BMW Battery Registration
On late model BMW vehicles it's important to “register” a new battery when it's being replaced.
| "Gone are the days when major retail chains and gas stations can replace the battery in your vehicle." |
This process will increase the longevity of the new battery and will keep any battery and charging system warning lights off. The process can only be done with factory BMW scan tools or high-end aftermarket tools like the Autologic. The battery control module charges a battery differently depending upon its age and the type of battery installed -- AGM (absorbent glass mat battery) or conventional (lead/acid).
No longer are radio codes needed, as most modern European vehicles have V.I.N. recognition through the onboard diagnosis system of the radio and the vehicle. If all computers have matching V.I.N. numbers, the radio will work automatically.
Codes in all systems should be scanned, documented and cleared, because a failing battery will usually set under- or over- voltage codes and possibly many other codes. Also, scanning is important to verify other settings that need to be updated or fixed due to the battery replacement. Steering angle sensors can require calibration; windows, sunroofs and convertible tops need to be synchronized for proper express functions. Gone are the days when major retail chains and gas stations can replace the battery in your vehicle. At Autobahn Performance Inc. in Fort Lauderdale, Florida we have the equipment and the training to properly service your vehicle.
Models that require battery registration:
2002 and newer 7-series E65/66 chassis
2003 and newer 6-series E63/54 chassis
2004 and newer 5-series E60/61 chassis
2006 and newer 3-series E90 E91 E92 AND E93 CHASSIS
2007 and newer X5 series E70 chassis
2008 and newer X6 series E71 chassis
This Service Function informs the vehicle that the battery has been replaced. It completes the following operations:
Battery capacity is set to 80%
Current Odometer reading are stored. The odometer readings at which the last seven battery replacements took place can be read off from the Diagnosis Requests of Control Unit Functions
Stored battery statistics (current, voltage , battery charge level) are deleted
Stored temperature statistics are deleted
Absorbent Glass Matt Battery or AGM
At the time this was written (6/2010) most European manufacturers use black case batteries to denote an AGM battery and white clear plastic battery cases denote Lead-Acid. U.S.-made replacement batteries do not follow this protocol and case color is not an indicator of battery type.
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BMW AGM battery |
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BMW lead acid battery |
In contrast to conventional lead-calcium batteries, the sulfuric acid in an AGM battery is not held freely in the battery housing. The sulfuric acid is instead entirely bound into the mats of the glass-fiber fleece. For this reason, no acid can escape if the battery housing is damaged. In addition, the AGM battery is a sealed, airtight unit. This is possible because the gasses are converted back into water by the permeability of the separators.
Construction
AGM batteries differ from conventional lead-calcium batteries in the following points:
Larger plates which allow a power density some 25% greater
Glass-fiber-fleece separators which enable a cycle consistency up to 3x greater improving cold-starting ability, current consumption and service life
Airtight housing with pressure relief valve
Inspection plugs sealed and cannot be opened
Acid bound in glass-fiber fleece
How AGM Batteries Work
AGM batteries differ from conventional lead-calcium batteries in their environmental compatibility and their retention of gases during charging. When a vehicle battery is charged, the electrolysis process emits the gases oxygen and hydrogen . In a conventional lead-calcium battery, these two gases are released into the atmosphere. In an AGM battery, the two gases are converted back into water: The oxygen created at the positive electrode during charging moves through the permeable glass-fiber fleece to the negative electrode, where it reacts with the hydrogen ions that are brought in with the electrolyte, to create water (oxygen cycle). In this manner, the gases, and thus the electrolyte, is not lost.
Only when the gas production is excessive, that is when too much pressure is generated (20 to 200 mbar), does the pressure-relief valve open, thereby allowing gas to escape while also preventing entry of atmospheric oxygen. Because the pressure in the battery is regulated by a valve, the AGM battery is also known as the VRLA battery (valve regulated lead acid).
Service Instructions for AGM Batteries
When handling AGM batteries, certain special factors must be taken into consideration with regard to battery renewal and installation location: