Mid-2015 MBP with swollen battery

[rbpeirce]

Anybody have any idea what something like this might be worth? The computer works great but either the battery needs to be replaced or it has an unknown, but limited life. Reacement can be a DIY project for some but can be expensive to have done.

I replaced it with a newer model but hate to just discard this one if it has the potential for a new home, temporary or otherwise.

 

[Randy B. Singer]

If your MBP still has the original battery, and you are the original owner, I've known owners who have taken their Macbook's with swollen batteries to an Apple brick and mortar store, and Apple has replaced the battery for free, even though the MBP was long out of AppleCare, and the extended warranty for swollen batteries has expired. The last thing that Apple wants is for your MBP to catch on fire and burn down your home. If they think that they have to give you a new battery to prevent that, they likely will. See:

15-inch MacBook Pro Battery Recall Program - Apple Support

15-inch MacBook Pro Battery Recall Program

support.apple.com

Your MBP is worth way more if it has a new battery in it. You can't ship it to someone with a swollen battery, it's a fire hazard. In fact, you shouldn't even be selling it if a swollen battery is still in it.

 

[techiesteve]

If your MBP still has the original battery, and you are the original owner, I've known owners who have taken their Macbook's with swollen batteries to an Apple brick and mortar store, and Apple has replaced the battery for free, even though the MBP was long out of AppleCare, and the extended warranty for swollen batteries has expired. The last thing that Apple wants is for your MBP to catch on fire and burn down your home. If they think that they have to give you a new battery to prevent that, they likely will. See:

15-inch MacBook Pro Battery Recall Program - Apple Support

15-inch MacBook Pro Battery Recall Program

support.apple.com

Your MBP is worth way more if it has a new battery in it. You can't ship it to someone with a swollen battery, it's a fire hazard. In fact, you shouldn't even be selling it if a swollen battery is still in it.

In the UK apple will only replace the battery if your Mabook Pro's serial # falls within a certain numerical range.Then the Apple Store will ship away in a special package not by air Apple stores only replace the top case with battery.

 

[Randy B. Singer]

In the UK apple will only replace the battery if your Mabook Pro's serial # falls within a certain numerical range.Then the Apple Store will ship away in a special package not by air Apple stores only replace the top case with battery.

That's the official policy here in the U.S. too. But I've heard a bunch of stories of people who have gone into Apple brick and mortar stores with an obviously swollen battery, with a MBP not in the recall range, and Apple replaced their battery for free anyway, especially if it seemed that the owner wasn't willing to pay to have it repaired.

Once again, Apple really doesn't want to be responsible for your house burning down, and the story of how your house burned down due to an Apple product in the press.

As an attorney, I can guaranty you that Apple Store employees are told not to let you go home and keep on using a dangerous Apple product. Whether or not you have to pay for the repair (if your MBP is outside the range of the recall), or whether Apple pays for it, is likely down to how you present the problem in the store. Personally, I would be polite, but incensed, that my MBP had a defective and dangerous battery (referencing the recall, and not caring that my MBP was outside the proscribed range) and that they wanted to charge me to have it replaced. I'd be pretty firm that they should be replacing the defective battery on their own dime.

 

[rbpeirce]

As an attorney, I can guaranty you that Apple Store employees are told not to let you go home and keep on using a dangerous Apple product. Whether or not you have to pay for the repair (if your MBP is outside the range of the recall), or whether Apple pays for it, is likely down to how you present the problem in the store. Personally, I would be polite, but incensed, that my MBP had a defective and dangerous battery (referencing the recall, and not caring that my MBP was outside the proscribed range) and that they wanted to charge me to have it replaced. I'd be pretty firm that they should be replacing the defective battery on their own dime.

Interesting approach. I'll have to look into this before heading for Craigslist.

 

[pm-r]

Anybody have any idea what something like this might be worth?

To answer your original question, try doing a Google search and some online appraisal sites and you may want to check into the "used for sale", eBay and the Facebook Marketplace for your General area.
If you want to replace the battery yourself, Macsales.com (OWC) exceptional quality replacement batteries as well as some Outlets on Amazon website.

And maybe check out some of the opinions and comments about that model:

was 2015 macbook a goopd model - Google Search

I cannot remember if it had some quirks that affected their value or not but the thought is looking at the back of my head, which could affect its value have been a such comments are true.

