$736 for Battery Replacement

Dvdman · 10-24-2023, 09:20 AM

I am replacing the battery in my E70 X5. I called the BMW dealership to see what they charged for the fun of it. They want $736. $361 for the battery and $375 for labor and reprogramming and registration. WOW. Doing it myself. Bought a Diehard at Autozone and registering it myself with my OB2. BMW is insane.

Daytonawim · 10-24-2023, 11:29 AM

375 dollars for labor, thats crazy it takes less dan 15 minuts to change the battery. Reprogramming would thake maybee 15 minuts.

I would send an mail to BMW customer service in the States.

wcs531 · 10-24-2023, 12:22 PM

I'd leave a review on Google maps to call them out in a more public place, that's absolutely ridiculous

StradaRedlands · 10-25-2023, 12:41 AM

I really like the BMW batteries, but not for double the price of an Interstate battery from Costco.
FWIW I've read somewhere that the BMW branded ones are made by Exide?

ryansbmw · 10-25-2023, 09:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by StradaRedlands

I really like the BMW batteries, but not for double the price of an Interstate battery from Costco.
FWIW I've read somewhere that the BMW branded ones are made by Exide?

I'm curious too. Maybe I'm lucky but my OEM batteries have lasted sooo much longer than what these forums say they should last.

**knock on wood...watch my car not start this afternoon...***

Ellie13 · 10-25-2023, 09:45 AM

I recently had a similar quote from our local independent shop but was shocked at the price.

Shortly after that I found myself replacing our alternator (side note, what a pain in the butt changing the alternator on X5!)

Anyway, the battery that was in the car was a Duralast Platinum H9-AGM (Autozone brand) and was from 2017 (6 years old) - so I was due to change it anyways.

Got it replaced in about 15 minutes, then registered battery replacement with a Foxwell NT510. As long as you are not changing any of the parameters of the battery like going with a different size, or different amp hours, or "cranking amps". In this case it was an exact same battery swap 1:1 so the NT510 worked fine for just registering the replacement.

Even with the added cost of the NT510 I still saved a couple hundred bucks vs letting the shop do it.

M

wcs531 · 10-25-2023, 02:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by StradaRedlands

I really like the BMW batteries, but not for double the price of an Interstate battery from Costco.
FWIW I've read somewhere that the BMW branded ones are made by Exide?

I was under the impression BMW batteries were Varta, but not really sure and its been a while since I read anything about it.

StradaRedlands · 10-25-2023, 02:37 PM

I can't remember where I read that or heard they were Exides, so presume it's just an internet rumor for now!

I'm going to go out on a ledge and say that modern battery technology is pretty awesome. I've found that all brands are lasting a long time. In fact I can't even remember the last time I bought a battery. It was for my Mazda sometime way before the pandemic.

Edit: 42 month battery from Costco on 11/14/17 at 95,557 miles. Six years later with 133k miles on it!

I have tried to buy the BMW branded ones as they always seemed the last forever, but the last time I bought one it was reasonably priced compared to Costco or Sears or wherever. Sounds like they've significantly jumped in price though. I doubt they're twice as good!

Dvdman · 10-26-2023, 10:16 AM

I got a Duralast from Autozone with the same specs.

jbash87 · 10-27-2023, 06:20 PM

You're surprised at a $375 labor and programming charge from BMW? Last time I was there for something they charged me $140 diagnostic fee. Literally just plugging in a scanner and reading codes.

I am not saying it's right, nor am I defending the stealership. I'm just saying that I'm not surprised by the cost.

StradaRedlands · 10-28-2023, 05:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jbash87

You're surprised at a $375 labor and programming charge from BMW? Last time I was there for something they charged me $140 diagnostic fee. Literally just plugging in a scanner and reading codes.

I am not saying it's right, nor am I defending the stealership. I'm just saying that I'm not surprised by the cost.

