Battery...which one to get...?

[the graduate]

My car needs a new battery due to the abuse of my current battery.

I have a 1993 Mercedes 190E 2.3 and went to Battery Centre for a battery test. They confirmed that it needs replacement in the very near future (also confirmed by my mechanic).

I currently have an Exide battery...any advice on which brand is a good quality brand?
Raylite, Exide, Sabat, Willards, etc...

Any place that I should visit for a good deal on a battery. The Raylite at Battery Centre for my car is R1250....and the Exide R950.

[rodga]

how long u had the exide?
if it hasnt given any problems ill stick with it

[the graduate]

how long u had the exide?
if it hasnt given any problems ill stick with it

I have the car now for two years. I don't know how long before that this battery was installed. Well it ran flat three times since I had the car. Once due to a short on my fusebox, which was subsequently fixed and twice thereafter due to storage of about two months each time around (holiday, got parked for about two months, and then while I was finsihing my thesis...also parked for about two months).

The battery is not giving problems as such but one or two starts out of ten will have a "ka-chuck-ka-ckuck-ka-chuck-ka-chuck-ka-chuck-ka"...well the engine will spin but nor fire up immediately. This is more severe when that massive engine fan must go on at engine start when the car is hot. I just had my alternator replaced, new dizzy-cap fitted and starter serviced. I don't want to put pressure on these new items. Also a failing battery can cause other problems.

[rodga]

perhaps other problems caused the battery to act up??
im no expert, but if the power output is the same i dont see how it will act differently to other (more expensive) brands

[Madman88]

If you can get the Raylite, do it, it has a nationwide guarantee. Otherwise the Exide is also a good brand. Those are the best locally made batteries imo.
If youre looking for a better battery than that then you need to go for an Optima, but they are scarce in SA and very expensive.
Whatever you do, please dont buy this cheap chinese crap. The batteries are weaker than their rating and they don't last.

Regarding putting your car in storage, you should have a look at getting a maintenance charger. Ctek have the best ones. You connect it to your battery without taking it out of your car (you should never do this with a normal charger, you might blow a fuse if you're lucky, your chip if you're not) and plug it in the wall and it will keep your battery happy while youre gone.

[Samayanaya]

If possible, don't get a sealed, no maintenance battery. You will have to replace it within 3-4 years because it just fails. Get the old school lead acid ones. They tend to last longer.

[the graduate]

perhaps other problems caused the battery to act up??
im no expert, but if the power output is the same i dont see how it will act differently to other (more expensive) brands

No, I pretty sure of that...it fires up just fine when the car is cold....so there is no leak...

[Madman88]

If possible, don't get a sealed, no maintenance battery. You will have to replace it within 3-4 years because it just fails. Get the old school lead acid ones. They tend to last longer.

Erm.. Right. And don't use them new fandangled pentuim computers either, stick to the xt.
Technology is marching forward my freind, and its leaving you behind. Even your "old school lead acid" batteries are not made with the same tech as it was 10 years ago.Oh and all batteries are lead acid. Even the sealed ones.

[the graduate]

ok, so I'll try to get the Raylite....

[MFour]

I have a Raylite in my C200, been in for about a year and still going strong, no worries so far. Also many battery "experts" have told me to expect a lifespan of about 2 to 3 years on a battery, maybe 3 to 5 on the more expensive ones, any more than that and you got lucky. So in short it seems things are not what they used to be, and it certainly wont last a very long time, regardless of the price / make. That said, I'm sure there are exceptions though.

[syrrano]

Don't let them rip you off for a battery. Your Merc should have a 652 battery if I remember correctly. Our price for a 652 Willard is R 735 and for a 652 Exide is R 695 (for MyBB members)

Raylite/Exide come from the same factory and also Willard/Sabat

[Captain Beer]

Have always used Sabat, the price isn't bad and they last a few years.

[Gnome]

@Madman88: No offense, but I have also found the batteries that you need to maintain more reliable.

IMHO Willard is the way to go.

[the graduate]

Don't let them rip you off for a battery. Your Merc should have a 652 battery if I remember correctly. Our price for a 652 Willard is R 735 and for a 652 Exide is R 695 (for MyBB members)

Raylite/Exide come from the same factory and also Willard/Sabat

Where are you..?

Ja, my car uses the 652C battery. Will be heading off to Battery Centre today for the Raylite...(R1179)...

I understand that these batteries come from the same factory, but so does Specialized and Merida...

[syrrano]

We are in Brackenfell