Which battery does the BMW 3 Series take? Generation by generation

Car battery by model

It depends on the generation and on whether your BMW 3 Series has Start-Stop. The BMW 3 Series E46 (1997-2007) usually takes a battery like the Varta F17: conventional, 80 Ah and 740 A, case size LB4. With Start-Stop, the BMW 3 Series E90/E91 (2004-2012) usually takes a battery like the Varta A6: AGM, 80 Ah and 800 A; without Start-Stop, the Varta F17 (conventional, 80 Ah). Below you will find all 6 generations, each with its battery.

  • 6 generations
  • from 1982
  • 140 engines
  • AGM · conventional

Check with your number plateWe show you only the batteries that fit your exact version.

BMW 3 Series generations and their battery

Newest first. If you are not sure which one you have, go by the year of manufacture or check with your number plate.

How the BMW 3 Series battery has changed

Start-Stop becomes widespread with the BMW 3 Series E90/E91 (2004), and with it come AGM batteries. Earlier generations —BMW 3 Series E30, BMW 3 Series E36 and BMW 3 Series E46— use conventional batteries from 41 to 95 Ah. The most common case size is L4, but not every generation uses it: check yours before you buy.

How to tell which BMW 3 Series you have

Each generation has its own production years and model code, which you will find in the car’s documents. These are the body styles of each one:

GenerationYearsBody styles (model code)
BMW 3 Series (G20/G21)from 2018BMW 3 (G20, G80, G28), BMW 3 Touring (G21, G81), BMW 3 Touring Van (G21)
BMW 3 Series (F30/F31)2011-2019BMW 3 (F30, F80), BMW 3 Touring (F31)
BMW 3 Series (E90/E91)2004-2012BMW 3 (E90), BMW 3 Touring (E91)
BMW 3 Series (E46)1997-2007BMW 3 (E46), BMW 3 Compact (E46), BMW 3 Convertible (E46), BMW 3 Coupe (E46), BMW 3 Touring (E46)
BMW 3 Series (E36)1990-2000BMW 3 (E36), BMW 3 Compact (E36), BMW 3 Convertible (E36), BMW 3 Coupe (E36), BMW 3 Touring (E36)
BMW 3 Series (E30)1982-1994BMW 3 (E30), BMW 3 Convertible (E30), BMW 3 Touring (E30)

Frequently asked questions

Which battery does the BMW 3 Series take?

It depends on the generation and on whether your BMW 3 Series has Start-Stop. The BMW 3 Series E46 (1997-2007) usually takes a battery like the Varta F17: conventional, 80 Ah and 740 A, case size LB4. With Start-Stop, the BMW 3 Series E90/E91 (2004-2012) usually takes a battery like the Varta A6: AGM, 80 Ah and 800 A; without Start-Stop, the Varta F17 (conventional, 80 Ah). Below you will find all 6 generations, each with its battery.

Do all BMW 3 Series generations take the same battery?

No. The battery changes with the generation, the engine and Start-Stop: the BMW 3 Series (E46) mostly takes the Varta F17 (conventional) and the BMW 3 Series (E90/E91) the Varta A6 (AGM).

Since when has the BMW 3 Series had Start-Stop?

It became widespread with the BMW 3 Series E90/E91 (2004). Those versions need AGM; if your BMW 3 Series is older or has no Start-Stop, it takes a conventional battery.

How do I know which generation my BMW 3 Series is?

By the years of manufacture (BMW 3 Series (E46): 1997-2007; BMW 3 Series (E90/E91): 2004-2012; BMW 3 Series (F30/F31): 2011-2019; BMW 3 Series (G20/G21): from 2018) or, more easily, with your number plate: our search identifies the exact model and engine and shows you only the batteries that fit.

Updated: · Source: battery application data by engine (KType TecDoc), the same data our number plate search uses, plus the datasheet of each battery.

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