Yeah, same thing with me last year... not shocked at the diagnostic fee (common) but very surprised/disappointed that wasn't credited to the total when we had the work done (alternator). Kind of nickle and dimed on the process :-/

10-24-2023, 09:20 AM	#1
Dvdman Major 168 Rep 1,000 Posts Drives: 2022 X5 and 2007 M6 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Chicago, IL iTrader: (2)	$736 for Battery Replacement I am replacing the battery in my E70 X5. I called the BMW dealership to see what they charged for the fun of it. They want $736. $361 for the battery and $375 for labor and reprogramming and registration. WOW. Doing it myself. Bought a Diehard at Autozone and registering it myself with my OB2. BMW is insane.
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10-24-2023, 11:29 AM	#2
Daytonawim Private First Class 78 Rep 139 Posts Drives: X5 E70 LCI 3.5i 2012 Join Date: Aug 2019 Location: Netherlands iTrader: (0)	375 dollars for labor, thats crazy it takes less dan 15 minuts to change the battery. Reprogramming would thake maybee 15 minuts. I would send an mail to BMW customer service in the States.
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10-24-2023, 12:22 PM	#3
wcs531 Second Lieutenant 97 Rep 281 Posts Drives: E90 335xi / E70 X5d Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: Philadelphia iTrader: (1)	I'd leave a review on Google maps to call them out in a more public place, that's absolutely ridiculous
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10-25-2023, 12:41 AM	#4
StradaRedlands Colonel 4941 Rep 2,995 Posts Drives: 2006 BMW 330i MT Join Date: Dec 2021 Location: SoCal iTrader: (2) Garage List 2006 BMW 330i [8.21] 2009 BMW 328i Touri ... [7.90] 2013 BMW X5 35i [7.63] 2011 BMW 528i [8.75] 2006 Mazda3 [5.50]	I really like the BMW batteries, but not for double the price of an Interstate battery from Costco. FWIW I've read somewhere that the BMW branded ones are made by Exide?
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10-25-2023, 09:45 AM	#6
Ellie13 New Member 16 Rep 7 Posts Drives: 2013 BMW X5 35i Join Date: Jul 2023 Location: Little Rock, AR iTrader: (0) Garage List 2013 BMW X5 35i [0.00]	I recently had a similar quote from our local independent shop but was shocked at the price. Shortly after that I found myself replacing our alternator (side note, what a pain in the butt changing the alternator on X5!) Anyway, the battery that was in the car was a Duralast Platinum H9-AGM (Autozone brand) and was from 2017 (6 years old) - so I was due to change it anyways. Got it replaced in about 15 minutes, then registered battery replacement with a Foxwell NT510. As long as you are not changing any of the parameters of the battery like going with a different size, or different amp hours, or "cranking amps". In this case it was an exact same battery swap 1:1 so the NT510 worked fine for just registering the replacement. Even with the added cost of the NT510 I still saved a couple hundred bucks vs letting the shop do it. M
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10-25-2023, 02:37 PM	#8
StradaRedlands Colonel 4941 Rep 2,995 Posts Drives: 2006 BMW 330i MT Join Date: Dec 2021 Location: SoCal iTrader: (2) Garage List 2006 BMW 330i [8.21] 2009 BMW 328i Touri ... [7.90] 2013 BMW X5 35i [7.63] 2011 BMW 528i [8.75] 2006 Mazda3 [5.50]	I can't remember where I read that or heard they were Exides, so presume it's just an internet rumor for now! I'm going to go out on a ledge and say that modern battery technology is pretty awesome. I've found that all brands are lasting a long time. In fact I can't even remember the last time I bought a battery. It was for my Mazda sometime way before the pandemic. Edit: 42 month battery from Costco on 11/14/17 at 95,557 miles. Six years later with 133k miles on it! I have tried to buy the BMW branded ones as they always seemed the last forever, but the last time I bought one it was reasonably priced compared to Costco or Sears or wherever. Sounds like they've significantly jumped in price though. I doubt they're twice as good! Last edited by StradaRedlands; 10-26-2023 at 08:51 PM..
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10-26-2023, 10:16 AM	#9
Dvdman Major 168 Rep 1,000 Posts Drives: 2022 X5 and 2007 M6 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Chicago, IL iTrader: (2)	I got a Duralast from Autozone with the same specs.
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10-27-2023, 06:20 PM	#10
jbash87 First Lieutenant 250 Rep 391 Posts Drives: 2006 M5, 2012 X5d, 2008 E91 Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Seattle iTrader: (0) Garage List 2012 BMW X5 35d [10.00] 2006 BMW M5 [10.00]	You're surprised at a $375 labor and programming charge from BMW? Last time I was there for something they charged me $140 diagnostic fee. Literally just plugging in a scanner and reading codes. I am not saying it's right, nor am I defending the stealership. I'm just saying that I'm not surprised by the cost.
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