Older MBP Battery Replacement Questions

[jbsmithmac]

I have a mid-2009 MBP Unibody (MacBookPro5,5, MB990LL/A) that could use a new battery as it looses about 15-20% of a full charge in sleep mode over 8 hours...and will be completely depleted in about 2 - 3 hours of use.

It does have a samsung 830 SSD in it with a fresh install of ML, but other than that its bone stock still working well.

That said I know Apple will replace the battery for $130. I don't mind paying this but for something this simple the Apple Store is a bit out of my way to make it worth it (1 hour car ride each way).

So I've seen many places selling a battery to replace mine with, but how do I know what to buy - search by Apple Part number? Are ebay batteries OK? I know some will say this is why you pay the $130 to Apple - which I'll do if I'm not confident I'm buying the right thing.

Any help is greatly appreciated.

 

[johnnnw]

Don't buy cheap batteries.

Of all the stories you'll see of batteries burning/exploding it's always the cheap Ebay batteries that do it.

Just my insight. I would never use a cheap battery.

 

[jbsmithmac]

^^ Yeah I won't (I've got lots of horror stories from RC Lipo's). Just with computer batteries I don't know where to buy from.

I've looked at ifixit, but for their price I should just make the trip to the apple store since it's not much more.

If the apple store is the way to go, then that's what I'll do - just looking to see what others recommend.

 

[Bear]

^^ Yeah I won't (I've got lots of horror stories from RC Lipo's). Just with computer batteries I don't know where to buy from.

I've looked at ifixit, but for their price I should just make the trip to the apple store since it's not much more.

If the apple store is the way to go, then that's what I'll do - just looking to see what others recommend.

In this case you won't really save money by going non-Apple so you may as well pay Apple to do the work.

 

[Brian Y]

In this case you won't really save money by going non-Apple so you may as well pay Apple to do the work.

Agreed, go with Apple. And if anything messes up, they'll be responsible.

 

[jbsmithmac]

Thanks. That's what I'll do. Apple it is.