AGM Battery Replacement

FlapR · 21 Mar 2019 at 16:20

My car battery is on its way out, it's been in 9 years so I assume its to be expected. I've been googling and I can't seem to find a definitive answer on whether I will need to register or recode if I bought a new battery and fit it myself?

I'd be buying a like for like replacement such as:

https://www.thebatteryshop.co.uk/yu...-start-plus-battery-ybx9096-096agm-8902-p.asp

Would the car need to be told it's got a new battery fitted just so it doesn't shorten the life of the new battery with charging etc? Don't want to be throwing more money at the Mini Dealership (£183 for the battery and whatever else they charge for fitting etc)

Dangerous Dave · 21 Mar 2019 at 16:39

The battery will need coded on the Mini to tell the charging system it's a new battery, I would ask the dealer if they can do it for less I find just asking can get you 10-20% off.

If you want to code it yourself using Carly is likely the easiest way for you, if you are just going to use the dongle to code the battery it is likely cheaper overall just to pay the dealer or a local specialist to code it.

https://shop.mycarly.com/en/

Edit are you sure that's an AGM battery ? quick Google of part number brings it back as non AGM, if your car doesn't have stop/start it won't have an AGM battery.

FlapR · 21 Mar 2019 at 17:12

Dangerous Dave said:
The battery will need coded on the Mini to tell the charging system it's a new battery, I would ask the dealer if they can do it for less I find just asking can get you 10-20% off.

If you want to code it yourself using Carly is likely the easiest way for you, if you are just going to use the dongle to code the battery it is likely cheaper overall just to pay the dealer or a local specialist to code it.

https://shop.mycarly.com/en/

Edit are you sure that's an AGM battery ? quick Google of part number brings it back as non AGM, if your car doesn't have stop/start it won't have an AGM battery.

What a pain in the arse. The car does have stop start but I didn't even know until recently, I've never used it or had it happen in the 3 years i've owned it. Probably because you have to put it in neutral and take your foot off the clutch in traffic, which I never do. No idea why stop start is even a thing for manual cars it sounds horrible to use from what I've read. It's definitely an AGM battery based on what the dealership have told me and what I can see online.

It's looking like I'll just buy myself a battery, fit it then get a local specialist to code it for me. Will be cheaper than the £250 odd Mini will want. I was looking at Carly the other day and the price doesn't seem worth it for what I'll use it for, otherwise I'd go for that.

FreeStream · 21 Mar 2019 at 17:59

I used to hate Stop-Start when I first got cars with it but now I just let it do its thing. 160k/6 years later all is well (one new battery in that time)... Plus you shouldn't be sitting there with your clutch depressed anyway...

I replaced the one in my V60 myself, Volvo OEM battery turned out to be the cheapest option from my local indy! I happen to have the VIDA software so I could reset the battery health monitor, but if I hadn't I'd have just left it to work out the battery health itself.

TL;DR I don't believe it is necessary (I.e. "money making scheme") unless there is something utterly stupid going on.