It is working just fine. Replace anyway because of age?

 

i would say its a no brainer!! yes!

 

after 4-5 years your kind of on borrowed time. If your looking for an upgrade in a battery, theres a company making a LiFe battery that weights 4 lbs. They said they should have them for sale by the first of July. www.alienmotion.com

 

Yes.

Chances are excellent that it will die next winter, if not sooner.

 

The battery on my 2009 is under a cover by the windshield. I was wondering if I had to replace it what the heck would fit as well as the factory item. I like the Optama red top's but I don't think they make one that will fit at all.

I'm talking 2009 and not the older Mini with the battery in the trunk or something.

Anybody know???

 

Yes, replace it. Our 2005 MINI is starting to show signs of distress; borrowed time here, too.

 

Try posting in the gen2 forum...
Not many of the gen1 owners have much hands on experance on a gen2 car....

 

That's a no brainer. Repace it. Batteries sometimes die suddenly and without any warning. That just happened to me a few weeks ago in a Toyota with a 7 year old battery. At 8 years you're on borrowed time.

 

IMO it depends on your tolerance for the battery to throw in the towel at the least convenient time.
If the MINI were my only car and I had a baby coming in the next few weeks, I would be getting a new battery. On a weekend car, I would get a battery tender and leave it alone.
My 2002 BMW 330 convertible (garage queen) has its original battery, same with the R53 (daily driver). No one is going into labor in this household so the batteries stay in.

 

Why risk it. The battery in my '02 didn't give me any warning at all. Early '02 S's didn't have an inside boot release and the boot was locked , didn't make live any easier.

 

If it ain't broke, why fix it?

 

I still have the original battery in my '06, I wonder if I should bite the bullet. It only has about 30,000 miles on the odometer.

 

Take your car to a reputable local auto parts store and have them test it. Then you will have a definitive answer to the health of the battery, not just a guess.

 

I would replace it, you live in a climate that has a serious winter. After 5 years, just about any battery is on borrowed time.

 

My '05 is original too... maybe I'll have them replace it aling with my serpentine belt and clutch. Ouch!! $$

 

Autozone sells a direct replacement. I had the oem battery in my 05 die about 2 months ago. It went so flat you couldn't even jump start the car.

 

Hi. I'm new to the forum, and I just bought a 2006 base Cooper with @70K miles. I note that the battery is white with a "MINI" logo on it, but there's no date stamp to indicate if this is the original battery, or a factory replacement. There is a series of numbers on the battery, and I'm wondering how to decode them.

 

Usually when you buy a battery there is some sort of a sticker on it that tells the sell date for warranty purposes. An original equipment battery does not have this IME. Would a replacement from the dealer? Can't say for sure.

But since you are new and probably have not read much yet I'm give you my opinions. (btw I bought my first 02, new off the lot in 02, now have a new off the lot 07 and a 79}

1. If that IS the original battery you are on borrowed time.

2. You are in COLD country - very hard on any battery - if it were me and I had ANY doubt about the battery I'd invest the $120 or so for a new one.

3. When the battery in a MINI goes ... you don't get much warning. It does not really exhibit slow cranking. One turn of the key it starts and next time nuthin'. Often they are SO dead you can't jump the car either. Mine wouldn't. And a weakening battery has turned out to be the cause of ALL KINDS of wonky electrical issues in these overly computer controlled lil' beasts.

4. I have the original battery in my 07 and figure I'm on borrowed time. Today's batteries are doing good to give you 5 years. Some DO last longer. Many do not!

5. Got AAA?

 

Thanks for the quick reply Capt. I figured the battery is the original, and although it has started the car on two very cold days, as it sits outside, I'm thinking "borrowed time" as well. It appears the Autozone Duralast Gold H5 is a good fit, so I'll give that a shot.

 

Top picture is of my Die Hard Gold Group 47 in my '02 R50; bottom picture is of the MINI brand replacement battery in my wife's "03 R50 (battery has the date of 2006 on it). As you can see, they are really identical so the MINI battery and the Sears one probably came from the same factory. And, as you can see, it's a perfect fit. With tax it was $158 out the door, so consider that. I'd be surprised if you can get a battery for $120 any more.

 

Thanks for the thoughts and the picures, Valvashon. I think a new battery is in the cards.

 

AutoZone's best G-47 battery is $149 less core exchange of $12.50 - which will be the tax or a lil' more. DuraLast Gold

My SAMS has a Duracell Group 47 for $90 (no core charge but they'll take it off your hands)

both of these batteries have 'full replacement for 3 years' and both stores will install the battery for free.

You can find batteries for less - AND for more.

as I recall the OPTIMA 34R is the right one for a GEN1 S and direct from OPTIMA that will run $199 plus (heavy) shipping . . .

 

I aggree with the 'borrowed time' but also with the 'how much will it worry you when it fails' school of thought. If it is running on a 'keeper' it could go for some time more on a 'Garage Queen'. Up to you shmini, only you can answer for yourself. Really good age for a battery though. Good luck with your next, whenever that is.

 

Thanks for all of the replies and suggestions. I'm not a SAMS Club member, so I think it's Autozone for me; there's one nearby, and I've had good luck with this same brand battery in other vehicles.

 

I found out the hard way that when the battery goes, it goes off the cliff. 1/2 hour plus hooked to a Ford Explorer with me gunning the engine to charge the battery and it still wouldn't start. I'm from North Dakota- I know how to jump start a car and the MINI just wouldn't turn over until I had put a different battery in there. So consider that when you are playing battery roulette. Sometimes they just can't be jump started.

Val