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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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 (check control message “Recharge battery” appears even though the battery is new).
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 (or vice versa). 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.
Is registration required for BMW batteries?
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 can I reset my BMW now that the battery has been changed?
One of the vehicles with the most advanced intelligent operating system in the world is the BMV. Therefore, the first thing you must do after every hit or replacement of an object in the car is to restart the entire vehicle.
This setup enables the computer to anticipate your next replacement requirement and alert you to it. After changing the battery, resetting the BMW computer is a quick and easy process.
- First, turn on the controller again.
- Step 2: Press “Trip” to activate it and make it light.
- Step 3: Hold down the “trip” button while continuing to press and hold it until the “Reset” button shows up on the screen.
- Reset in Step 4
What occurs if the battery in a BMW is not coded?
Registration is necessary so that your vehicle is aware of the modified requirements and is able to adapt to the new battery settings. Otherwise, improperly coding your BMW battery could lead to a variety of electrical issues, including a reduction in battery life, the risk of overcharging or undercharging your battery, or, in the worst case scenario, serious harm to your car’s alternator and electrical system, which could cause your battery to fail before its time.
What kinds of electrical issues could there be? As a result of your automobile assuming that the battery life is low and attempting to conserve it, several modules of your BMW may turn off. So, at that time, it’s possible for your windows and mirrors to not close or open, your radio to not function, your interior lighting to not function, or other modules that are not required for starting or operating a car to fail.
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 (Boron-Silicate absorbed glass mat)
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.
Why won’t my BMW key fob function now that the battery has been changed?
A dead battery is the most frequent cause of a key fob not functioning. Having said that, your keyfob might be having more serious issues. You might require a key fob replacement or perhaps auto door lock repair if your key fob stops operating after a battery change.
What happens if a fresh battery is not registered?
A: Failure to register and code a new battery could lead to inefficient charging. Improper charging may eventually have a negative impact on the battery life and functionality of your car’s electronics.
How long is the battery warranty on a BMW?
Considering that all replacement BMW batteries are covered by a two-year/unlimited-mileage warranty*, it only makes sense to select dependable genuine equipment.
Why is a battery required to be coded?
The battery’s condition and charge history are both recorded by the ECU. For automobiles with start/stop capabilities, this is crucial.
A fresh battery’s coding instructs the automobile to forget its charging history and that the battery is brand new. The replacement battery will then be monitored from scratch in order to help ensure its longevity and performance. With AGM batteries, which are sensitive to both overcharging and undercharging, this is particularly crucial.
How can I restart my automobile once the battery has been changed?
My car’s battery needs to be changed, but I’m not sure how to restart it after doing so. How can I restart my automobile once the battery has been changed?
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- To allow the engine control systems to detect any potential issues, drive the automobile for at least 10 kilometers.
- The check engine light will illuminate if there are any problems, and the electronic control module is probably to blame.
- If it doesn’t turn on, everything is fine.
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What should I do after replacing the battery?
My automobile just got a new battery. I am aware that the new battery needs time to charge, so I will let the car run for a bit. Is there anything else, though? What should I do following a car battery replacement?
wonderful question In order for the alternator to properly charge the battery after a car battery replacement, you should drive the vehicle for roughly 30 minutes.
A battery replacement typically necessitates a radio and computer reset on the car. Your radio presets may need to be reset as a result of this.
After changing the battery, the computer occasionally does not restart itself. The dashboard may still display an error code. Use an OBD-II diagnostic scanner to identify the issue’s root cause in this circumstance. You can reset the computer by looking up the code.
You can *clean the battery terminals with a wire brush and battery cleanser every six months** to extend the life of your new battery. When you can, park in a garage to shield your battery from chilly temperatures.
As a heads up, batteries often last for five years. Although experts advise buying a new battery every three to four years, many last far longer.