2019 MacBook Pro 13" Palmrest Replacement

YoutubeATM wrote:

my question is, if I replace the palmrest, do I have to transfer over the Touch Bar?

No. The Touchbar is not tied to the MLB. Besides there is no way to remove the Touchbar without destroying it.

I would be leary of any Top Case Assembly that says the Battery is new or good. The quality of third party Lithium batteries is extremely poor even when purchased from a reputable vendor.

FYI, with the OWC battery (or any third party battery), it is critical to perform the "calibration" or "exercise" routine on the new third party battery or you will most certainly encounter a premature battery failure. You also want to avoid leaving the battery at 0% charge level for any length of time. While it is never good for any battery to be left at 0% charge level....the third party batteries (even OWC to some extent...varies) tend to degrade much faster when this occurs compared to a new Apple OEM battery.

Also, since you don't really know the history of this laptop, I would advise caution putting any money into it. A battery replacement is a borderline acceptable option if and I repeat IF everything else with this laptop is good. The butterfly keyboards on these 2016-2019 models have an extremely high rate of failure so I would thoroughly test each & every key to confirm they don't repeat & they respond on & every key press. The MLBs on these T2 laptops also tend to have a higher rate of failure compared to older Mac laptops as do the Display Assemblies (cable issues, though not quite as bad as the 2016-2017 models).

Most people don't give away an expensive device unless there are some issues with it. I highly recommend you thoroughly test the laptop before investing any money into it. And even good friends have been known to give defective devices to a good friend without advising them of the issues.

Also, make sure you have the "seller" perform all of the steps in the following Apple article:

What to do before you sell, give away, trade in, or recycle your Mac - Apple Support

And even if they do all those steps, I highly recommend you do them as well by starting at Step #6. You would be surprised at what installing a clean OS can reveal about an Apple device.

This Apple repair page show they still do battery service on 2019 models:

Mac Repair and Service - Apple Support

If Apple does the service, it goes to a centralized Apple refurbishment and repair center. They do not batteries in-store because the noxious solvents required to remove the old battery cannot be used in a retail space without violating dozens of OHSA, HAZMAT, and fire codes.

Senior members here who have used the service say Apple replaced the entire upper deck assembly with a perfect refurbed one and new battery. For US$ 249 you get a very refreshed computer.

It's remotely possible that an Apple store may have the proper refurbed upper deck assembly in stock. However, due to so many variants of models and keyboard layouts, chances are slim that they have the right one in stock.

For a laptop, you can use the "send-in" option shown in the above-linked page. That can save a day on each end. If you drop it at an Apple Store, they will have to ship it anyway.

I've seem too many reports here of non-reparable damage incurred during home attempts to replace a glued-in battery. I am very comfortable getting inside Macs but I would not for a moment consider doing a battery replacement on any current Mac laptops.

Offered for your consideration.

read my response to a similar issue and HWtech's commentary here before you act:

Can I fix battery and change port on my 2… - Apple Community

Have Apple or an AASP replace the battery: Mac Repair and Service - Apple Support

The only valid reason to replace a Mac battery on your own is when the Mac becomes too old for Apple or an authorized Apple repair facility to service it.

That one is "vintage" which means parts should still be available. If they are not available, then your question is moot.

YoutubeATM wrote:

Thank you for the prompt response, the thought did cross my mind when I was doing research, however $249 USD is a bit steep for a machine that is now 6 years old. Do I realistically have any other options that might be more affordable?

it would seem much more simple replace the battery and not replace the the top case in the process.

https://eshop.macsales.com/item/NewerTech/BAP13MBPR59K/?srsltid=AfmBOoq59YdlJt-_3PeLxpWS4ix9Jguy8peUg2NVZsrQtc3gil3Cqn3K

https://eshop.macsales.com/installvideos/macbook_pro_retina_13_inch_2019_battery/?srsltid=AfmBOopmlIj3wZk_qUVnzdLw50WxIyRJ9GtR_bjfnA0QHOnL__SKYtDx

https://www.ifixit.com/Guide/MacBook+Pro+13-Inch+Two+Thunderbolt+Ports+2019+Battery+Replacement/133305

You got a free Mac. You can choose to spend $249 to have the replacement performed the right way and with a guarantee, or you can choose to spend $100 for just the battery and risk damaging the Mac.

I can't make that decision for you but the correct choice seems obvious to me.