Don't forget that laptop is basically 10 years old but still some useful life left of the right price.




- Patrick
=======

 

[rbpeirce]

To answer your original question, try doing a Google search and some online appraisal sites and you may want to check into the "used for sale", eBay and the Facebook Marketplace for your General area.
If you want to replace the battery yourself, Macsales.com (OWC) exceptional quality replacement batteries as well as some Outlets on Amazon website.

And maybe check out some of the opinions and comments about that model:

was 2015 macbook a goopd model - Google Search

I cannot remember if it had some quirks that affected their value or not but the thought is looking at the back of my head, which could affect its value have been a such comments are true.

Don't forget that laptop is basically 10 years old but still some useful life left of the right price.




- Patrick
=======

I tried this originally but the specifics of a swollen battery pretty much stymied me.

I did think about replacing the battery when this started but upon looking into it decided it wasn't something I wanted to try.

 

[Randy B. Singer]

I tried this originally but the specifics of a swollen battery pretty much stymied me.

I did think about replacing the battery when this started but upon looking into it decided it wasn't something I wanted to try.

You might want to try out this free Macintosh valuation site:

Mac2Sell - How much is my Mac, iPhone, iPad worth?

Want to sell a Mac, buy a refurbished iPhone ? Mac2Sell determines the fair price for each second hand Apple product including MacBook Pro, iMac and other Mac, iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch. We also help to buy or resell it.

www.mac2sell.net

If you don't want to replace the battery, I think that your best bet would be to sell your MBP for parts on CraigsList. You can sell it to someone locally and thereby not have to send a potentially dangerous laptop with a swollen battery through the mail.

https://www.craigslist.org

My wild a__ guess is that it is worth about $100 as it is. This might be a reasonable deal for someone who has the same MBP, but who needs a new keyboard or a new display.

 

[Mac Man 2007]

To answer your original question, try doing a Google search and some online appraisal sites and you may want to check into the "used for sale", eBay and the Facebook Marketplace for your General area.
If you want to replace the battery yourself, Macsales.com (OWC) exceptional quality replacement batteries as well as some Outlets on Amazon website.

And maybe check out some of the opinions and comments about that model:

was 2015 macbook a goopd model - Google Search

I cannot remember if it had some quirks that affected their value or not but the thought is looking at the back of my head, which could affect its value have been a such comments are true.

Don't forget that laptop is basically 10 years old but still some useful life left of the right price.




- Patrick
=======

I didn't know that Apple was replacing swollen batteries. I am the original owner of an Apple reconditioned MBP 2015 bought in 2017 with a new battery. Anyhow the battery was swollen and I bought OWC's battery and have like the performance of it. It still has 100% capacity with 286 cycles on it.

 

[Rod]

Just my take on it; the 2015 MBP was a great device, I had one up till the M1 MBP I have now.
I also bought that model brand new in 2017 for the multiple USB and other ports as much as great performance.
It also developed a swollen battery 2 years later but was replaced under Australian Consumer Protection regulations at Apple's cost. They also had to replace the keyboard and track pad due to distortion damage.
Do keep in mind that a swollen battery of that type can spontaneously combust so don't keep it near valuable or combustable items.

 

[SpeedThree5500]

You know you can replace the battery yourself. I have done so with instructions from iFixit. But instead of using the flammable liquid they supply for dissolving the glue holding the batteries to the top cover, I saw a video about using dental floss to gently "saw" under the batteries and remove them that way. The floss I tried kept breaking and so I used a piece of nylon fishing line instead and it worked like a charm.
See this video:

 

[Slydude]

You know you can replace the battery yourself. I have done so with instructions from iFixit. But instead of using the flammable liquid they supply for dissolving the glue holding the batteries to the top cover, I saw a video about using dental floss to gently "saw" under the batteries and remove them that way. The floss I tried kept breaking and so I used a piece of nylon fishing line instead and it worked like a charm.
See this video:

Brilliant.

 

[rbpeirce]

My wild a__ guess is that it is worth about $100 as it is. This might be a reasonable deal for someone who has the same MBP, but who needs a new keyboard or a new display.

Thanks. That's pretty much where I was. Also, anybody who has the time or ability to swap out the battery would have a pretty nice computer.