# Which battery does the BMW 3 Series take? Generation by generation > BMW 3 Series battery: 6 generations (from 1982), AGM and conventional, with and without Start-Stop. Check it by number plate. - **Canonical URL**: https://bateriasonline.es/en/bmw-3-series-battery - **Language**: en - **Last update**: 2026-11-11 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 plate](https://bateriasonline.es/en/battery-finder-plate-or-vin) We show you only the batteries that fit your exact version. - [ **BMW 3 Series (G20/G21)** from 2018 ](#gen-bmw-3-g20) - [ **BMW 3 Series (F30/F31)** 2011-2019 ](https://bateriasonline.es/en/bmw-3-series-f30-battery) - [ **BMW 3 Series (E90/E91)** 2004-2012 ](https://bateriasonline.es/en/bmw-3-series-e90-battery) - [ **BMW 3 Series (E46)** 1997-2007 ](https://bateriasonline.es/en/bmw-3-series-e46-battery) - [ **BMW 3 Series (E36)** 1990-2000 ](#gen-bmw-3-e36) - [ **BMW 3 Series (E30)** 1982-1994 ](#gen-bmw-3-e30) ## 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. BMW 3 (G20, G80, G28) - BMW 3 Touring (G21, G81) - BMW 3 Touring Van (G21) ### BMW 3 Series (G20/G21) from 2018 · 22 engines With Start-Stop: [Varta A6](https://bateriasonline.es/en/varta-a6) AGM · 80 Ah · 800 A · L4 Also: [Varta A7](https://bateriasonline.es/en/varta-a7), [Varta A5](https://bateriasonline.es/en/varta-a5) Without Start-Stop: [Varta A4](https://bateriasonline.es/en/varta-a4) AGM · 105 Ah · 950 A · L6 [Check with my number plate](https://bateriasonline.es/en/battery-finder-plate-or-vin) BMW 3 (F30, F80) - BMW 3 Touring (F31) ### [BMW 3 Series (F30/F31)](https://bateriasonline.es/en/bmw-3-series-f30-battery) 2011-2019 · 27 engines With Start-Stop: [Varta A6](https://bateriasonline.es/en/varta-a6) AGM · 80 Ah · 800 A · L4 Also: [Varta A5](https://bateriasonline.es/en/varta-a5) [See the battery for each engine BMW 3 Series (F30/F31) ](https://bateriasonline.es/en/bmw-3-series-f30-battery) BMW 3 (E90) - BMW 3 Touring (E91) ### [BMW 3 Series (E90/E91)](https://bateriasonline.es/en/bmw-3-series-e90-battery) 2004-2012 · 28 engines With Start-Stop: [Varta A6](https://bateriasonline.es/en/varta-a6) AGM · 80 Ah · 800 A · L4 Also: [Varta A7](https://bateriasonline.es/en/varta-a7), [Varta A5](https://bateriasonline.es/en/varta-a5) Without Start-Stop: [Varta F17](https://bateriasonline.es/en/varta-f17) conventional · 80 Ah · 740 A · LB4 Also: [Varta E11](https://bateriasonline.es/en/varta-e11), [Varta G3](https://bateriasonline.es/en/varta-g3) [See the battery for each engine BMW 3 Series (E90/E91) ](https://bateriasonline.es/en/bmw-3-series-e90-battery) BMW 3 (E46) - BMW 3 Coupe (E46) - BMW 3 Touring (E46) - BMW 3 Compact (E46) - BMW 3 Convertible (E46) ### [BMW 3 Series (E46)](https://bateriasonline.es/en/bmw-3-series-e46-battery) 1997-2007 · 29 engines Battery: [Varta F17](https://bateriasonline.es/en/varta-f17) conventional · 80 Ah · 740 A · LB4 Also: [Varta E11](https://bateriasonline.es/en/varta-e11), [Varta D24](https://bateriasonline.es/en/varta-d24) [See the battery for each engine BMW 3 Series (E46) ](https://bateriasonline.es/en/bmw-3-series-e46-battery) BMW 3 (E36) - BMW 3 Coupe (E36) - BMW 3 Compact (E36) - BMW 3 Convertible (E36) - BMW 3 Touring (E36) ### BMW 3 Series (E36) 1990-2000 · 15 engines Battery: [Varta D59](https://bateriasonline.es/en/varta-d59) conventional · 60 Ah · 540 A · LB2 Also: [Varta E43](https://bateriasonline.es/en/varta-e43), [Varta D24](https://bateriasonline.es/en/varta-d24) [Check with my number plate](https://bateriasonline.es/en/battery-finder-plate-or-vin) BMW 3 (E30) - BMW 3 Convertible (E30) - BMW 3 Touring (E30) ### BMW 3 Series (E30) 1982-1994 · 19 engines Battery: [Varta D24](https://bateriasonline.es/en/varta-d24) conventional · 60 Ah · 540 A · L2 Also: [Varta G3](https://bateriasonline.es/en/varta-g3), [Varta E11](https://bateriasonline.es/en/varta-e11) [Check with my number plate](https://bateriasonline.es/en/battery-finder-plate-or-vin) ## 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: | Generation | Years | Body styles (model code) | |---|---|---| | BMW 3 Series (G20/G21) | from 2018 | BMW 3 (G20, G80, G28), BMW 3 Touring (G21, G81), BMW 3 Touring Van (G21) | | BMW 3 Series (F30/F31) | 2011-2019 | BMW 3 (F30, F80), BMW 3 Touring (F31) | | BMW 3 Series (E90/E91) | 2004-2012 | BMW 3 (E90), BMW 3 Touring (E91) | | BMW 3 Series (E46) | 1997-2007 | BMW 3 (E46), BMW 3 Compact (E46), BMW 3 Convertible (E46), BMW 3 Coupe (E46), BMW 3 Touring (E46) | | BMW 3 Series (E36) | 1990-2000 | BMW 3 (E36), BMW 3 Compact (E36), BMW 3 Convertible (E36), BMW 3 Coupe (E36), BMW 3 Touring (E36) | | BMW 3 Series (E30) | 1982-1994 | BMW 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. ## More information - [Car battery sizes: L1-L6, LB1-LB5, B and D (Asian) cases](https://bateriasonline.es/en/car-battery-sizes-l-lb-b-d-cases) - [Varta A7 (formerly E39): what changed and equivalents](https://bateriasonline.es/en/varta-a7-e39-agm-battery-equivalents) - [Varta, Bosch, Exide and Tudor car battery equivalents table](https://bateriasonline.es/en/varta-bosch-exide-tudor-car-battery-equivalents) - [Start-Stop batteries (AGM and EFB)](https://bateriasonline.es/en/start-stop-batteries-agm-efb) - [Car batteries](https://bateriasonline.es/en/car-batteries) - [L4 car batteries](https://bateriasonline.es/en/l4-car-batteries) - [What battery does my car need? Guide by model](https://bateriasonline.es/en/car-battery-by-model) Updated: 1 November 2026 · Source: battery application data by engine (KType TecDoc), the same data our number plate search uses, plus the datasheet of each battery. --- *bateriasonline.es — Batteries and accessories · 2026-11-11*