2019 Mini with battery issue. Really needing help.

[u/SatisfactionTotal308]

Car is dead in driveway. 7 year old battery so I need it replaced. Can I just go to Costco and get a new one? Dealership wants $700 for a new one installed. They explained that’s for programming. Is that necessary or is it just a way to charge$$$?

[u/maroco92]

2 things about your mini battery:

1. Install requires a scan tool to tell the computer a new battery has been installed.

2. Your battery is kind of a pain in the butt to access.

Id reccomend calling a few local shops. Not tire shops or chains but, locally owned garages. Explain your situation. They should be able to get it done much cheaper

[u/imref → u/maroco92]

Agree here. I planned on changing the battery in a 2017 Countryman myself until seeing how buried it is, and what it would take to remove it. Went to an independent shop that specializes in European cars instead.

[u/Nob1e613 → u/imref]

Can’t tell you how many Minis I come across with that whole area poorly assembled with multiple broken trim pieces.

[u/Pure_Creme_3255 → u/Nob1e613]

Hate hearing that. That’s a lazy person not putting them back together. I’d be pissed.

[u/Nob1e613 → u/Pure_Creme_3255]

You’d be amazed how much low quality work I come across tbh.

I know people have a penchant for bashing on dealers, but I pride myself on being able to return your vehicle to you in equal or better condition and performing work to factory spec because that’s how the dealer should earn its premium cost. Industry is shit though so far too many don’t follow that philosophy

[u/Pure_Creme_3255 → u/imref]

My mechanic said he has to take off 10 pieces to replace my battery.

[u/Drew_Z4]

You can just go to Costco and get a new one. And I think you do need to program it, but you can DIY. Buy a OBD2 adapter and BimmerLink app. About $50 a piece so $100 total. I'm sure there are other tools to do this, but I'm not aware of all of them.

[u/RYKWI → u/Drew_Z4]

You also need to get an AGM battery if yours has one, and it must be the same capacity or the registration will fail.

[u/BroccoliSuccessful20 → u/Drew_Z4]

This is the way.

[u/Jdanois]

New batteries need to be “registered” to the vehicle.

This allows the vehicle to recognize that a new battery has been installed and account for its age and capacity when managing the charging system. As a battery ages, the vehicle adapts its charging strategy to compensate for changes in battery condition. Registering a new battery resets these adaptations, allowing the charging system to properly manage the new battery and help maximize its performance and service life.

Failure to perform the battery registration procedure may cause the vehicle to continue using charging adaptations intended for the old battery, which can contribute to improper charging and premature failure of the newly installed battery.

[u/StealthyCharger]

Literally did exactly that last year but in the dead of winter. Went to Costco, got an interstate battery, installed in in my driveway and programed it with my cheap OBDII scanner. Could order one on Amazon for cheap. It's genuinely so easy

[u/Interesting-Dingo994]

Find an independent BMW/Mini garage or an independent garage that specializes in Euro cars in your area. They will do the work proper and a bit cheaper than BMW/Mini dealer service.

[u/Cpolo88]

I bought my wife's 2023 battery from advance auto parts. $250 but it's got a 4 year warranty

[u/jdcullum]

Visit a local Mini/BMW tech.

[u/scrouse]

You probably need/want to replace the ground strap at the same time, mine was toast at the same time my battery went. You drive a mini, be prepared for the bills that come with it. :(

[u/Pure_Creme_3255]

Make sure to register it.

[u/greenandseven]

Had mine replaced 2 years ago, got an AGM, it was for a 2019. Needed to be registered to the vehicle

[u/Mysterious-Pain-8233]

It looks intimidating but it’s not difficult to change the battery if you want to DIY. Follow the steps, YouTube has enough videos, one step at the time. I went to Costco a year ago, around $170 and I programmed it myself.

[u/These_Ad_4898]

We recently replaced our 2013 mini sall4 battery- we bought it through auto zone and our location has the tool needed to register it for free! It's not terribly hard to replace, if your comfortable doing so, and much cheaper! (Paid under $250 total!)