2nd Gen R56 Cooper S Most liked posts in thread: Battery Change?

Had my car in for service and the tech told me that I would need a new battery before the next winter. Don't know how he determined, age, diagnostic reader. Wasn't having any symptoms.

Car sat for about 3 weeks without starting it. Went to start it and it cranked but didn't fire. Next thing I know, the car is flooded with gas. Charged battery overnight and still nothing. Because of the gas flooding the cylinders. Had to put in new plugs, pull the fuse on the fuel pump, crank the car until the gas was flushed out, and change the oil because the fuel had probably seeped past the rings into the oil pan.

I chose to replace the battery with the OEM. Cost was about $30 more than auto parts store. Installed it myself.

My car does not have the intelligent battery sensor, so I didn't need to have the dealer code the computer to know that a new battery is installed. If you have that sensor, you should have the dealer reset that system. Apparently if you don't the computer will not charge the battery the same and can cause a shorter lifespan.

So, yeah it is better to replace it before it dies.

 

BMW’s Intelligent Battery Sensor has a micro controller that is measuring Battery acid temperature, terminal voltage and the charge/discharge current. In BMW terms it is measuring the state of health and the state of charge and sending that info to the DME.

 

Mine is an 09 JCW R56. The dealer felt confident that my car would have one when the sold me the battery. Can't explain why it doesn't.

If your car has one it is part of the negative cable on the battery. It will be a box inline to the negative cable right next to the neg terminal post mount.

 

genik- If you post the year & model of your MINI it will be easier for other's to help you. At 5 years you are due for a new battery. It may go longer, but I believe in changing them before they leave me stranded. Much easier that way. As far as spec's go I'd buy one that meets oem spec's or exceeds them.

 

:cornut: My Margi's(08 R56 BRG MCS/JCWm) battery went dead at 4yo. No instrument told me that she was going dead except, like a lot of MINIs with bad batteries, strange electrical things started happening. Windows would roll down inexplicably. Strange dash lights(idiot lights that had never lit up) would light up. Just really odd things. Changed the battery and all was well. Had the battery checked at the shop and yeah, it was dead.

Jason

 

:cornut: Indicator lights like:seat belt lights, oil check light(with full crank case), engine problem light(with engine starting and running normally) on and on...................................

Jason