Engine Drivetrain 1st Gen Cooper S Most liked posts in thread: CEL and loss of preset radio stations ???

I'm a real fan of AGM batteries no matter what the brand. Don't like to have a wet cell in the boot where a leak will corrode the metal. Seems to me all of these modern cars & that includes the R53 have a fair amount of parasitic loss over time. For a daily driver it is not a big deal, but for a car that sits a lot between play times it can be a problem.

 

I'm guessing the ground on the engine mount might be in bad shape...since you mention the engine compartment has corrosion, I might clean it up, add some dielectric grease, and see what happens...
I WOULD pull the code... Write it down...maybe cleaning the ground does nothing, but it might be a simple, cheap fix if the under hood area is as bad as you say....
Plus one on look at the battery jump terminal, and check the battery...it might be very old...same for the battery's ground terminals and + connection.
Good luck!!

 

Anybody want to make a bet how long it will take before "Optima JIM" shows up in this post...within a day or two of anybody posting the Optima name on most any board, he pops up...guess he works for their "social media" division...
My battery did fine...but know many folks who had short life issues...shorter than a standard flooded cell battery as a matter of fact...
As for AGM batteries, Optima was once one of the only games in town so to speak...but now many companies make them....and no baggage of recent quality issues since offshoreing production (from Colorado to Mexico)which in and of itself is not terrible with some jobs...working in a battery plant must have sucked, and had many health issues...yes moral implications aside.. but the reduction in life and quality since the move IMO IS the issue...
What say you Optima-JIM?:devil:

 

If you have the original battery buy a new one. Check the connection on the under-hood jump connector. Also check the battery connections at the battery.

 

I replaced the battery in my R53 at 3 years with an Optima. It is still going strong for the new owner of my MINI.

 

Love my Optima. Ran it for 5 years with no issues, only took it out to swap to a lightweight 15lb batt.

 

My two cents:
Optima moved offshore a few years back. Quality not what it used to be. Used several in my Jeep over the years. First Yellowtop lasted more than eight years. Second one lasted less than four. Switched to Sears Diehard Platinum for the Jeep.

 

Mixed feelings...
Had one for 6+ years...did fine...car did sit for much of the time, no complaints, always started fine. For the $$, could have bought two batteries from NAPA, where I got the replacement....
Mine did fine (Mexican made), but know of a few folks that had short lived optima batteries....since production moved to mexico vs Colorado, there seems to be more complaints of 3 year lifespans...and now AGM batteries are sold by many companies....odessey, diehard, etc....pretty common battery for many cars now.
12+ volts in a used battery is a bit weak, but very usable....guess a connection might be bad, but I kinda doubt its you issue...
If you said 11 volts, might be onto something, but at your voltage, kinda doubt it...
Maybe there is a bad solder connection in the battery connecting the terminals to the plates...that would account for the sudden loss of radio presets, etc...
But many places that test batteries just want to sell you one.
Your battery likely would have failed this summer or fall, granted....but my gut says you have more going on.

 

When I get a my next battery it will not be an Optima......had problems with my last 2. Doesn't seem to want to keep a full charge, and yes I have run some diagnostics and doesn't seem to have any parasitic loads anywhere. I think a best quality lead acid is really the way to go.

 

I like my Optima red top and have had it for a few years without any issues.

 

I have been using DEKA agm batteries in everything, both motorcycles and cars, for years. At last check, they are made here and are actually sold by Oreilly's under their more expensive house brand.

Al

 

I've had two Optimas die on me and I even have an Optima brand charger

 

I'm an Interstate user and have had very good luck with them in all my vehicles.