Let’s first focus on what BMW battery registration genuinely is before delving into the procedure. Battery registration, to put it simply, is the process of notifying your car that a brand-new battery has been installed. Importantly, it must be done every time you replace the battery in your BMW, model year 2002 or later.
The car adapts the amount of energy required to recharge to operate at peak levels as your battery ages and gradually loses its ability to charge. The battery needs more charging the older it is. By registering your battery, you can inform your engine control module (also referred to as DME — Digital Motor Electronics) that a new one has been installed. As a result, the vehicle will reset the old battery statistics and won’t attempt to overcharge the new battery under the assumption that the old one is still in place.
In addition to registering, you must also code your BMW computer. No matter how different or similar your new battery is from your previous one in terms of specifications, it will still be necessary each time you change it.
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Methods for INPA registration of a BMW battery
For BMW INPA K+CAN setup, a laptop is required. INAP is more difficult for many owners to set up and more complicated. Not advised if you are unfamiliar with the INPA program.
- Set up OBD-II Connect the OBD-II port on your vehicle. Start the INPA program after turning on your laptop.
- Choosing Body > Power Module
- F6 will activate.
- To select Control, press F2.
- To select Register battery replacement, press F7.
- You will see the message “Register Battery Replacement Activated Properly” if registration is complete.
Users can successfully register a new battery with the desired specs by following these instructions. A replacement battery with differing specs cannot be coded using these techniques.
Replacement BMW Batteries: Why Register a New BMW Battery?
Modern, late-model BMW batteries must be “registered” or matched to the onboard ECU for optimum operation and battery longevity, which is a frequently overlooked and underappreciated requirement. You might be asking why this is essential, and some online armchair experts could even argue that it isn’t really necessary and is just a way for the service provider to make more money by replacing the batteries. Some people turn to buying a new battery from an auto parts store, installing it themselves, and quickly learning that their battery needs to be replaced, again, in order to avoid the additional cost of registering their BMW battery.
Why register the replacement battery?
The servicing procedure “Register battery replacement” must be executed after installing a new battery. To let the power management system (software in engine electronics and an intelligent battery sensor) know that a new battery was put in the car, the battery replacement must be registered. The power management won’t work effectively if the battery change is not registered, which could result in certain tasks being restricted by particular electrical consumers being turned off or having their power consumption lowered. Power management will charge the new battery as if it were the old, worn-out battery, resulting in the replacement battery failing sooner than expected.
Important! The on-board computer’s display may show inaccurate values if the new battery hasn’t been recognized because of outdated information in the power management system.
The power management in the Digital Engine Electronics (DME) or Digital Diesel Electronics (DDE) is alerted by a servicing function when a battery needs to be replaced. The following actions are carried out:
- 2. Changing a battery with a different capacity but the same kind (registration/conversion)
- 3. Changing to a new type of battery (for programming, conversion, or registration)
- 4. Software updates for the entire battery management system
For vehicles with EfficientDynamics, changes to the charging profile also impact how the Start/Stop system functions.
Car 1:
The battery is being replaced with an identical one. To inform the car that the battery is new, you register replacement so that the charging profile can be modified appropriately. If you don’t, the car will try to charge an outdated battery and eventually fail.
Car 2:
You replace a Standard LA battery with an AGM. Because the charging profile will be for the wrong sort of battery and accelerate battery failure, if you don’t register the replacement, it will toast the new battery for similar reasons to Car 1 but even worse. You MUST utilize a “conversion” in this scenario to switch the battery type. Register a replacement after that.
The vehicle must remain stationary with its new battery installed for at least 3 hours after a battery replacement. Until then, it is impossible to determine the new battery’s charge level with any degree of certainty. Possible The battery’s complete discharge-related Check Control signals are then hidden.
After a power supply interruption, some systems’ range of use may be constrained. Individual settings might also be lost.
Depending on the equipment specification, settings or activations are required. For instance:
- Autonomous engine start-stop function (MSA) vehicles: The MSA function is only operative after a learning period (the vehicle must not be awakened for approximately 6 hours).
The lifespan of a battery in these cars, whether an AGM or ordinary battery, can be significantly shortened by skipping the battery registration step. On a late model BMW, skipping battery registration can be one of the problems that results in premature battery failure. For more information, see the topic on Energy Diagnosis.
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Verify Carly’s specific pricing for your preferred automobile brand.
In order for the car’s systems to be informed of the change when a new battery is installed, this battery must also be registered in the control unit. You can register any battery and battery type that is compatible with a BMW car using the Carly app. You can avoid going to the dealer or mechanic by doing this! Remember that you must first read out the battery to determine whether it is supported. Visit this page to see if your BMW model is compatible with this feature or any others.
