New Battery required.... recommendations?

-Ju-

-Ju-

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Right so it looks like I need a new battery on the S3. Over the last week or two I've had a few issue with the battery struggling to start the car and then this evening it wouldn't start. I've checked the battery with a voltmeter and it's ok when running, somewhere around 13.5-14 volts, but it dropped down to 9.7 volts when switched off.
So my question is, any recommendations on what to get and where from?
 
chrisb72 said:
I'm not an expert, but it said on the Euro Car parts website that it was meant to fit my car.....

Car Battery | Quality Car Batteries for every type of car


I have a 2.0T sportback not 3.2 by the way.

Sounds like the Varta is higher powered, but do I need that in a 2.0T?
Click to expand...

Depends what systems you have.

May be ok if you're desperate to save a few quid but, basically, only time will tell.

If they can supply a car battery at that price with free delivery then how much could you get it locally ?
 
Whatever you do, try to get a Calcium battery rather than a Lead one.
 
Just had a quick look, S3 uses an 013 battery. I don't think the 2.0T being a petrol will need a massively powerful battery, unless you have power demanding aftermarket equipment you'll be fine with most batteries, as i said calcium is the way forward rather than lead. Just try to get a battery close enough to your original spec battery, you can go up say 100CCA if you want but dont do OTT with it. Your alternator still needs to be able to top the battery up and if you don't do long journeys often or rarely use the car you need a battery that will charge up enough of short journeys.
 
Halfords list a calcium battery, but i'll not be buying anything with Halfords marked on it lol!
 
audi upgrades
mike foster said:
Depends what systems you have.

May be ok if you're desperate to save a few quid but, basically, only time will tell.

If they can supply a car battery at that price with free delivery then how much could you get it locally ?
Click to expand...

I'd like to think I'm trying to get a deal rather than desperate to save every pound ;-)

I don't want to put a crap battery in the car by any means, but at the same time I don't want to pay over the odds for something my car might not need.

My car doesn't get used every day and I don't do big mileages. I'd say it only gets a longish motorway run a couple of times a month max, so what I'm after is a battery that can cope with my circumstances.
 
I got the varta silver dynamic this morning (e44) for £94. My local motor factors wanted £70 for one I'd never heard of!
When I got the battery he told me they didn't stock the silver only the blue dynamic which is one up from the silver, when I said it was the other way round he just said oh right, turned out they only had the silver in lol!
 
mike foster said:
Well if you want to go the minimum cost route, which of course is perfectly ok and up to you, this one from Euro Car Parts will be ok and even cheaper !

Exide Audi Excell Battery 027 3 Year Guarantee | Euro Car Parts UK’s No.1 Car Parts Retailer

I was merely pointing out that if you had additional equipment it may be better to have a stronger battery for the sake of maybe a tenner !
Click to expand...


Thanks for the tip and no offence was taken mate! I know I can be a bit of a tight **** when it comes to some purchases, it's the careful spending Yorkshireman in me! Lol
 
Varta Ultra Silver Dynamic is the kiddy, I have on both my cars, its the more higher spec'd battery advised to use for cars with more technology fitted.

The guy who told you the Blue was 1 up from the Silver was an idiot, the Blue is what audi fit as standard to our cars.

The Silver can be bought from TPS for a good price, ZGB577400078 iirc is the part number with them, you wont find it in etka, its a special part number not part of the audi system.

ProductFinder - VARTA Automotive
 
Yep that's the one I bought Nige, I think he wanted to sell me the one he "thought" he had in stock lol. I noticed the difference as soon as I put it on, fair whizzes the engine over!
 
Just so u kno, i work at halfords. All the batteries and bulbs are made by bosch but have just been rebranded with halfords stickers. Have a look at the imprints for dates whenever ur next in ull see theyre similar. The calcium batteries are actually pretty good
 
NHN said:
Varta Ultra Silver Dynamic is the kiddy, I have on both my cars, its the more higher spec'd battery advised to use for cars with more technology fitted.

The guy who told you the Blue was 1 up from the Silver was an idiot, the Blue is what audi fit as standard to our cars.

The Silver can be bought from TPS for a good price, ZGB577400078 iirc is the part number with them, you wont find it in etka, its a special part number not part of the audi system.

ProductFinder - VARTA Automotive
Click to expand...

After so much good feedback I'm thinking I should go down the VARTA route.

I think this is the right one for my car, but would like a second opinion.....

