Battery died - is a new VAG Battery worth it?

[No457 Snowy]

My Mk4 GtI battery just died, not bad since it's the original from when I bought the car new in 2004. Should I just get a good quality replacement from somewhere like the Battery Factory or is it worth going for an original VAG Battery? 7 years of Canberra's cold winter ain't a bad run I guess probably the best run from a battery I've had.

I haven't price the VW replacement but I can only guess it'll be $$$, but I don't mind that if it outlasts 2 cheaper ones.

Snowy

[balkanac]

i dont think that vw batteries are any better than a good quality battery that you can buy anywhere. Just make sure that its the right battery for your car and it should be fine

[Transporter]

My Mk4 GtI battery just died, not bad since it's the original from when I bought the car new in 2004. Should I just get a good quality replacement from somewhere like the Battery Factory or is it worth going for an original VAG Battery? 7 years of Canberra's cold winter ain't a bad run I guess probably the best run from a battery I've had.

I haven't price the VW replacement but I can only guess it'll be $$$, but I don't mind that if it outlasts 2 cheaper ones.

Snowy

The Battery World stocks Varta batteries, if you want to get the same one. Expect to pay from $250 to $300. Otherwise Yuassa or Exide would be my pick.

[No457 Snowy]

Thanks fellas, No worries I just wanted to see what some others had used as replacement and whether they were happy with them. Varta, Exide or Yuassa sound like good suggestions.

Snowy

[whiteVR6]

A genuine battery is only around $240 and they are better than other batteries of the same spec.

[Manaz]

I personally like the Optima gel-cell batteries - but I don't think they make one that fits perfectly for a Mk4

[djorkboy]

A genuine battery is only around $240 and they are better than other batteries of the same spec.

What is better about them? Mine was replaced recently with one from the NRMA for around the same price, what would be different about a VAG one?

[VW Convert]

What is better about them? Mine was replaced recently with one from the NRMA for around the same price, what would be different about a VAG one?

I would have thought the OP's experience of a battery life of 7 years in a place with cold winters like Canberra is pretty good testament to the quality of the OE battery. Batteries these days tend not to last more than 3-4 years, 7 years is not a bad run if you ask me.

[No457 Snowy]

I would have thought the OP's experience of a battery life of 7 years in a place with cold winters like Canberra is pretty good testament to the quality of the OE battery. Batteries these days tend not to last more than 3-4 years, 7 years is not a bad run if you ask me.

That's what I suspected as well, the batteries I have had in my other car(s) haven't lasted this long, does anyone else still have their original in their MK4?

Snowy

[Adzismad2]

I changed my original 2 months ago. Brought the car new in 03

[cube_3]

That's what I suspected as well, the batteries I have had in my other car(s) haven't lasted this long, does anyone else still have their original in their MK4?

Snowy

Yes I still have my original battery in my MK4 1.6. Its 7 and a half years old and is now starting to show signs of giving up the ghost. I still need to do some phoning around for different battery prices. The only one I have checked out is the DIN55 Excide - Kmart sell them for $199. Will also be ringing around the dealers, battery world etc but I think Varta are hard to find locally, besides at the dealers.

[No457 Snowy]

I called a VW local dealer yesterday and was quoted $260 for a genuine replacement (Varta).

Snowy

[Paul_OH]

7-8 years for a battery is pretty amazing. In my previous cars (various Australian, Jap & Euro) 3-4 years is the average. Based on that experience I was planning on replacing ours this year as preventive maintenance but now definitely won't until it starts to fail. Our last car's battery gave no warning whatsoever thus the 'preventive' angle on preventive maintenance

ps $260 for something that lasts for 5+ years is not expensive, sure you could by cheaper but why would you?

[No457 Snowy]

Dropped the new one in today, got a new Varta from VW, so she's all happy again.

[geoff_gti]

I recently replaced the original battery in my MY03 GTI. $190 fitted from RAC. It hadn't even died completely but was definitely on the way out...could feel/hear the car loading up everytime I started it.

Hey Cube_3 - the RAC part # was 5500. I think it matches up to the DIN53 code or similar which other manufacturers/shops were quoting, from memory.