Replacing the AGM battery in a 2010 Mini Cooper S convert.
Do you buy a particular brand if you DIY. The last was a NAPA. Not using that again. Thanks

 

There are really only three major battery manufacturers in the US, Clarios (formerly Johnson Controls), East Penn and Exide. Nearly all batteries you'll find at auto parts stores are made by one of them. So no, not any particular brand. I've gotten AutoCraft(now DieHard) from Advance Auto, SuperStart Platinum from O'Reilly, and Duralast Platinum from AutoZone, all are good.

Your 2010 Mini almost certainly didn't come with an AGM from the factory. When you put the current one in, did you re-code from flooded to AGM, set the capacity appropriately, and register the new battery? If you didn't, that could explain its (presumably) poor life. I did those things on my 2011 BMW, and the AutoCraft AGM I put in it in 2016 only started showing signs of weakness earlier this year, after 7 years in a hard-starting diesel that was mostly parked outside in Chicago winters. I expect similar life out of the identical-looking SuperStart Platinum that's in there now.

 

sounds location is florida, so hopefully not so hard on a battery.

 

Extreme heat/humidity..... Looking into a Red Top Optima. No coding or registar needs on this model .... Battery ran down from sitting. Won't hold charge.

 

You may want to invest in a battery tender for extended periods of sitting, in order to protect what battery you do wind up with. I have one for a car that's rarely driven, and basically never in the winter. It keeps the battery healthy when not being used/recharged regularly.

 

I'm a big fan of Interstate batteries.

They don't sell them at my local autopart stores but there is a local warehouse that sells and distributes them so I go down there and buy it.

 

I only use Walmart batteries. Because Walmart's are everywhere.

 

I bought an interstate battery for a car that mostly sits around. I bought it from Costco, I like their return policy.

 

That's a good deal. their again if your traveling it should not be hard to find a Costco. I keep thinking my wife's 2016 NX200t is going to need a battery but so far it shows to be very strong. Build date was 10/15 and made in Japan.

 

Don't seem to see any "deals" in particular, everyone have the same price per CCA, no rebate just different label on it. Without rebates, Costco probably have the best price.

I would get the flooded battery that has one level more CCA than the basic one. That is over built so it doesn't have to work as hard.
If your car is just sitting, it will slowly kill AGM or whatever battery. You have to put a tender on it if you want it to last.

 

Decided to change the wife's 2015 NX200t battery today. not giving us any problem yet. But the CCA was showing only 1/2 the original. The NX was built in Japan 10 / 2015. So, the original Panasonic battery lasted 8 Years and still going. But if it did fail her 25 miles away at work. I would have hell to pay. Lexus dealership said they can't get the Panasonic battery. Found out the only car getting Panasonic batteries are Tesla. Lexus said they replace with interstate batteries. So, I went to Walmart, got a 24F MAXX Start for $139.84 before tax. 750CCA; 925 CA 130 min reserve with a 3-year free replacement. The guy didn't charge me a core charge. Let me keep the battery and said I would maybe get another 2 years using the old Panasonic in a boat.

 

 

Most batteries are from the same sources, lower CCA units are more durable due to having less, but larger plates inside.

There are a few exceptions but most are from the same sources as mentioned