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original Battery - correct replacement

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MKZ4000
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original Battery - correct replacement

Post by MKZ4000 » Wed Jan 16, 2019 5:57 pm

I have a 2003 3.0 Z4 e85

The car starts without problems but is on its original battery so i thought it wise to change it.

I've done a bit of searching and the Varta E44 seems to get recommended

this one: https://www.tayna.co.uk/car-batteries/varta/e44/

When i put my reg in, this one comes up from enduroline https://www.tayna.co.uk/car-batteries/enduroline/017/

The enduroline one is 354mm long v 278mm on the Varta.

Can someone confirm the correct battery? Id measure myself but the car is in storage at my mums.

Thanks in advance
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biojo
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original Battery - correct replacement

Post by biojo » Wed Jan 16, 2019 7:39 pm

For me 3.0si i just went to https://www.carparts4less.co.uk/car-battery entered car reg then picked the Bosche S5 110

There is usually a smaller and larger ones that will also fit and work

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MalNCH
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original Battery - correct replacement

Post by MalNCH » Wed Jan 16, 2019 8:10 pm

I went for the Varta Silver Dynamic E44, it's the same dimensions as original, today in fact. Bosh & Varta are made in the same factory, usually, like for like the Varta is considerably cheaper.
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Mr Tidy
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original Battery - correct replacement

Post by Mr Tidy » Wed Jan 16, 2019 11:52 pm

I had a new battery in my E86 in December 2017 and my Indy fitted an Exide. He says that is what BMW used - well the car was built in the USA!

But I got a Varta for my E91 a month ago and that works fine as well.

The length of the battery may vary as there is more than 1 size that will fit in the battery tray - IIRC 278mm is the shortest option, but the Capacity and CCA are the important numbers. Plus the length of the warranty. :lol:
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original Battery - correct replacement

Post by Torpalasse » Thu Jan 17, 2019 8:46 pm

If it works fine, why change? :thumbsdown:

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MalNCH
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original Battery - correct replacement

Post by MalNCH » Thu Jan 17, 2019 9:06 pm

Torpalasse wrote: Thu Jan 17, 2019 8:46 pm If it works fine, why change? :thumbsdown:
Probably because the battery is 15 years old and failure is imminent, my 14 year old one failed beginning of this week, it was on my list to change before I knew of the failure.
2004 E85 3.0i, Titan Silver Metallic.

MKZ4000
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original Battery - correct replacement

Post by MKZ4000 » Sun Jan 20, 2019 8:07 pm

Exactly that, don’t want to push my luck on a 15yr old battery.

Impressive lifespan though
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MKZ4000
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original Battery - correct replacement

Post by MKZ4000 » Thu May 09, 2019 10:02 am

Do you think this is the original battery? I assumed the sticker 1003 represented october 2003. But now have noticed the battery is branded Duracell. Would BMW have used a Duracell battery ?
Battery.JPG
Battery.JPG (45.66 KiB) Viewed 2088 times
BMW E85 Z4M
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JamieZ4C
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original Battery - correct replacement

Post by JamieZ4C » Thu May 09, 2019 10:21 am

MKZ4000 wrote: Thu May 09, 2019 10:02 am Do you think this is the original battery? I assumed the sticker 1003 represented october 2003. But now have noticed the battery is branded Duracell. Would BMW have used a Duracell battery ?

Battery.JPG
Can't see that being the original. I don't think Duracell branded batteries were even around in 2003 let alone fitted by a manufacturer. The 1003 is probably a shop code to help staff identify correct product. I've seen such stickers used by ECP.
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original Battery - correct replacement

Post by mr nurburgring » Thu May 09, 2019 5:42 pm

Hello
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ben g
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original Battery - correct replacement

Post by ben g » Thu May 09, 2019 6:05 pm

MKZ4000 wrote: Thu May 09, 2019 10:02 am Do you think this is the original battery? I assumed the sticker 1003 represented october 2003. But now have noticed the battery is branded Duracell. Would BMW have used a Duracell battery ?

Battery.JPG
The original batteries have bmw branding on them, so that's definitely a replacement you have
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kis
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original Battery - correct replacement

Post by kis » Fri May 10, 2019 11:39 am

Given its not the original battery, it may be worth just keeping it. You can get a battery health check, I bought my own one, but the likes of AA, even a indie should have similar equipment. That will let you know the condition of the battery, which is the most important thing (since we may never know the true age of the battery). I think the AA print-out had a Green, Amber, Red system next to the values so it clearly tells you whether to keep, monitor or replace.
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MKZ4000
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original Battery - correct replacement

Post by MKZ4000 » Sat May 11, 2019 9:04 am

Yes, I'm going to keep it having now established it's not the original battery
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