Cheapest method to register new battery

[ClumUK]

New Z owner here, I picked her up on Sunday and then on Monday got the 'very low battery' warning light

After checking the alternator was working ok and finding the manufactured date on the still original BMW battery was 06/10 I've decided it's time to do what the previous owner didn't! I'll be collecting a Varta E39 for £125 from my local battery store at the weekend and looking for the cheapest way to register it properly (never had to do this on my other cars!).

I'm also planning on doing some basic coding and looks like the Carista adapter £15.99 and the bimmer-tool Android app £13.49 will do everything I need. Has anyone used this app to succesfully register a new battery?
I was considering going down the Carly route instead but apart from being more expensive I've read a thread on another forum saying the Carly app is unreliable at actually doing the battery registration.

Cheers

 

[Smartbear]

New Z owner here, I picked her up on Sunday and then on Monday got the 'very low battery' warning light

After checking the alternator was working ok and finding the manufactured date on the still original BMW battery was 06/10 I've decided it's time to do what the previous owner didn't! I'll be collecting a Varta E39 for £125 from my local battery store at the weekend and looking for the cheapest way to register it properly (never had to do this on my other cars!).

I'm also planning on doing some basic coding and looks like the Carista adapter £15.99 and the bimmer-tool Android app £13.49 will do everything I need. Has anyone used this app to succesfully register a new battery?
I was considering going down the Carly route instead but apart from being more expensive I've read a thread on another forum saying the Carly app is unreliable at actually doing the battery registration.

Cheers

Hi, there’s a list on here showing Carly owning members who may register your new battery. I’ve not heard of any issues on here? :?
Rob

 

[ClumUK]

Thanks Rob, I did spot that list but feel a bit cheeky asking for any favours as a newbie :rofl:

This is the thread I was reading (on M3 forum so maybe E89 not a problem), some people saying Carly would report the registration as a success but when trying to confirm the change had definitely been made it wasn't clear: Is Carly Battery Registration a Scam - Does it really work?

 

[Smartbear]

Thanks Rob, I did spot that list but feel a bit cheeky asking for any favours as a newbie :rofl:

This is the thread I was reading (on M3 forum so maybe E89 not a problem), some people saying Carly would report the registration as a success but when trying to confirm the change had definitely been made it wasn't clear: Is Carly Battery Registration a Scam - Does it really work?

You could always offer some beer/money to ease your conscience :wink:
Rob

 

[Tarzan]

if you buy a battery with exactly the same characteristics as the previous one you have absolutely nothing to do.

 

[ph001]

if you buy a battery with exactly the same characteristics as the previous one you have absolutely nothing to do.

Ha ha, here we go again! Incidentally I wholeheartedly agree with Tarzan, but there is a bit of history to this topic on here!!!

 

[R.E92]

Carly is not reliable from what I've seen. The car has an internal register of battery replacements, you can read this from any vehicle to tell you what mileage the battery was replaced at. With a Carly battery registration this is not done which indicates it doesn't work.
I registered my battery with MHD and confirmed it by reading out the battery history using Pro Tool since I have both tools anyway.

The cheapest method would be to use INPA. The easiest method is to use Pro Tool or find someone nearby with either!

If you're near Derby I could do it for you.

if you buy a battery with exactly the same characteristics as the previous one you have absolutely nothing to do.

The battery needs to be registered regardless of characteristic. Here's a good summary: https://bimmertips.com/bmw-battery-registering-and-programming-explained/
Some people choose to skip doing it but that doesn't mean it's not required. Just means they will have a battery and alternator that fail earlier.

 

[ClumUK]

The battery needs to be registered regardless of characteristic. Here's a good summary: https://bimmertips.com/bmw-battery-regi ... explained/
Some people choose to skip doing it but that doesn't mean it's not required. Just means they will have a battery and alternator that fail earlier.

It's a like for like replacement but I'm definitely planning on doing the registration. After seeing the original battery has lasted 10 years I'm impressed; that could surely have only been possible with some kind of smart charging based on the car knowing the battery's age etc.

 

[ph001]

Are you saying that batteries never used to last 10 years before smart charging was invented then? :rofl:

 

[mole734]

Cheapest method I found was a carista adaptor at £15 ish and bimmer tool expert at £13 this doesn't do coding but does read trouble codes and registers batteries, tested it on mine and it worked great

 

[R.E92]

The battery needs to be registered regardless of characteristic. Here's a good summary: https://bimmertips.com/bmw-battery-regi ... explained/
Some people choose to skip doing it but that doesn't mean it's not required. Just means they will have a battery and alternator that fail earlier.

It's a like for like replacement but I'm definitely planning on doing the registration. After seeing the original battery has lasted 10 years I'm impressed; that could surely have only been possible with some kind of smart charging based on the car knowing the battery's age etc.

I just did the same replacement for a Varta E39 on my 10yr old battery. After replacing the battery I monitored the voltage and the alternator seems to have multiple levels of action, it only produces 12.5V when cruising around then as soon as you brake it supplies the full 14V charging voltage to the battery so it's no surprise that registration is needed. I'm assuming that if the car thinks the battery is depleted it will charge it at all times rather than just when slowing down.

 

[ClumUK]

Are you saying that batteries never used to last 10 years before smart charging was invented then?

My other cars only last around 5 years, much cheaper batteries though :lol:

Cheapest method I found was a carista adaptor at £15 ish and bimmer tool expert at £13 this doesn't do coding but does read trouble codes and registers batteries, tested it on mine and it worked great

I'm leaning towards this method as well, just sent an email checking with Carista if they support all the coding I want as I couldn't see everything listed on their site. Have you done any coding with your Carista? I'm looking to do:

- Open roof while moving up to 20mph
- Open roof using keyfob
- Auto-fold mirrors on lock/unlock
- Digital speedo
- Disable cold weather alert

 

[R.E92]

I'm leaning towards this method as well, just sent an email checking with Carista if they support all the coding I want as I couldn't see everything listed on their site. Have you done any coding with your Carista? I'm looking to do:

- Open roof while moving up to 20mph
- Open roof using keyfob
- Auto-fold mirrors on lock/unlock
- Digital speedo
- Disable cold weather alert

Have a look at Pro Tool, it's the best tool when it comes to coding and diagnostics. It's in another league compared to things like carista and carly.

 

[javis20]

I used NCS Expert. Pretty easy once you get it installed. NCS Dummy is a great editor for modifying your downloaded file.

 

[mole734]

I only used the carista adapter (it comes with a month trail of the software but then it is a monthly charge which I don't like) then I used bimmer tool expert which is a one time purchase

 

[Silverstar]

Going slightly off tangent here but if you were laying the car up for a few months and disconnected the negative terminal of the battery, would you need register it again when you reconnect it? or would the car recognise it's the same battery?

 

[Smartbear]

Going slightly off tangent here but if you were laying the car up for a few months and disconnected the negative terminal of the battery, would you need register it again when you reconnect it? or would the car recognise it's the same battery?

You only need to register a new battery.
Rob

 

[ClumUK]

I was able to register the battery using my Carista adapter and the free version of Carly app. Not quite sure how but seems like maybe you get one free go, which is all I needed anyway!

 

[red_35is]

Hi, there’s a list on here showing Carly owning members who may register your new battery. I’ve not heard of any issues on here? :?
Rob

Hello mate, can you link me to the list please?

 

[Smartbear]

Hi, there’s a list on here showing Carly owning members who may register your new battery. I’ve not heard of any issues on here? :?
Rob

Hello mate, can you link me to the list please?

https://z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=97818&start=120
Rob