Lets talk batteries group size, cranking amps, and brands

[noid]

Considering my e30 is stored for the winter until april/may, and my battery has finally went after 5.5 years. I have plenty of time to mull over what type, size and quality battery I will replace my old one with.

Current options:

AGM or standard battery
Group 48 or Group 49
Exide, East penn, or Johnson batteries



List above leaves out deka (east penn carried by carquest).

There is no autozone/advanced auto parts here in Canada.

Current options:
Active green and ross (basically sears) - $124 group 49 diehard 649mf 6 year prorated 18 month replacement 875 CCA - $10 discount = $114
carquest - East pen $160 group 49
walmart -Have still to check
Costco kirkland - does not carry size 48 or 49
Part Source (autozone equivilant) - $113 exide group 48 $124 exide group 49 6 year prorated 2 year replacement
From the dealer - $125 group 48 or $159 for group 49, I am told by the parts manager at the dealership that these batteries are made by and delivered by exide
"The cross country battery" JCI-AGMLN5/48 (apparently made by Johnson)for $190 group 48 AGM battery
Exide FP-AGML5/49 AGM battery also for $190

Opinions?

[dnguyen1963]

E30 is not an energy hog so don't spend big buck on the battery...something in $100 will suffice. In Canada, I would pay more attention to CCA.

[noid]

E30 is not an energy hog so don't spend big buck on the battery...something in $100 will suffice. In Canada, I would pay more attention to CCA.

It is stored during the winter, so cold weather performance is a non-issue for me. I think to me the most important thing is fit, and longevity and quality.

I would just the dealer battery as its not a bad price, but I have read questionable stuff about exide. East penn seems to have the best reviews but the carquest battery is $160.

Currently I am considering the diehard battery:

http://www.sears.com/diehard-gold-automotive-battery-group-size-49-price/p-02850649000P?sLevel=0&redirectType=SKIP_LEVEL

or

http://www.sears.com/diehard-gold-automotive-battery-group-size-48-price/p-02850648000P

They are cheaper here in canada ($114 vs $149 in the states) the trade off is the warranty, here the warranty is 18 month replacement 72 month prorated, while in the states its 36 month replacement 100 month prorated.

The thing I cant tell is where the vent tube goes on the diehard, looks like on the side?

[bmwguy325is]

I have had the pleasure of getting a few batteries for my E30. Ive had it that long. One of the best batteries I bought was one from the dealer.
They were on sale and cheaper than anything eles. But it was relaible and a decent battery.
I now have an Odyssey battery. Not the little one people buy to go race but one specd for the car. PC1200 is the part number.

[noid]

Was the dealer battery an exide? They used to be Douglas batteries some years ago. How does the odyssey fit?

[bmwguy325is]

Was the dealer battery an exile? They used to be Douglas batteries some years ago. How does the odyssey fit?

Im not sure what the dealer battery was it had BMW stickers all over never saw a name brand.
As for the odyssey battery I made a mild custom mount. LOL Which makes it sound tough. I bought a basic h style clamp and the long j hook bolts. Drilled two holes in the plastic battery tray and done.

[Shanes325]

Optima red top 1000ca and 800cca .that's right ! Y? Well y not? And they last for freaking ever it seems.with this being said they are rather exspensive .. But I got mine and a good discount ;)

[noid]

Word has it that the quality of the optima batteries went down the shitter after Johnson bought them out.

Fit is important to me and optimas and odyssey batteries do not fit like a group 48 or group 49 battery does.

[noid]

Im not sure what the dealer battery was it had BMW stickers all over never saw a name brand.
As for the odyssey battery I made a mild custom mount. LOL Which makes it sound tough. I bought a basic h style clamp and the long j hook bolts. Drilled two holes in the plastic battery tray and done.

North American "BMW" batteries are either exide or Douglas (I don't think douglas supplies BMW anymore). The batteries that come with new bmws from Germany are Varta batteries which are not available in North America.

[bmwguy325is]

I am looking for a battery for my other car right now.
I am looking at the Energizer or Duracell AGM batteries.
They make the proper size batteries and are getting decent reviews.
Plus they are not outlandishly priced.

[K1CKBAC]

I usually buy duralast, interstate, or bosch because they have vent holes to attach the tube.

[e34john]

Where did that chart come from? Most NAPA batteries aren't Exide. Atleast not in my area.

[Cynical 1]

optima yellow top here.

[noid]

Where did that chart come from? Most NAPA batteries aren't Exide. Atleast not in my area.

List is somewhat dated, NAPA now supplies both Exide and Deka (east penn) based on location. My local Napa caries Deka at a premium of $245 bucks for a standard battery

[JinormusJ]

Was this ever solved?
I'm tired of buying garbage WalMart batteries for way overprice. Mine died in less than 9 months, but it was in the process of dying long before it went caput (holding little to no charge; long crank starts in cold).

Looking to drop a bit extra for a battery that actually works