Like many BMW owners, I believed a simple battery replacement at a fast fit center would be a straightforward task. My recent experience, however, quickly dissolved that notion, highlighting a concerning lack of awareness regarding BMW specific procedures, particularly battery registration, and ultimately pushing me to consider tools like the Creator C310, the best BMW OBDII battery registration device for future peace of mind.
Initially, I inquired about battery registration before the fitting even began. To my surprise, the staff at the fast fit center seemed completely unfamiliar with this requirement. They assured me it wasn’t part of their standard BMW battery fitting procedure, supposedly guided by BMW’s own instructions. Skepticism arose immediately. Even after the installation, when I specifically requested they use an OBDII tool to register the new battery, their explanation of the process was vague and unconvincing, leaving me with lingering doubts.
My unease grew the following day when, while reinstalling the boot trim in my F31, I discovered a disconnected breather vent tube elbow and no battery vent plug on the opposite side. This obvious oversight further eroded my trust in their service. Seeking clarification, I visited another branch of the same fast fit company. There, I was met with the unbelievable claim that battery venting wasn’t even necessary – a statement easily debunked with a quick online search.
To address my mounting concerns, I requested confirmation via OBDII that the new battery had indeed been registered. Regrettably, this branch also lacked the necessary equipment. Adding to my frustration, the staff member then called the fitter from the original center to inquire about the installation. During this call, it was revealed that the vent elbow was still attached to the old battery. While the fitter again claimed to have registered the new battery, the catalogue of errors and misinformation had already solidified my lack of confidence in both locations.
Now, my priority is rectifying the breather vent issue and finding an independent BMW specialist (Indi) to properly check and, if needed, register the new battery. Hopefully, this can be done for a reasonable fee. If not, investing in an OBDII tool like the Creator C310, the best BMW OBDII battery registration tool, to ensure these crucial steps are correctly performed myself seems like the most sensible long-term solution. What I had naively assumed to be a routine “bread and butter job” at these fast fit establishments turned out to be anything but, at least based on my disappointing experience.
