[BimmerMark2014]

I confess this one really bewildered me. I recently bought a 2010 BMW 528i from a dealer (not BMW). So far it's worked out fine. The car has 70k miles and is still under CPO (mercifully). It's my first BMW and I intend to keep it for a long time. I just got the car back from my local BMW dealer where the service folks addressed many of the items that needed to be repaired. Most were covered under CPO. But the battery will need to be replaced in the not too distant future and is not covered by the CPO warranty. No problem. I planned to replace the battery myself someday soon. The service tech at BMW cautioned me that installing a new battery will require that the car be "reprogrammed." What?! I've never heard of that. Is this simply a way for the dealer to hit my wallet? Why would a car need to be reprogrammed simply for installing a new battery? Any advice?

[ferrarif1]

Most modern BMW's require updating their software for a new battery. Your car changes the rate at which it charges the battery as the battery ages and you need to tell there is a new battery so it can charge at the new, higher rate.

This is fairly easy to do with the right software on an Exx car but have no idea what it takes on an Fxx.

[The Beast]

I had to change the battery on my E70 X5, dealer quoted me almost £500! As the previous individual has said you need to tell the car when the battery was installed and the mileage of the vehicle at the time. The alternator then adjusts the charge profile over the lifecyle of the car. Failing to do this will result in the battery dying prematurely.

I got an Exide gel based battery from an independent supplier for £150 and installed it myself. I then got an independent coder I know to code it in for £50, saving £300!

Unfortunately some idiot crashed into me and wrote off my X5 a month later...

[Super6]

Originally Posted by BimmerMark2014

I confess this one really bewildered me. I recently bought a 2010 BMW 528i from a dealer (not BMW). So far it's worked out fine. The car has 70k miles and is still under CPO (mercifully). It's my first BMW and I intend to keep it for a long time. I just got the car back from my local BMW dealer where the service folks addressed many of the items that needed to be repaired. Most were covered under CPO. But the battery will need to be replaced in the not too distant future and is not covered by the CPO warranty. No problem. I planned to replace the battery myself someday soon. The service tech at BMW cautioned me that installing a new battery will require that the car be "reprogrammed." What?! I've never heard of that. Is this simply a way for the dealer to hit my wallet? Why would a car need to be reprogrammed simply for installing a new battery? Any advice?

Welcome to BMW. Its all worth it in the end.

[The Beast]

Forgot to mention you also have to tell the car what amp battery you have installed as these vary dependent on the options you have.

The X5 had 80, 90 and 100 options. You can also upgrade if you wish but I stuck with the 90 that I originally had

[iwinit]

Originally Posted by BimmerMark2014

I confess this one really bewildered me. I recently bought a 2010 BMW 528i from a dealer (not BMW).

I think you are in the wrong forum. Your car is not F10.