Batteries... Group 48 seems to be disappearing

[Prost]

I changed mine at Pepboys (Bosch) Group 48...after all the rebate costs me $82 plus tax...

[noid]

Get a wal-mart everstart maxx battery they sell both Group 48 and 49 (I recommend 49). All batteries are basically made by three makers exide, johnson controls and east penn. The everstart battery is made by johnson controls which is a quality battery, east penn also makes a great battery, I would stay away from exide.

Look here on how to vent properly:

http://www.rtsauto.com/battery-venting-fitment-and-options-for-most-bmws-and-particularly-e30s/

[markseven]

Costco no longer stocks an e30 battery. I brought a Kirkland with an 84 mo warranty back for replacement and wound up going elsewhere. What they offered me for a warranty refund was about the same as the core charge on the new one so I passed or I would have been sitting there without a battery and no net $$ :)

Some Costcos in Orange County still have them. YMMV.

[Tisoc]

My local Wal-mart stocks them. 100 dorra, 3 year warranty

[Cletonius]

I have one of the everstart maxx from Walmart, it's been pretty OK. I had to warranty it in the winter because it didn't work so well below freezing but the replacement process was painless and the new battery has been fine. It was about $120 with core charge and everything.

[Aleman]

I just bought a battery 3 weeks ago from Advance Auto. Did some research in Consumer Reports, and AutoCraft batteries are pretty good. I haven't had any issues with it so far... It is part number 48H6, costs $132. I ordered it online (for the 15% discount), and a store nearby had one in stock.

48H6 - AutoCraft Gold Battery, Group Size 48, 730 CCA (3yr Repl Warr)

It was a pain in the ass to find, because most of the auto part chain store's websites can't find a battery for an E30. The dumbest thing is that you can't just search there for the friggin size you want! I considered upgrading to a size 49, but I'm not too smart on auto electrics and I didn't have the time to research & learn. I just stuck with stock size.

[lcoleman]

Group 48, 49, and 94R should be interchangeable. Since there is always some variance between brands, it's best to test-fit or make sure they accept returns.

[steven g]

I bought 3 Costco Group 48 batteries a few weeks ago for my 2 E30s and another for my Porsche, lucky for me.
Only one Costco store in the Chicago area had them. Price was $78. Great warranty.

[goarmy]

I just bought a battery 3 weeks ago from Advance Auto. Did some research in Consumer Reports, and AutoCraft batteries are pretty good. I haven't had any issues with it so far... It is part number 48H6, costs $132. I ordered it online (for the 15% discount), and a store nearby had one in stock.

48H6 - AutoCraft Gold Battery, Group Size 48, 730 CCA (3yr Repl Warr)

It was a pain in the ass to find, because most of the auto part chain store's websites can't find a battery for an E30. The dumbest thing is that you can't just search there for the friggin size you want! I considered upgrading to a size 49, but I'm not too smart on auto electrics and I didn't have the time to research & learn. I just stuck with stock size.

I gave up on autocraft. I been changing mine every single year for a new one or refurb. I did hear they were refurbished and put back into circulation with plastic covers even if they say they are new.

I ran into soo many people at the hospital I work in that had battery problems and Its amazing when I ask them is it a autocraft and they reply "yea, and I just bought that" or ladies that don't know the brand and I take a look and its a autocraft..

If you guys buy that one get warranty and around 6 to 8 months you will notice the battery getting a bit round on the sides, and in a year it will drain quicker. So take it in before the warranty is up and get yourself another. goodluck

[reelizmpro]

I was just about to pull the trigger on a Bosch group 91 battery from Pepboys for $100 after 20% coupon but went with the Costco Kirkland battery due to better price and no hassle return policy. I once had a bad autozone battery test good after leaving it in the store for an hour...then the next morning after reinstalling it, I had the same problem...bad battery. Second time around I told them no more tests, give me a new battery but they didn't have it in stock. I had to go to another store who had just 1 in stock. In contrast, my friend bought a car with a bad Costco battery, we took it to our local Costco and were able to get a warrantied. That pretty much did it for me.

Found Group 48 at two local socal Costco's (battery was labeled May 2013 so they were very fresh) and they had over 10 in stock while most other locations had none. They must have just restocked them. $77.99 + tax! 700CCA and 850CA with 3 year free replacement, 100 mo prorated. Comes with vent hose too.

This battery replaced an old Interstate MB66-60 that only had 550CCA/690CA. So all Group 48's are not the same rating. Interstate MTP-91 is another awesome battery but the warranty isn't as good and has gotten pretty expensive at around twice the cost of the Costco Kirkland battery.

[Prost]

I was just about to pull the trigger on a Bosch group 91 battery from Pepboys for $100 after 20% coupon but went with the Costco Kirkland battery due to better price and no hassle return policy. I once had a bad autozone battery test good after leaving it in the store for an hour...then the next morning after reinstalling it, I had the same problem...bad battery. Second time around I told them no more tests, give me a new battery but they didn't have it in stock. I had to go to another store who had just 1 in stock. In contrast, my friend bought a car with a bad Costco battery, we took it to our local Costco and were able to get a warrantied. That pretty much did it for me.

Found Group 48 at two local socal Costco's (battery was labeled May 2013 so they were very fresh) and they had over 10 in stock while most other locations had none. They must have just restocked them. $77.99 + tax! 700CCA and 850CA with 3 year free replacement, 100 mo prorated. Comes with vent hose too.

This battery replaced an old Interstate MB66-60 that only had 550CCA/690CA. So all Group 48's are not the same rating.

Which 2 Costco in SoCal?

[TwoJ's]

Had great luck with Optima's, but they are pretty expensive.

[reelizmpro]

Which 2 Costco in SoCal?

Hawthorne and Lakewood. Just call your local Costco tire center (the batteries are in the Tire Center) and have them run a search. I'm sure there's more than just these two in the entire LA area.

[camshaftgsxr]

johnson controls makes most of the batteries you guys are discussing, they are very likely all the same internally.

[oliver.r]

I bought a oem battery from bmw for like $125, has been great