What battery brand to buy for the Beast

[RvT 9]

The e60 M5 needs a new battery and have been putting it off. It is still on its original ex factory so after 4 years, it is due for replacement. Past BMWs I have bought OEM ones ex stealer. I am probably know the answer but .. is there any difference between OEM and aftermarket batteries for the larger sized BMWs? Apart from price?

If I was looking aftermarket, any brand that I should focus on as being "better" ?

Cheers all

[hotwire 352]

4 years for an original BMW battery?? Thats not overly good. Are you sure it's crook?

Just replaced mine at 10 yrs & have replaced lots in BMW's at up to & beyond that age.

The OE fit batteries are usually Varta or similar & of very good quality.

4 yrs ish is common enough for run of mill brands. Having said that - any brand can fail at any time.

Don't need to go genuine but make sure you get a calcium one of similar size/spec

[B.M.W Ltd 950]

We use Century batteries. However any well branded battery will do the job. As Grant (hotwire) said, only fit a calcium battery. A Din85ZL should be the right battery for your car.

[kiwi535 538]

i got a hella for mine at a local auto electrician who was having a sale....was starting to crank slowly and had required a jump start...weak battery plus 1600kg car = AA

[RvT 9]

4 years for an original BMW battery?? Thats not overly good. Are you sure it's crook?

Just replaced mine at 10 yrs & have replaced lots in BMW's at up to & beyond that age.

The OE fit batteries are usually Varta or similar & of very good quality.

4 yrs ish is common enough for run of mill brands. Having said that - any brand can fail at any time.

Don't need to go genuine but make sure you get a calcium one of similar size/spec

Thanks everyone for comments so far.

Had an e34 535 and had to replace twice as I had it for 6 years to need a new one, once after buying the car in UK and then again over here 4 years later. Last car was a e39 540 and that needed to be replaced at 3.5 years as again replaced when I imported it and again before I sold it. The current e60 has been giving me screen warnings of "high discharge" since I bought the car 2 years ago. Have been charging the battery every 4 months but the warning image on screen comes up after about a month of use so I am getting a bit sick of it and want to fix. Having said that, the car is only used every 10 days or so and sits in the garage a lot.

Maybe there is a correlation between big motors and higher battery wear ???

On a secondary note, the wife's Audi was stopping in the middle of the road (felt like a carb issue) so dropped it off at stealer. They fixed it on a recall notice at no charge, small sensor issue, and then informed me the battery was stuffed. Said to replace it as a quick reaction knowing that I had just charged it up after running flat previous week and maybe they were right. The bill came in at $850 for the battery. Now I am gun shy of stealers and batteries, hence the post ...

[B.M.W Ltd 950]

The correct battery should cost you around $300 + Gst. It would also be wise to get a battery discharge check on the car... it may have a problem causing the battery to go flat... some electricians may not know the correct proceedure to do this on the car... there is a proceedure on the BMW's and its not a 5min job... I can help if need be. BTW: there is a special charger for a calcium battery.. a standard charger won't do it properly

[RvT 9]

The correct battery should cost you around $300 + Gst. It would also be wise to get a battery discharge check on the car... it may have a problem causing the battery to go flat... some electricians may not know the correct proceedure to do this on the car... there is a proceedure on the BMW's and its not a 5min job... I can help if need be. BTW: there is a special charger for a calcium battery.. a standard charger won't do it properly

Thanks Glenn. Would love to take it up to you but that would be about 4 tanks of gas to get to Akl and the same home (I get 320km out of a tank on non spirited driving It is due an oil change in the next month so may ask the question from Chc BMW. They will probably say "new battery" so I think I will get the Century battery first as it will work out cheaper

Battery says it is a 90ah - 900a - does this match the Din85ZL (or is 85 = 85A???)