What is supported depends on the built-in hardware and software of your specific car as well as the construction year. Use the Carly adapter to connect to your vehicle, and then use the Carly app to see what functions for yours. The Carly solution is always being improved, therefore after the video was shot, the app’s design may have changed and/or new features may have been introduced.
Does the BMW battery need to be registered?
Battery registration is necessary since all of the more recent BMW models include Intelligent Battery Sensors, or IBS, as they are known by BMW. Are you unsure if your BMW has IBS? This useful guide to model years and particular models will help you determine whether your BMW has to have its new battery programmed each time it is replaced.
- Seven-Series E65/E66 chassis from 2002 and after
- 6-Series E63/E64 chassis from 2003 and after
- 5-Series E60/E61 chassis from 2004 and after
- X5 E53 chassis with N62 engine, 2005 and newer.
- 3-Series E90/E91/E92/E93 chassis from 2006 and after
- X5 E70 chassis from 2007 and after
- X6 E71 chassis for years 2008 and beyond
How much does it cost to register a BMW battery?
The charges may end up being more than you had anticipated when you visit the auto shop to replace your old battery with a new original BMW battery. The cost of registering the battery is about $200.
On the other hand, BimmerTech provides a battery registration service at a much lower cost. Visit our coding website to find out the precise cost of the service and the cost of the coding cable.
What occurs if a BMW battery is not programmed?
The car will overcharge or undercharge you if you don’t register it with it. When you install a new battery, the automobile will overcharge it since older batteries receive more charge than fresh ones, which causes your battery to die sooner.
What kind of battery does a BMW have?
If you desire an aftermarket battery, you may need to cross the component number from a BMW dealership while looking up a battery for your BMW. Many OEM batteries are not marked with the group size.
The battery used by the BMW is lead-acid. You can pick between two types: gel or absorbent glass mats. The OEM AGM battery is what the maker advises you to use in place of the stock battery.
The majority of BMW vehicles employ either performance or advanced batteries. Advanced batteries are used in cars with lots of electronics, whilst performance batteries are used in aftermarket modified cars.
Can any battery be used in my BMW?
Finding a great BMW battery is one of the most crucial factors to take into account if you want the best for your luxury vehicle. For the best performance on the road, you must purchase a BMW car battery that satisfies the strict criteria of the vehicle.
The 5, 6, and 7 Series BMW vehicles typically have very high features. These automobiles need a lot more energy than your typical car does, thus we strongly advise obtaining them strong batteries.
You must be aware of your vehicle’s needs before purchasing a BMW battery. An Absorbent Glass Matt (AGM) battery is strongly advised for modern BMW vehicles with start-stop technology since it can handle the increased energy demand. However, you can also utilize an Enhanced Flooded Battery (EFB) if you want to buy something for less money.
Just keep in mind that you should only replace the original AGM battery in your BMW vehicle with another AGM. Because these vehicles weren’t intended to be utilized with EFBs, downgrading will cause battery and engine problems with your BMW. On the other hand, if your BMW came with an EFB at the factory, switching to an AGM battery won’t cause any issues.
EFBs outlive ordinary batteries in terms of longevity. They were created specifically for entry-level start-stop vehicles, so they can easily handle the rigorous needs of the majority of modern automobiles.
However, you should always choose an AGM battery if you want to spend more money on a more potent BMW battery. Although these batteries are made for start-stop vehicles, they are also compatible with other energy-consuming vehicles.
In comparison to conventional batteries, they offer a three times longer cycle life and may be utilized in all kinds of weather. Additionally, an AGM battery is necessary if you frequently use the car’s accessories.
BMWs with typical power requirements can be powered by standard automobile batteries. Therefore, if your car doesn’t have high-end gadgets or a start-stop system, you don’t require a special BMW car battery.
How can I tell if the battery in my BMW is AGM?
With factory genuine BMW batteries, it is quite easy to identify the battery type: a white battery denotes a conventional lead acid battery, whereas a black battery denotes an AGM.
What happens if a car battery is not registered?
The charging current of the alternator is improperly set if a fresh battery is not registered. The replacement battery is not adequately charged as a result. This could lead to early failure.
What occurs if the BMW battery is disconnected?
As long as the battery isn’t overcharged, BMW uses a sealed AGM battery that doesn’t release hydrogen gas. That makes it possible for it to be positioned inside the vehicle as opposed to under the hood. There is absolutely no problem keeping it unconnected indefinitely, as others have stated.
Do you need to reprogramme your BMW key fob after a battery change?
A remote key fob needs to be associated with your vehicle particularly in order to be secure.
This stops people who drive the same make and model of automobile as you from using their remote to access your car. You’ll need to reconfigure the fob if changing the batteries has reset this connection or if it was somehow disrupted in order to get it to detect your car once more.