Battery Brands - How do you rate quality?

What do you think is the best automotive/backup battery brand?

  • Willard/Sabat ect. (mostly local manufacturer)

    Votes: 22 45.8%

  • Raylite/Exide/Bosch ect. (mostly local manufacturer)

    Votes: 10 20.8%

  • Energiser

    Votes: 9 18.8%

  • Duracell

    Votes: 3 6.3%

  • Monbat

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Probe

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Maxim

    Votes: 2 4.2%

  • Osaka (lol)

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Enertek

    Votes: 2 4.2%

  • Atlas BX

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Total voters
    48
ninjaman509 said:
I checked my photos it was 2021 Jan (thought it was December 2020), Can't remember what I paid. What would have been the correct price?

It certainly wasn't the cheapest option they had as I wanted to go AGM
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Impossible to tell, especially since you bought it two years ago.
 
Nithan15 said:
A funny story my E46 BMW back in the day had it battery die on it after 10 years - most german cars have battery in the boot so less heat hence it last longer. Call BMW for the battery and in 2013 I was quoted R5000.00 - shopped around, went to the battery centre and I was given the exact same BMW branded battery for R2700.00.
When I sold the car the buyer was looking around the car and he said you "fitted a genuine BMW battery that must have costed alot, this car must have been very well maintained" :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:
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I had the same experience. Also had a E46 BMW battery that lasted 12 years. It was replaced at Battery Centre with a new battery (can't remember the brand) that was R2800 BUT it only lasted 3 years before it had to be replaced.
 
SlowInternet said:
I had the same experience. Also had a E46 BMW battery that lasted 12 years. It was replaced at Battery Centre with a new battery (can't remember the brand) that was R2800 BUT it only lasted 3 years before it had to be replaced.
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Thats quite strange the lift span of the replacement battery, I dont think the E46 needed coding

I know with my current Audi if I have to replace the battery I definitely will need to have the battery coded.
 
SlowInternet said:
I had the same experience. Also had a E46 BMW battery that lasted 12 years. It was replaced at Battery Centre with a new battery (can't remember the brand) that was R2800 BUT it only lasted 3 years before it had to be replaced
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Did you replace it with an AGM? BMW OEM batteries are all AGM, but may have also been a battery issue. OR a car issue for that matter.


RudderVator said:
Varta for me. Had it with First National Batteries.
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Interesting. Why Varta? And Why not First National Batteries?
 
Nithan15 said:
Thats quite strange the lift span of the replacement battery, I dont think the E46 needed coding

I know with my current Audi if I have to replace the battery I definitely will need to have the battery coded.
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Audi's are a PITA with the coding.
The dealerships quote a price for the battery and then ad 2 hours of labour for the fitment and coding. They used to refuse to do the coding if you fitted an after market battery, but now they have to so they charge the 2 hours labour to do the coding and do their best to slander the aftermarket battery in the process.
 
Mars said:
Audi's are a PITA with the coding.
The dealerships quote a price for the battery and then ad 2 hours of labour for the fitment and coding. They used to refuse to do the coding if you fitted an after market battery, but now they have to so they charge the 2 hours labour to do the coding and do their best to slander the aftermarket battery in the process.
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The coding takes all of 10 minutes and that includes starting the laptop
 
Neuk_ said:
The coding takes all of 10 minutes and that includes starting the laptop
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Agreed, I used a VAGCOM cable to tell my Golf 7 it had a new battery, change type to Fleece (agm) and specify the Ah. Took a few minutes of double checking a guide video and a forum post. Hopefully this battery will now last longer than the one before it where I did not do any coding.
 
Mars said:
Audi's are a PITA with the coding.
The dealerships quote a price for the battery and then ad 2 hours of labour for the fitment and coding. They used to refuse to do the coding if you fitted an after market battery, but now they have to so they charge the 2 hours labour to do the coding and do their best to slander the aftermarket battery in the process.
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I think you can code the battery using VAG software or OBDEleven.
 
ninjaman509 said:
Agreed, I used a VAGCOM cable to tell my Golf 7 it had a new battery, change type to Fleece (agm) and specify the Ah. Took a few minutes of double checking a guide video and a forum post. Hopefully this battery will now last longer than the one before it where I did not do any coding.
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Fingers crossed

I think its because if you dont code the battery the car thinks it still has the old battery and for safety reasons it holds back the charge once you code you get full charge
 
Mars said:
I have an xtool diagnostic machine that does it no problem, but its the principal.
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Yeah I refused to get my battery replaced by VW as they wanted to charge me like R3000 for a battery which wasn't even EFB and then like R1500 or something for coding. So I bought a VAGCOM cable as investment and a Varta AGM battery instead. Because it's ridiculous to charge that much to change like 4 values
 
Cheap "Midas" branded battery bought in February 2018 still going strong in a car that has its battery abused daily with a sound system.
 
What about Dixon batteries, locally manufactured in Vereeniging? 24 Months Warranty on passenger car batteries.
 
geezer said:
What about Dixon batteries, locally manufactured in Vereeniging? 24 Months Warranty on passenger car batteries.
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I was only allowed 10 options, but yea that's an acceptable cheaper option. Tho AFAIK they import their 24 month batteries as well.
 
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Toyota/Lexus use rebranded Exide batteries (Toyota logos), so I just replaced mine with an Exide. Cheaper than through the dealer. Still going strong.
 
Jewpacabra said:
Toyota/Lexus use rebranded Exide batteries (Toyota logos), so I just replaced mine with an Exide. Cheaper than through the dealer. Still going strong.
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Well, not really rebranded exide. Its the same battery thats either branded exide, raylite, bosch, toyota. ect...
 
My fiesta came with a Varta and finally died after 4 years and a bit. Replaced it with a Willard today. Ford direct was offering me a Sabat but was a bit more then the same size Willard from Midas
 
MidnightZA said:
My fiesta came with a Varta and finally died after 4 years and a bit. Replaced it with a Willard today. Ford direct was offering me a Sabat but was a bit more then the same size Willard from Midas
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Did they register your warranty? Make sure its done or you won't get the full 25 months.

Wait, Ford is supposed to offer you the oe FoMoKo battery made by FNB, not Sabat. Interesting that they would do that.
 
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