Why you have to register a new battery in your BMW

If you’re installing a new battery on a BMW, you may have to register it

I know there are lots of forums out there that say you don’t have to register a battery in a BMW made after 2002. They’re wrong. You do have to register a new battery. That’s because the BMWs listed below have an intelligent battery system (IBS) charging routine. The system tracks power usage and determines how long and when to run the car’s alternator to provide power and recharge the battery. As the battery ages, the system adjusts the charging routine to ensure the battery stays fully charged. It stores the changing routine in a look up table so it always charge using the most up to date data.

That’s why you have to register a new battery in a BMW with IBS. In fact, most late model vehicles equipped with AGM and EFB batteries require registration after installation. The registration process resets the charging look up table back to factory default values so it will adjust the charging routine to fit a new battery.

What happens during the battery registration process?

A technician hooks a scan tool to the OBDII port and enters the registration section on the scan tool. The tech erases the old battery and enters the information for the new battery. Most BMW dealerships charge about $200 for this service if you install the battery yourself. However, any shop that has a professional grade scan tool can register a new battery. Even battery stores can do it. Some companies even sell a service that can remotely register a new battery in your BMW

What happens if you don’t register a new BMW battery?

So if replace your BMW AGM battery with a new battery, even if it’s exactly the same type, but you don’t register it with the IBS, the alternator will continue to charge the new battery the same way it did for the old battery. That will result in two things:

First, the older and higher charging rate will shorten the life of your new AGM battery. Get it? Shorter life dude.

Second, you’ll get worse gas mileage because the alternator will run constantly.

Third, you’ll shorten the life of the drive belt, tensioner and alternator from running it too long.

BMW cars that require new battery registration

2002 and newer 7-Series E65/E66 chassis
2003 and newer 6-Series E63/E64 chassis
2004 and newer 5-Series E60/E61 chassis
2005 and newer X5 E53 chassis *with N62 engine*
2006 and newer 3-Series E90/E91/E92/E93 chassis
2007 and newer X5 E70 chassis
2008 and newer X6 E71 chassis

This isn’t just a BMW thing. Many later model vehicles have power management systems that monitor battery condition and adapt the charging to fit the battery’s condition. In those vehicles, you have to register a new battery so the computers will treat it as new and modify charging.

©, 2019 Rick Muscoplat