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

T

the graduate

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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.
 
how long u had the exide?
if it hasnt given any problems ill stick with it
 
rodga said:
how long u had the exide?
if it hasnt given any problems ill stick with it
Click to expand...

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.
 
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
 
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.
 
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.
 
rodga said:
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
Click to expand...
No, I pretty sure of that...it fires up just fine when the car is cold....so there is no leak...
 
Samayanaya said:
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.
Click to expand...

Erm.. Right. And don't use them new fandangled pentuim computers either, stick to the xt.:rolleyes:
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.
 
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.
 
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) :D

Raylite/Exide come from the same factory and also Willard/Sabat
 
Last edited:
@Madman88: No offense, but I have also found the batteries that you need to maintain more reliable.

IMHO Willard is the way to go.
 
syrrano said:
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) :D

Raylite/Exide come from the same factory and also Willard/Sabat
Click to expand...
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...
 
I pick Raylite batteries whenever I can for the simple reason that Raylite batteries generally contain far more lead than Sabat and Willard which makes for a higher quality, longer lasting battery.
It also makes them more expensive but you get what you pay for.
The last time I compared a Sabat to a Raylite the Sabat was significantly lighter than the Raylite for the same size battery.
It's been a while since I've bought batteries so maybe the other manufacturers have upped their game.
 
A few points from my side:
Battery Centre is a total rip off - go somewhere else, anywhere.
Madman has some good tips, heed his advice.
 
Tosser said:
A few points from my side:
Battery Centre is a total rip off - go somewhere else, anywhere.
Madman has some good tips, heed his advice.
Click to expand...

+1 on that. Some people recommended Vonde Batteries in Maitland to me, price wise.
 
Tosser said:
A few points from my side:
Battery Centre is a total rip off - go somewhere else, anywhere.
Madman has some good tips, heed his advice.
Click to expand...

Thanks :D (Except I would recommend battery center :p.)
 
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