318Ti OEM BMW factory battery replacement questions
 

318Ti OEM factory battery replacement questions, first can i tell by some code on the OEM factory bmw battery how old it is? or if it is original at least?

Also do you recommend upping the cold cranking amps on the new battery? keep in mind this is a stage 3 dasc with sound system.

and what do you guys recommend for replacement, oem or aftermarket and if aftermarket what kind, thanks.

I'd just go with a Wal-Mart EverStart. Size 48-3. 700 CCA, 850 CA. Wal-Mart will probably be one of the cheapest too. Not that it's needed anyway, but I think it's impossible to exactly match the factory CA ratings. Newer batteries just have more power than old ones.

I've found that a lot of aftermarket batteries will not fit in the 318ti battery case. They are too tall for the top to snap on. The Wal-Mart EverStart is short enough to fit. I have an extra Autolite that is too tall and I belive I had a Napa that was too tall as well.

Thanks for the tip on the Ever-Start. I was about to check NAPA, but then read this. The battery on my 96 just died last night, it was a BMW OEM cell from 2003. Only just crapped out now, not too shabby - but I don't feel like dropping that much again.

Yeah, I discovered that if you try to buy a Bosch battery at Pep Boys, the correct battery isn't listed as compatible for the 'ti in their crap-ass computer system. So you have to convince them to let you test fit the thing in the parking lot. They DO carry the correct size battery though.

If you run a sound system, buying a bigger battery won't help you. You need a high output alternator, like the Bosch 100A factory unit. ebay, $100 refurb.

tbw