Out of Lockdown but back into the shop

[Olaf 3317]

17 hours ago, nzpanda92 said:

I've done a bit of reading on it - its very different from the normal jap cars aint it (sorry again as im new to euros!). I was thinking of getting it done properly because I did read somewhere there was a particular way of installing it so to not lose some kind of memory or code? Maybe I read wrong. Why exactly do you need to tell the DME that the battery has changed? Why does the car need to know that out of curiosity?

Peter has explained pretty much why from a technical perspective.  If you don't register the battery, it'll continue charging it as per the specs of the last one; capacity, AGM, age.  In my case, the previous battery installed hadn't been registered; I forget if it was still set for AGM, and it was a lead acid?  It was the wrong capacity, and the date hadn't been registered (so it was charging a newer battery as though it was an old one).  Things did not go well.  Installing a good battery, and having it appropriately registered by an Independent BMW specialist, was the solution.  A year later and all is GRAND.  

TLDR?  "JFDI" ?.

[F10er 65]

19 hours ago, nzpanda92 said:

Interesting RE: battery. I was watching on YouTube a guy who has a similar vehicle (E60) - i think the channel was BMW Doctor and he mentioned it was beneficial that I purchase an ISTA-D setup.. I'm not too savy with car programming although I am knowledgeable in electronics (elec eng here). Would it be helpful to get a setup like that or shall I leave it to the professionals?

You can download ISTA D for free from here https://www.bimmergeeks.net/downloads

It is called Rheingold here but is excactly the same as ISTA D and works 100% you just need a k+dcan cable and a half decent laptop. There is no programming in it. Programming for all e series cars is done with ISTA P. But does give you access to all guided diagnostics with intergrated wiring diagrams and functional descriptions of how all the systems work. Various service functions like battery registration which will be handy for you, as i would say you need one. Genuine BMW ones are expensive (probably $500 or more) but tend to last longer. Your car will more than likely have a 90ah standard lead acid from factory. Have you had a look at the battery? 

Edited September 5, 2020 by F10er