I need a new battery..

[nando]

so I killed my battery for the second time.. last time it was just from the car sitting for 3 months, this time it was because my parking lights were left on for a 24 hours.

I could get what i already have for $99 (sears die-hard international), which seems good enough. Are there any reccomendations for a decent battery? I could go to wal-mart too and get one cheap, but I'd rather not support their buisiness.

the last option is to charge it, but I've already killed it twice (and who knows how many times it happened before I got the car), and car batteries don't like to be totaly drained that many times. Plus, I need my car today (in the next hour would be nice) and a battery charge will take until tonight..

[e304lyfe]

Re: I need a new battery..

if i were you.. just jump start your car, if you are taking a decent trip, your battery will recharge.

if you are concerned about your battery in general, take it somewhere to have it load tested. most auto parts stores check batteries for free... just make sure where you have it checked out they have a machine that does a diagnostic test on it, not some joker that just sticks a voltmeter across the battery and says its good.

[Bill 84 318i]

Can't you jump it or push start it?

I've heard good things about Optima yellow top batteries.

[nando]

I'd rather not risk frying my ECU or other sensitive part of the car. a new battery is only $80, a new ECU or ABS computer ($$$special ix part$$$) is a hell of a lot more.
it also says specifically in the owners manual to not jump start the car :P

can't push start an auto ;) besides I live on a flat street.

I know I've jumped another E30 with no problems, but it wasn't mine, so I didn't have to worry about replacing expensive parts.

[KenC]

I've heard good things about Optima yellow top batteries.

[M-technik-3]

Interstate or Optima gel battery. Stay away from Sears I had three bad ones from them and my wife's passat has a battery blanket too. Dead cell every time. Try adding distilled water, it's common mistake to put tap water and the minerals speed up the collapsing of the plates.

[Rob]

autozone has their own brand of optima batteries, basically identical to optima except for the top color, cheaper too AFAIK

[christophbmw]

just to let you know....your not going to fry your ECU trying to jump start your bimmer. its quite simple to jumpstart. just read it in your bmw manual it might show you how.
and for all you who heard that optima yellow tops are good.....they are. i have one and i love it.

[Jand3rson]

I've heard good things about Optima yellow top batteries.

I'm planning on getting one of these.

[nando]

just to let you know....your not going to fry your ECU trying to jump start your bimmer. its quite simple to jumpstart. just read it in your bmw manual it might show you how.
and for all you who heard that optima yellow tops are good.....they are. i have one and i love it.

no it doesn't, at least not in mine. Do you need me to scan the page where it says "do not jump start this vehicle"? There was a post on the ix mailing list just a few weeks ago where a guy fried his ABS computer when he jump started it.

anyway, it turns out the battery was still okay even though it's been flatlined a couple times. I initially bought a new one at shucks, but it was dead (argh!). I took that one back, and went to sears where they tested it and recharged it for me (no dead cells or anything).

[DaN]

You can jump start your car without problems, unless you reverse the cables, then you will fry the ecu.
You are probably wasting your money on a new battery, just put a charger on it. Or take it to a shop to charge, most will probably do it for free.

[OreoGaborio]

i've jump started my car countless times w/o any problems other than when my fucking roommate switched the cables on me, which popped my ABS relay... i souldered in a new wire inside the relay, put it back together & it was fine.

i haven't seen anywhere in my owners manual that says "dont jumpstart the car"... just directions on how to do it