Thanks

[B.M.W Ltd 950]

Thanks Glenn. Would love to take it up to you but that would be about 4 tanks of gas to get to Akl and the same home (I get 320km out of a tank on non spirited driving It is due an oil change in the next month so may ask the question from Chc BMW. They will probably say "new battery" so I think I will get the Century battery first as it will work out cheaper

Battery says it is a 90ah - 900a - does this match the Din85ZL (or is 85 = 85A???)

Thanks

The Din 85ZLMF calcium battery is a 158AH 780CCA

Yes I know where you live. What I meant was if you need any help feel free to ask. Just check the dimensions. Some of the later cars take a special battery only available from your local stealer. It might help to give me the part # off the battery

[RvT 9]

Yes I know where you live. What I meant was if you need any help feel free to ask.

Sorry, didn't mean to offend and really appreciate your help.

Part number is 61 21 6 919 342 + second number underneath 61 21 6 924 022

[B.M.W Ltd 950]

From the horses mouth...your car must have an OEM battery fitted. Can only be fitted by the dealer (intelligent systems type battery) and the vehicle & systems have to be told that a new battery is now fitted. Your numbers dont work. The genuine battery for an E60 M5 is $456.41 + Gst

[camera doctor 25]

I see you are in Rangiora.

I have Supercharge batteries ( They have a base in CHCH ) in both my 540i and my Peugeot 206 GTi

Have been running both for 12 months, no issues.

Phone 0800 188 122

[B.M.W Ltd 950]

I see you are in Rangiora.

I have Supercharge batteries ( They have a base in CHCH ) in both my 540i and my Peugeot 206 GTi

Have been running both for 12 months, no issues.

Phone 0800 188 122

This is an E60 though... different systems... I didnt read the OP properly myself...just saw M5 and jumped in

[RvT 9]

From the horses mouth...your car must have an OEM battery fitted. Can only be fitted by the dealer (intelligent systems type battery) and the vehicle & systems have to be told that a new battery is now fitted. Your numbers dont work. The genuine battery for an E60 M5 is $456.41 + Gst

Thanks Glenn.

After reading your post, I rang BMW and as you said, they need to tell the car about the new battery which can take minimum of 15 minutes. Informed me I need to book it in and they had no time till after Xmas. So much for a plug n play option. These Germans are getting crafty as they build newer cars. It will be harder in the future to buy non OEM simple stuff. I wonder when they will require the tires get replaced at dealer too.

[kiwi535 538]

Thanks Glenn.

After reading your post, I rang BMW and as you said, they need to tell the car about the new battery which can take minimum of 15 minutes. Informed me I need to book it in and they had no time till after Xmas. So much for a plug n play option. These Germans are getting crafty as they build newer cars. It will be harder in the future to buy non OEM simple stuff. I wonder when they will require the tires get replaced at dealer too.

interesting to hear ..i have had my 535 for seven years now...replaced the battery after about 2 years....have had absolutely no worries,Car used to be used daily,now used maybe once a week maybe once every two weeks....Mind you the battery is the biggest car battery i have seen...

[ashmill 68]

interesting to hear ..i have had my 535 for seven years now...replaced the battery after about 2 years....have had absolutely no worries,Car used to be used daily,now used maybe once a week maybe once every two weeks....Mind you the battery is the biggest car battery i have seen...

Am in a similar position to Paul. Have had the M5 for 8 years and replaced the battery twice. Beware, the last battery was reverse polarity i.e. charged with the wrong way round, if that makes sense. Cost the distributor a lot of labour and an alternator rebulid. Could have been a lot worse. Get the battery polarity checked before you install.

[hotwire 352]

Am in a similar position to Paul. Have had the M5 for 8 years and replaced the battery twice. Beware, the last battery was reverse polarity i.e. charged with the wrong way round, if that makes sense. Cost the distributor a lot of labour and an alternator rebulid. Could have been a lot worse. Get the battery polarity checked before you install.

Shite Bruce, thats an unusual one, think I have only seen this in a new battery once, maybe twice in nearly 30yrs in the trade. Seen many times when batteries have been recharged incorrect polarity though.