What SI board battery do I need?

[Jand3rson]

IIRC, there's different batteries for different model year SI boards. If this is correct, or even if it's not, what battery do I need for an 86 325es?
Thanks in advance.

[Graham325]

there is somthing you can do to jump the si board, so it isnt used, i dono much about it though, but it is somwhere on my list of todos

[ldsbeaker]

I don't know either, but I ordered 23-191 from Radio Shack last week. Paid for them, too.... and haven't received them. They are the AA type with the solder tabs. I'm not sure about what battery, but since Radio Shack discontinued the pn in the last couple months, I figured I would get a couple packs of two since they last forever. I'll let you know when I take my cluster out. (I'm waiting to see if I can get a 7K tach to put in while I'm in there.

[arsevader]

IIRC, there's different batteries for different model year SI boards. If this is correct, or even if it's not, what battery do I need for an 86 325es?
Thanks in advance.

Take a look at them. Most likely you need the regular Ni-Cad AA size with the tabs. Make sure you charge the batteries before putting them in.

The newer ones use lithium ones.

[egk2]

Radio Shack part number for cluster batteries
23-191. SI boards with batteries are NLA from bmw btw.

[ldsbeaker]

... and radio shack. Call one before they are all snapped up.

[DoriftuEvo]

Radio Shack told me the replacement for 23-191 is 23-149 and that for this application it will work just the same. They are rated for 1000 mAh instead of the 500 mAh that the SI batteries are for. The rep. said it won't make a difference as long as its not lower than 500 mAh. I am going to try the new batteries.

[325iCabrio]

Radio Shack part number for cluster batteries
23-191. SI boards with batteries are NLA from bmw btw.

Not true. My BMW dealership could special order a new board with batteries--I called them yesterday about it and asked. They might be remanufactured, like BavAuto and Pelican sells, so you might be correct that they don't make new ones. But you can still get them from the dealer.

[DoriftuEvo]

23-149 batteries work. Tach and temp work again.

[AndrewBird]

Radio Shack told me the replacement for 23-191 is 23-149 and that for this application it will work just the same. They are rated for 1000 mAh instead of the 500 mAh that the SI batteries are for. The rep. said it won't make a difference as long as its not lower than 500 mAh. I am going to try the new batteries.

mAH stands for Milli-Amp Hours. I.E.-How many hours a battery will last at a 1 milli-amp discharge. So more mAH just means the battery will last longer. As long as the battery is the correct voltage and shape(size, which in this case is AA), it will work.

Here:

http://www.jameco.com/webapp/wcs/sto...oductId=244507

Same battery as RadioShack, but WAY cheaper.

Also, NiMH:
http://www.jameco.com/webapp/wcs/sto...oductId=244814

If anybody needs some, I'm making an order to Jameco next week. I'd be glad to order a few and then mail them out in envelopes so you guys don't have to pay as much for shipping.

[DoriftuEvo]

Those are way cheaper. $8 for a pair at Radio Shack. Is there an advantage to using the NiMH?

[AndrewBird]

Those are way cheaper. $8 for a pair at Radio Shack. Is there an advantage to using the NiMH?

In this aplication, not really. They have a higher mAH rating, but the NiCADs will last longer then the factory batteries, so...

[ejs999]

nicad vs nimh

apparently, the NiMH will last longer - more charge cycles

http://www.maxellcanada.com/battery/nimh/NiMH_vs_NiCd.htm

however, the NiMH versions will discharge faster - about twice as fast (but with a more than double mAh rating - it should be the same approx. rate)

battery experts chime in here?

[AndrewBird]

however, the NiMH versions will discharge faster - about twice as fast (but with a more than double mAh rating - it should be the same approx. rate)

Incorrect. The speed at which it discharges can be seen via the mAH rating. A NiCAD battery and a NiMH battery of the same mAH rating will last the same amount of time at the same discharge rate. NiMH however, can produce a higher voltage output over the length of its discharge. This means more power to what ever you are powering. NiMH batteries will have more "punch" compared to NiCADs. This doesn't mean they discharge faster.

[ColdAccord]

I have a 90 325is, what would that necessitate? is radio shack pn 23-149 what I should be looking for?

is there anywhere local to get something like this