Most liked posts in thread: New Owner with Battery Questions

  1. Metalman

    Metalman Well-Known Member
    Lifetime Supporter

    Sep 29, 2009
    12,731
    7,688
    113
    Ex-Owner (Retired) of a custom metal fab company.
    Columbus, Ohio
    Ratings:
    +7,960 / 1 / -0
    #2 Metalman, Apr 11, 2016
    First you need to determine if your MINI has the IBS battery cable.

    Here is what the IBS battery looks like...
    [​IMG]

    Not all MINI's have them. Look for the black plastic box on the negative battery post connection.
    If you don't have this feature, just change out the battery and you are good to go... I have a 2009 S and it doesn't have this feature...

    If your MINI does, then you need to have it properly registered with the ECU at a MINI dealership... The IBS unit controls the rate of charge and it provides feedback to the charging system based on the performance of the old battery.... If you don't have it reset, the new batter will be over charged by the charging circuit...

    Oh.... And welcome to M/A....:Thumbsup:
     
  2. Nathan

    Nathan Founder

    Mar 30, 2009
    25,144
    10,052
    113
    Writer
    Short North
    Ratings:
    +10,069 / 0 / -0
    #3 Nathan, Apr 11, 2016
    Welcome, thanks for joining Motoring Alliance, the FUN and Friendly MINI Community.

    Is this price what you folks pay? Only if they get sucked into the dealers silly pricing for simple things.
    Does the battery require programming? The battery, no. The ECU or Body Control Module needs to know the battery is new.
    Are there other batteries that suffice for this car and if so, what do you recommend? Pretty much anything, most all quality batteries are the same these days.
    ...and last, I'm pretty handy so how hard can it be to replace the battery? Pretty darn easy. It's the programming that we mere mortals cannot do. However, any BMW/MINI shop with a GT1 can deal with the programing. You are not stuck with the dealer.

    The reason the software needs to be notified that the battery is new is all to eek out the most milage. A new battery is easier on the alternator. MINIs software polls the health of battery. The alternator charges the battery according to the batteries health. When the battery is new the software needs to be told so the alternator doesn't overcharge the new battery.
     
  3. Metalman

    Metalman Well-Known Member
    Lifetime Supporter

    Sep 29, 2009
    12,731
    7,688
    113
    Ex-Owner (Retired) of a custom metal fab company.
    Columbus, Ohio
    Ratings:
    +7,960 / 1 / -0
    #4 Metalman, Apr 11, 2016
    Yeah.... But I provided a picture Nathan...:D
     
  4. DrSteve

    DrSteve New Member

    Apr 11, 2016
    5
    0
    0
    Ratings:
    +0 / 0 / -0
    #5 DrSteve, Apr 11, 2016
    Battery

    Thanks folks.
     
  5. wmwny

    wmwny Well-Known Member

    May 29, 2009
    4,048
    2,246
    113
    Male
    Retired
    Piqua, Ohio
    Ratings:
    +2,810 / 10 / -0
    #6 wmwny, Apr 11, 2016
    Welcome to M/A!:Thumbsup:
     
  6. 00Mini

    00Mini Well-Known Member

    Feb 24, 2013
    23,039
    2,227
    113
    Retired
    Ratings:
    +3,276 / 7 / -5
    #7 00Mini, Apr 11, 2016
    Welcome to Motoring Alliance the bestest MINI forum on the interweb !!
     
  7. MCS02

    MCS02 Moderator
    Staff Member Articles Moderator Supporting Member

    Jul 31, 2009
    11,305
    6,277
    113
    Male
    Ratings:
    +8,070 / 10 / -3
    #8 MCS02, Apr 11, 2016
    Welcome to MA!
     
  8. Rick Rosier

    Rick Rosier New Member

    Apr 12, 2016
    3
    0
    0
    Ratings:
    +0 / 0 / -0
    #9 Rick Rosier, Apr 13, 2016
    Battery

    Hi i am rick. i had the same problem with my battery. So i went to auto and got a new battery i just put it in and all was fine. I payed about 140.00 bucks Dealers rip you off so i think you should do it your self. Hope this helps Rick new guy
     
  9. mrntd

    mrntd Well-Known Member
    Supporting Member

    Sep 30, 2011
    5,083
    1,762
    113
    Male
    Sales and Marketing manager
    Hilliard, Ohio
    Ratings:
    +1,763 / 0 / -0
    #10 mrntd, Apr 13, 2016
    Welcome Aboard!

    You have all the battery info you need in the first 2 replies.
     
  10. DrSteve

    DrSteve New Member

    Apr 11, 2016
    5
    0
    0
    Ratings:
    +0 / 0 / -0
    #11 DrSteve, Apr 14, 2016
    I appreciate the support from this community - feels like folks have your back.