Choosing a battery (not for a Stag)

[Guest]

JUst been looking for one for my other car and, boy, is the choice confusing! I expecxt they are all made in the same factory in deepest China, but I am going to avoid an umknown and stick with Bosch, Exide or Varta. I guess that the higher tha Ah and CCA is the better, but is there anything to really look out for?

[V Mad]

Yes highest Ah and CCA. Also obviously position of terminals in relation to + and - leads, plus shape and size, and best guarantee.

[KOY 23]

Ian

Try these people.http://www.thetradepartsspecialists.co.uk/. They sell Varta and OE VW group parts and you can cross ref your battery part number. I bought a genuine VW battery for under £30. Just get what BMW specify.

[Guest]

Thanks Chris. Looks like you have to register as a business on that site John - did you do that?

[jbuckl]

Varta or Bosch Silver are good value if you are keeping the car.

If the car is a merc, the dealer price is often lower than a motor factor for a dealer supplied merc/varta battery.

[KOY 23]

Ian.

I never logged in, you can cross reference without that. You need to phone for a price.

[mjheathcote]

Bosch silver S5 if keeping the car for a while, bought several all been/still good.
Cheers
Mike

[Staghound]

When you,ve decided on a battery spec go to a motor factors and tell them you,re a taxi driver and ask for trade price......I,ve often had sucsess trying this method!

Andrew.

[ChasR]

The above does work well I admit .

If you are keeping the car for a while I would also go with a Bosch Silver or Varta Silver battery (they are both the same battery). ECP sometimes do some good discounts on these.

If you were closer I would have got one for you via my Halfrauds trade card. However, if you are passing by...

[Guest]

Thanks all. It's for a BMW and I quite fancied Bosch, but have been told that Exide make their batterys.

Looking at my current (ho ho) one which is the OE and original 10 year old unit, its an 80Ah and 640 CCA.

Done some hunting about and it seems like a toss-up between the Exide 110 3 year warranty (80Ah / 700 CCA) at about £68 delivered or the Exide Premium 110 4 year warranty ((85Ah and 800 CCA) at about £75.

[Guest]

I decided to get the Exide 110 3 year guarantee and Carparts4less.co.uk were about £4.50 cheaper than ECP. As there is an ECP down the road from the office I gave them a call and they quoted the net price and then said that sometimes there is a promo code and offered me the discounted 'net price.

I persuaded them to price match the other one and they agreed saying it was then at the price they reserve for fleet / trade buyers. Fits in the space fine but needed a couple of little packers under the hold down bar. So car all starting nicely now meaning I will be able to take it for it's Inspection 1 on Wednesday.