original Battery - correct replacement

M

MKZ4000

Active member
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
 
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
 
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.
 
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:
 
Torpalasse said:
If it works fine, why change? :thumbsdown:
Click to expand...

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.
 
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
 
MKZ4000 said:
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
Click to expand...

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.
 
MKZ4000 said:
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
Click to expand...

The original batteries have bmw branding on them, so that's definitely a replacement you have
 
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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