Type 027 Varta Silver Dynamic Car Battery 12V 63Ah (Short Code: D15) (Varta DIN: 562 103 060 or 563 400 061) - Car Batteries - Varta Car Batteries

I can't find it for a better price than this online!
 
Thats not the 1 I have referenced, 8P needs the 577400078 version, given its only £10-20 more, trust me, get it :) ring tps.
 
Thats the point I've been making, the better battery is more capable of running the cars systems, as for size, well do a check on the varta battery search, also see if the battery compartment has enough space for the longer 1, if so, then buy it mate.
 
I got the E44 for my S3, it's the same size as my old battery but with 77Ah as opposed to 70Ah
 
NHN said:
Thats the point I've been making, the better battery is more capable of running the cars systems, as for size, well do a check on the varta battery search, also see if the battery compartment has enough space for the longer 1, if so, then buy it mate.
Click to expand...

I get your point about the better battery, but unless there is alot of play in those terminals I'm not convinced I have the space to fit that battery in my car. I seem to have about 275mm from the + to the edge of the plastic. Unless I am wrong the + terminal looks pretty rigid.

Is it possible the S3 has a bigger space for the battery than the 2.0T?

All sites I have looked at refer to my car having a battery size of 242mm in length.

My current battery is only 60AH so anything is going to be an improvement, but seeing as I'm going to attempt this myself I want to get the right size battery before ordering.

Is there something I'm missing about the original VARTA battery I posted. It is the same type 027 as I've seen advertised for my car.

Confused:readit:
 
Can you not source a local Varta dealer? That way you can return the battery if it doesn't fit. By the time you add postage onto the on-line prices, there's not much difference anyway.

Both sizes do seem to be listed for your car as you say!
 
chrisb72 said:
I get your point about the better battery, but unless there is alot of play in those terminals I'm not convinced I have the space to fit that battery in my car. I seem to have about 275mm from the + to the edge of the plastic. Unless I am wrong the + terminal looks pretty rigid.

Is it possible the S3 has a bigger space for the battery than the 2.0T?

All sites I have looked at refer to my car having a battery size of 242mm in length.

My current battery is only 60AH so anything is going to be an improvement, but seeing as I'm going to attempt this myself I want to get the right size battery before ordering.

Is there something I'm missing about the original VARTA battery I posted. It is the same type 027 as I've seen advertised for my car.

Confused:readit:
Click to expand...

For what it's worth I identify below my priorities in choosing a battery :-

1. ALWAYS get the physical size that was the original fit

2. Get the highest amp/hour rating you can afford.

3. Consider higher amp/hour rating if you have additional equipment

4. Bear in mind that all batteries will be guaranteed for at least two years so if it costs £100 it's only £50 per year. I'm sure £1 a week isn't stretching things too far !!

p.s. all batteries will be ok provided they physically fit properly and are at least the same technical spec. as originally fitted so stop worrying and just go and get one !! You get what you pay for !
 
3.2 Ju said:
Can you not source a local Varta dealer? That way you can return the battery if it doesn't fit. By the time you add postage onto the on-line prices, there's not much difference anyway.

Both sizes do seem to be listed for your car as you say!
Click to expand...

Found a VARTA dealer not far from me so will give them a call tomorrow to get a quote.

They had a PDF spec sheet and according to the application list both the VARTA's will fit.

Weirdly the D15 will only fit in the 2.0T 3 door, but the 2.0T Sportback will take both D15 and E44

The S3 was only advertised as 3 door on the list and states E44.

Thanks for your help fellas.
 
chrisb72 said:
I get your point about the better battery, but unless there is alot of play in those terminals I'm not convinced I have the space to fit that battery in my car. I seem to have about 275mm from the + to the edge of the plastic. Unless I am wrong the + terminal looks pretty rigid.

Is it possible the S3 has a bigger space for the battery than the 2.0T?

All sites I have looked at refer to my car having a battery size of 242mm in length.

My current battery is only 60AH so anything is going to be an improvement, but seeing as I'm going to attempt this myself I want to get the right size battery before ordering.

Is there something I'm missing about the original VARTA battery I posted. It is the same type 027 as I've seen advertised for my car.

Confused:readit:
Click to expand...

Search has got me this thread - its only over 4 years old so don't fret folks!. I just wondered which battery you ended up going with @chrisb72
In measuring my 2.0T compartment I've drawn the same conclusions as you did - the E44 is clearly the better battery but whether it would fit in the space for my 2.0T, then I'm not 100% sure. Perhaps with a gentle bit of force/ persuasion!
 
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