The words “AA27 K” are heat stamped into the plastic close to the positive terminal.
On the bottom, there are two circles with arrows pointing at numbers. The arrow points to number 6, while one circle has the numbers 1–12. The arrow points to 13, and the other circle ranges from 13 to 20.
The circles that would represent June 2013 are the only marking that appears to be a date. They are, however, on the bottom, and I believe that might be a date stamp for the batteries and plastic case.
The component number for the battery is 61 21 2 353 810. Anyone has information on this?
I’m attempting to determine the battery’s age in my 2008 328i. On the right side, there is a sticker that reads “A4”. [Maybe installed in January 2014]
On the bottom, there are two circles with arrows pointing at numbers. The arrow points to number 6, while one circle has the numbers 1–12. The arrow points to 13, and the other circle ranges from 13 to 20. The circles that would represent June 2013 are the only marking that appears to be a date. They are, however, on the bottom, and I believe that might be a date stamp for the batteries and plastic case.
2) You are probably right in your theory on the arrows on the case’s bottom;
3) Any sticker on the casing was probably applied by the retailer who is selling it, hence SWAG: A4 = January 2014.
4) The ability to “Register” a battery is provided by INPA/ISTA. This is a straightforward process in INPA that involves hitting the “Batterietausch Registrieren” button or Function Key, which immediately puts the current odometer reading in kilometers into your DME memory. When that button was pressed, the mileage in km was recorded instead of a date. When you press the button, your automobile replicates the kilometers from the odometer to the DME memory without knowing when or if the battery was actually changed at that mileage.
The latter is how BMW technicians determine the km at which the “Last Battery Replacement” took place. So you could verify the SWAG if you had INPA/ISTA and knew your car’s mileage in January 2014.
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Anybody know how to read the sticker on my batteries, which is located close to the negative terminal, to estimate its age? Although I haven’t noticed any issues with the battery, I can’t find any evidence that it was changed in the service history before I bought it. If the battery is the original, the device is now 6.5 years old. And if that’s the case, I should probably begin considering replacing it before winter. Any thoughts?
That’s incorrect—it appears to have been on the unfavorable post. Appears to be 06 12, which I assume implies the sixth week of 2012 considering the car was made in March of that year. In other words, this item is older than 6 1/2 years!
With the 25% discount I recently received from Advance Auto, a new AGM battery now costs a little over $150. Not too bad, and for battery registration I already have the Carly app.
Sorry, I didn’t look, but going by memory—or lack thereof—the one at the back of the vehicle is correct!
Although I do have a CTek, isn’t a battery that old even with the CTek?
The CTEK MUS 4.3 Polar edition that I own is excellent. The Polar variant uses plastics that maintain their flexibility in temperatures well below freezing, preventing cracking or other types of breaking. I leave the original battery in my 2011 M3 all winter long (there are plenty of -30/-34 F/C degree temperatures), and I never have trouble starting it in the spring or during the summer. When the battery runs out, replace it.
I suppose I could definitely spend the money more wisely if I didn’t care so much about lap times right now, such as on track wheels and tires.
You’re performing mod math incorrectly, sir. You must consider that an OEM battery costs $400, whereas Voltphreaks cost $1,100. Spend the extra $700 and get the much better upgrade since you’ll be spending the $400 either way.
Cellular Age
There are various methods for figuring out how old a car battery is. The easiest is if you purchased your car brand-new. A new battery comes with a new car. Therefore, the age of your battery will be equal to how long it has been since you purchased the vehicle.
Purchasing a brand-new battery as a replacement for one that failed is another simple approach to establish the age of the battery. In this situation, you only need to look at the original receipt to determine the date of purchase. A dealership or auto parts retailer may have a bill of sale on file and be able to provide the purchase date if there is no receipt.
But since many individuals purchase used cars, they are unable to ascertain the battery’s history or age unless the prior owner provided the relevant records. In those circumstances, determining the date the battery was created and sent to the wholesale distributor can be done in a more thorough manner.
Finding the battery under the hood and looking for a sticker with date information printed in a recognizable style are the first two steps. For instance, “3/15” would merely indicate that the battery was produced in March 2015.
The battery will have a strip, etching, or heat stamp with a readable alphanumeric code if there isn’t a date sticker. This code, which can be several characters long and is frequently found on battery covers and batteries themselves, contains the date information in the first two characters of the sequence. The first character will be a number from 0 to 9 that corresponds to the year’s last digit of manufacture for the battery. A five, for instance, would denote 2015. A letter that designates the month the battery was created is the second character. The months of January through December are matched up with the letters A through L. For instance, the letter “C” stands for March. When put together, “5C” denotes a March 2015 manufacturing date. “5C” and “C5” both denote the same thing because both characters can be used interchangeably.
If the battery has no code, you’ll have to guess its age based on how it looks. Age can be determined by the degree of corrosion on and around the terminals. The battery gets older the more of it there is.
How can I tell if my BMW needs a new battery?
Your car needs a lot of electricity to operate, and the battery is what supplies that power. Your battery has to be replaced if your vehicle cranks while starting, starts slowly, or does not start at all.
How long will a BMW battery last?
You might be curious about how frequently to change your car battery to guarantee the finest performance around Corona, whether you own a brand-new BMW or an older model. A BMW battery will typically last three to five years. However, a variety of factors affect how long your equipment lasts.
How can I determine the age of my automobile battery?
Start by opening the hood and inspecting the sticker on the battery. Numerous batteries will have a sticker with the date information printed on them.
If the battery lacks this, search for a heat stamp, etching, or alphanumeric code on a strip. Choksey claims that the first two characters of the code should reveal the date.
Typically, the first character is a number that matches to the battery’s manufacturing year’s last digit. James Stevens, a contributor to It Still Runs, claims that manufacturers utilize a 10-year cycle for battery codes. Therefore, a 9 might mean that the battery was manufactured in either 2009 or 2019.
Typically, the second character is a letter from A to L that stands for each of the 12 months on the calendar (e.g. A is January, D is April, etc.).
The maker of your battery might have included an expiration date. Stevens states that the batteries shouldn’t be sold after this day. It’s a good idea to purchase a replacement battery if two to three years (or more) have passed since the specified expiration date.
With these easy maintenance suggestions, you can extend the life of your battery this winter. And learn the advantages and drawbacks of doing your own car battery replacement.
Although Whitney Russell lives in Dayton, her spirit can be seen lazing on a beach in Puerto Rico (the land of her half-Puerto Rican heritage). She enjoys following after the most amazing toddler in the world, seeing her “beaver” of a husband make fantastic woodworking projects, spending time with two crazy dogs, and visiting family and friends when she isn’t writing about cars. When she has the time, she also likes to travel, make things, and binge watch historical dramas. View further writings by Whitney.
Does a BMW require a unique battery?
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.