Life of expensive AGM Batteries in luxury cars

crysisftw · 27th September 2020, 08:36

Hi everyone. New member here.

I own a F10 5 series (530d) 2013 make.

I recently got it serviced and asked the service technician if the battery is fine or needs a replacement since it's 7 years old now. He said that he's yet to see an AGM battery requiring replacement so it's ok for now for me to continue with it. He just recharged the battery and that's it.

My question is, is it true? Do AGM batteries really have a very long life in a way that they may not require replacement for 8-10 years maybe?

By the way, the battery is Varta Silver Dynamic AGM 105Ah.

androdev · 27th September 2020, 09:18

Yes 7-8 years is the norm for AGM batteries but there are a lot of factors that can kill even an AGM battery too soon. You can go by the dealer's opinion and continue to use it - they can assess the condition of AGM batteries fairly accurately. You can replace it when you see a warning message about battery being weak. Under the right conditions these batteries have lasted for 12 years but one should be prepared to replace it by 8 years.

The main factor influencing the battery life is the level of charge when stored/parked. A fully topped-up battery will have a long life, say in the case of a car regularly used for longish drives. OTH, a car used for infrequent short drives doesn't top up the battery resulting in a short life. Same would be the case if there is battery drain when parked due to any malfunction. It is better to buy replacement batteries with recent production date and avoid the ones improperly stored for many years.

I believe BMW tends to deny battery replacement under warranty if the driving pattern of the car is "low running with infrequent short trips".

GTO · 29th September 2020, 06:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by crysisftw

My question is, is it true? Do AGM batteries really have a very long life in a way that they may not require replacement for 8-10 years maybe?

Can say 7 years at the minimum, some BHPians have had their AGM batteries last a little longer too.

Quote:

Originally Posted by androdev

OTH, a car used for infrequent short drives doesn't top up the battery resulting in a short life.

I think these are very robust batteries. My car is used twice a week tops, because of all the test-drive cars I have to drive. Even then, it was perfectly healthy at the 6 year mark.

Quote:

I believe BMW tends to deny battery replacement under warranty if the driving pattern of the car is "low running with infrequent short trips".

Turbanator & me both got our batteries replaced under BMW's generous warranty terms (they never argue about anything). Mine was at 6 years.

androdev · 29th September 2020, 14:22

Not contesting the robustness of these batteries but falls under "your mileage may vary".

Our 5 series AGM battery lasted 7+ years but S class was eating these AGM batteries for breakfast, lunch and dinner. In early 2017 when the S class got its 4th battery in 5 years of time (1st factory fitted, 2nd replaced under warranty, others paid by me), I bought a battery charger and things are looking good so far. Don't have this issue with the 5 series.

It is difficult to precisely correlate driving profile to the charge state of the battery. However I am certain that a battery stored in discharged state will surely have a short life (sulfation).

I remember @Turbanator had a very poor experience with BMW to get his battery replaced under warranty and their excuse to deny the replacement was precisely this 'driving profile'. They eventually obliged but this is a well known 'excuse to deny replacement'.

Here is the thread by Turbanator with BMW reply:
https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/india...-resolved.html (BMW India won't fulfil warranty on dead battery of a 4-month old 730d. EDIT: Now resolved)

Quote:

As informed, the life of the battery largely depends on the driving profile. For e.g. - too many short trips or long parking periods may result in pre-mature failure of battery. In such a situation, the battery is not covered under the purview of warranty, however, if it is found that the battery has a manufacturing defect, the same shall be replaced as per warranty terms and conditions.

GS-R · 10th March 2023, 17:39

I have started getting 'start stop servicing required' on my 2018 Volvo XC90. It's been more than 5 years but not using it a lot during covid and short trips could be the reason where I may have to replace the AGM auxiliary battery soon. I was told that longer trips usually keep the AGM batteries working longer.

27th September 2020, 08:36	#1
crysisftw Newbie Join Date: Sep 2020 Location: Jalandhar Posts: 5 Thanked: 48 Times	Life of expensive AGM Batteries in luxury cars Hi everyone. New member here. I own a F10 5 series (530d) 2013 make. I recently got it serviced and asked the service technician if the battery is fine or needs a replacement since it's 7 years old now. He said that he's yet to see an AGM battery requiring replacement so it's ok for now for me to continue with it. He just recharged the battery and that's it. My question is, is it true? Do AGM batteries really have a very long life in a way that they may not require replacement for 8-10 years maybe? By the way, the battery is Varta Silver Dynamic AGM 105Ah.
	(4) Thanks

27th September 2020, 09:18	#2
androdev Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: May 2007 Location: bangalore Posts: 3,255 Thanked: 25,279 Times	re: Life of expensive AGM Batteries in luxury cars Yes 7-8 years is the norm for AGM batteries but there are a lot of factors that can kill even an AGM battery too soon. You can go by the dealer's opinion and continue to use it - they can assess the condition of AGM batteries fairly accurately. You can replace it when you see a warning message about battery being weak. Under the right conditions these batteries have lasted for 12 years but one should be prepared to replace it by 8 years. The main factor influencing the battery life is the level of charge when stored/parked. A fully topped-up battery will have a long life, say in the case of a car regularly used for longish drives. OTH, a car used for infrequent short drives doesn't top up the battery resulting in a short life. Same would be the case if there is battery drain when parked due to any malfunction. It is better to buy replacement batteries with recent production date and avoid the ones improperly stored for many years. I believe BMW tends to deny battery replacement under warranty if the driving pattern of the car is "low running with infrequent short trips".
	(5) Thanks

10th March 2023, 17:39	#5
GS-R BHPian Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: San Francisco/N Posts: 52 Thanked: 29 Times	Re: Life of expensive AGM Batteries in luxury cars I have started getting 'start stop servicing required' on my 2018 Volvo XC90. It's been more than 5 years but not using it a lot during covid and short trips could be the reason where I may have to replace the AGM auxiliary battery soon. I was told that longer trips usually keep the AGM batteries working longer.
	() Thanks