Car battery replacement in newer European vehicles is more complicated than you might think! Some customers may try to install their own battery without having a qualified shop program the battery to their car's computer. While initially the car may work and warning lights such as the "check engine" or "service engine soon" may not be triggered, attempting to do your own car battery replacement can cost you a lot more than you were bargaining for in the long run.
The electrical systems in today's newer import vehicles such as BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Mini Cooper, Land Rover, Jaguar and other makes, are so sophisticated that they tailor the electrical charging to both the age and type of battery in the car. There is a computer module inside the car that controls the alternator. When you replace a battery, this computer needs to know that the car battery replacement has occurred, and also whether the battery is a traditional Lead Acid battery or an Absorbent Glass Mat (AGM) type battery, which charge differently. The process of updating the alternator control module is called Battery Registration. Ignoring the registration process after performing a car battery replacement, can dramatically shorten the life of the battery. When the car's computer has not been updated to recognize the new battery, the alternator can overcharge the new battery and cause damage to components within the entire electrical system.
For all of your European and Import repair and service needs, contact the professionals at DJ Foreign Auto Care. If you need a replacement battery, we stock Interstate batteries, which are the No. 1 replacement-brand battery in the country. We have the latest tools and software for BMW, MINI, Mercedes, Jaguar, Land Rover and other European vehicles and we can correctly install and register your battery for you. We are located at: 2626 University Ave NE, Minneapolis, MN 55418.