Car battery replacement for BMW 3 Series (F30, F31, F34)
Model years: 2011 - present
Car battery is one of the main parts containing vehicle's electrical system. Principally, it stores electric power, which is provided for electric devices within the vehicle. Therefore, it's significant to have the battery in a properly operating condition. Believe it or not, battery is not an everlasting unit, which will get exhausted after a period of time irreversibly. In other words, chemical reactions inside the battery will be incapable of generating electricity any longer. The life of the battery is limited to 3 - 5 years, after which it becomes incapable of being charged. That is why installation of a new battery is required. In some cases, battery will experience loss of electricity, caused by the dirt on connection points. After a while, battery terminals can get covered by white powder (corrosion), resulting in poor contacts. This is the reason why the battery can no longer be re-charged by alternator. Finally, it will go dead and no longer be able to provide electricity. Rubbing up cable and battery connections, might recover the battery to its original state and make it valid again. The battery might also become exhausted, if the vehicle was not used for couple of weeks or so. In such case, recharging the battery will possibly restore its efficiency. In order to perform a recharge, you will need a battery charger.
Important! Some BMW 3 Series (F30, F31, F34) vehicles might be equipped with an IBS (Intelligent Battery Sensor) system. That means, newly replaced battery must be registered by your Service center. Avoiding battery registration might cause power management system failure, as well as incorrect readings on the display of the on-board computer.
BMW 3 Series battery location: luggage compartment (trunk) under right trim.
Recommended batteries for BMW 3 Series:
* Note: if case more than one battery type is applicable for your model, compare parameters of the battery, currently installed on your vehicle, with parameters in the table below, before choosing the right one.
| Body type | Model | Battery specs | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sedan/saloon | 316d 316i 318d 318dX 320d 320d ed 320dX 320i 320i ed 320iX 325d 328i 328i 328iX 330d 330dX 335dX 335i 335iX Hybrid 3 | Capacity: 80Ah (AGM) Cold Cranking Amp: 800cca Dimensions: 315x175x190 mm | £150.99 (Amazon.co.uk) |
Capacity: 90Ah (AGM) Cold Cranking Amp: 900cca Dimensions: 353x175x190 mm | £167.94 (Amazon.co.uk) | ||
| Touring | 316d 316i 318d 318dX 320d 320d ed 320dX 320i 320iX 325d 328i 328iX 330d 330dX 335dX 335i 335iX | Capacity: 80Ah (AGM) Cold Cranking Amp: 800cca Dimensions: 315x175x190 mm | £150.99 (Amazon.co.uk) |
Capacity: 90Ah (AGM) Cold Cranking Amp: 900cca Dimensions: 353x175x190 mm | £167.94 (Amazon.co.uk) | ||
| Five-door hatchback | 318d 320d 320dX 320i 320iX 325d 328i 328iX 335i 335iX | Capacity: 90Ah (AGM) Cold Cranking Amp: 900cca Dimensions: 353x175x190 mm | £167.94 (Amazon.co.uk) |
How to replace car battery:
1.
Before battery replacement, make sure:
- you wear sturdy gloves and safety goggles
- vehicle keys are out of ignition switch
2.
The following tools are usually enough for battery replacement procedure:
- 10 and 13 mm wrenches or sockets
- Flat-head and Phillips type screw drivers
3. BMW 3 Series battery is located in luggage compartment (trunk) under right trim.
4.
To start replacing battery, remove the old one by disconnecting the negative connection first. This will prevent accidental short-circuits between positive battery terminal and the body of the vehicle. Make sure the cable does not come into contact with battery terminals during battery replacement procedure. Negative battery terminal can be identified by minus (-) sign next to it (1):
5.
Remove brackets that hold the battery attached to the vehicle frame.
6.
Open positive terminal cover (1):
7.
Disconnect positive connector:
8.
If present, disconnect ventilation hose from the battery (1). Some vehicles utilize battery ventilation system to vent formed gasses (hydrogen) to the outside.
9.
Vacate battery compartment by lifting the old battery off (note, that the battery is heavy, incorrect lifting can result in back injuries):
10.
Do not remove plastic terminal caps from new battery, until it's placed in the battery compartment inside the vehicle.
11.
Place the new battery in.
12.
Connect ventilation hose.
13.
If necessary, clean battery cables from dirt or rust before connecting, to ensure excellent contact.
14.
Contrary to disconnecting the battery, connect cables, starting with positive terminal first.
15.
Re-attach brackets and make sure battery does not make any movements.
16.
Dispose the old battery only at authorized collecting point.
