated/Macht Schnell 3"/ER CP/Synapse/VRSF FMIC/BMS DCI/BMS Thermostat Delete/Rob Beck PCV/BMS OCC/Cobb 4.02/Icarbon/3D Design/Cyba

01-03-2013, 03:24 PM	#5
JimD Colonel Drives: 128i convertible Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Lexington, SC Posts: 2,154 iTrader: (0)	I'm chiming in to say I am happy I can do the coding for battery replacement myself. I don't expect to need one soon in my 2009 but I expect my cost to be less than $200 for the battery since I can do the coding. Jim __________________ 128i Convertible, MT, Alpine White, Black Top, Taupe Leatherette, Walnut, Sport Ordered 5/22/09, Completed 6/4/09, At Port 6/9/09, On the Georgia Highway 6/13/09, Ship Arrived Charleston 6/24/09 at 10pm, PCD 7/21/09

01-03-2013, 04:44 PM	#7
NoirthernDancer Second Lieutenant Drives: 325iX & 128 Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Ottawa On Canada Posts: 231 iTrader: (2)	battery charger buy a high tech 1 amp or 1.5 amp battery charger/maintainer (Battery Tender, CTEK come to mind) and put it on overnight couple of times a month and ESPECIALLY if you don't drive the car for a week or more.

01-03-2013, 12:23 PM	#3
PA135i Major Drives: 2008 SGM 135i Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 1,047 iTrader: (0)	After 54 months and 60,000 miles, no apparent issues with battery related problems. $300 - 400 for new battery puts a damper on switching it out every 3 years for the heck of it. Many here say that it should last 6 -7 years. I'm going to replace mine at 6. I see no reason to push it, just to see how long it lasts. No need to be stranded somewhere.

01-03-2013, 06:00 PM	#8
miro2296 Colonel Drives: '08 Montego Blue BMW 135i Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Round Rock, TX Posts: 2,020 iTrader: (0)	Feb '08 built 1er here and zero battery issues __________________ ------------------------------------- BMW 135i/6 Speed/Montego Blue/Formula One Ceramic Tint/JB4/19 inch Iconz 880Z(19X8.5 & 19X10)/Nitto NT555 225/35 & 265/30/E93 M3 front sway bar

01-03-2013, 06:10 PM	#9
Simon_135i Collecting dust! Drives: 135i Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: San Diego Posts: 1,987 iTrader: (6) Garage List 2008 E82/135i [0.00]	I've had problems but I don't drive it too often and i went ahead and invested in a battery tender. April '08

01-03-2013, 09:15 PM	#10
dtwyim Lieutenant Drives: 2008 135 6-MT Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Canada Posts: 557 iTrader: (0)	37,000 miles 3 season car, try to drive it at least once a month during winter months Mostly highway driving Original battery still good. No trickle charger

01-04-2013, 08:36 AM	#12
Lexington First Lieutenant Drives: 2008 135i Blue Water Join Date: May 2008 Location: South Carolina Posts: 339 iTrader: (0)	July 08 delivery. No battery problems yet, but now I know where to go for coding when needed. Thanks Jim. __________________

01-04-2013, 12:15 PM	#13
PA135i Major Drives: 2008 SGM 135i Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 1,047 iTrader: (0)	I'll go to the dealer for my $300 battery. $300 every 6-7 years doesn't exactly break the bank.

01-04-2013, 02:44 PM	#14
InlineSix TwinTurbo Top Hat Drives: AW 135i Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Miami Florida Posts: 242 iTrader: (0)	still running strong.. __________________ AW 2008 135i - Auto, Prem, with Sat Radio BMW CCA # 417107

01-09-2013, 04:54 PM	#15
FIRST1 Lieutenant Drives: '08 135i Titanium Silver Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: LI / Bronx Posts: 418 iTrader: (0) Garage List 2008 BMW 135i [0.00]	Had my battery tested today, they said it's fine but needs to be charged more... I drive it every day though so I'm not sure how that can be. I've noticed that it takes a split second longer to start the car up now though __________________

01-10-2013, 11:00 PM	#17
awns729 Private First Class Drives: 2008 BMW 135i Convertible Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: West Nyack, NY Posts: 140 iTrader: (1)	I wantto say i remember reading in the manual, that the battery isn't supposed to need replacement for an extremely long time, especially in warm climates. Worth looking it up in the manual if you're curious. Edit: nevermind, i'm makng stuff up. Last edited by awns729; 01-13-2013 at 08:36 PM.

01-12-2013, 09:41 PM	#18
PA135i Major Drives: 2008 SGM 135i Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 1,047 iTrader: (0)	If that is true.. (I hope it is) .. then why doesn't my know about it. I have asked them how long it will last and I get really no answer. I'm at 4 1/2 years now and have zero signs of the battery being weak or slow starting in Winter.

01-13-2013, 07:20 PM	#20
Jmanscotch is a Texan Drives: '09 135i - 6MT SOLD Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Colorado Springs Posts: 387 iTrader: (6)	^ I'd agree with Tom. I've always bought 3-5 year old BMWs and have milked 5+ years out of each original battery, two made it to 7 before I replaced one because it needed it and the other for PM basically. __________________ *- Jake*

01-13-2013, 09:15 PM	#22
Carolinagirl Southern Belle Drives: 2013 Alpine White 328i Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Charlotte, NC Posts: 176 iTrader: (0)	No problems here, however, now that I said that I may have jinxed myself. __________________

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search