How much should I pay for a new battery?

[Bruce Fielding]

Just had one fitted at the garage... I'm running a book on what they'll charge me... My guess is £85 including fitting... any more bets?

[david beer]

I just payed £75 ish but fitted it myself.

[s_i_hunter]

I paid £51 and fitted myself.

The battery is a std 72 type with a crank rating of 620-630 amps.

Size of battery for box is L 272mm, W 170, D 220.

Got mine from local motor factors.

[CraigAlsop]

I think £85 wont be far off - battery should be £40-50 & it'll take about 30 minutes to an hour depending on whether anything wants to play silly b*ggers (nuts turning inside resin instead of bolts unscrewing etc)

[cess]

As my boring box is a Rover 75 diesel I thought battery looked about right when I needed a new one for the Griff. Tried it and it fits in the holder fine. Terminals are now up against bulkhead though so it keeps the cables to the back, leaving more room on top for ECU.
Rover battery is higher amperage, and cheaper. Cost me £30 + VAT from Makro for a 3 year guarantee Exide made job.
Definitely worth doing.

[dannyboyo]

I paid £70 for a 600 amp battery for my Chimaera, fitted myself (nightmare!!)

[TravelsVeryRapid]

Just paid £55.00 for new battery, and £45.00 for fitting plut vat. Woulden't have fancied fitting it myself!

Steve.

[zippy500]

try a local motor store, mine was 35 quid and Ultra Exide one with 4 year guarantee

[Toffer]

If you fit the battery yourself, I suggest that you wire in connections for a float charger at the same time. I put the connectors under the passenger seat...extremely neat!

[CraigAlsop]

Most cars have the cigarette lighter permanently live - I use a charger/conditioner through this....

[Toffer]

CraigAlsop said: Most cars have the cigarette lighter permanently live - I use a charger/conditioner through this....

You are right Craig, I just don't like the electrical connection that you get using the lighter and feel safer with ring tab connectors fitted to the battery terminal.

[veg]

Being the tight arse I am, I found that if you go to one of those tractor farm shops you can pick up the exact same Massey Fergusson 72 amp battery (albeit minus the carry handle) for around £40. Fitting is easy as long as you mark the leading edge with a non water soluble felt pen.
You may need to grow a third arm but I managed it!

[taylormj4]

I bought a 700amp battery from Halfords (Calcium type) for that extra cranking current in winter months, cost around 80 pounds and comes with a 4 year guarantee!
Fitted myself in a 97 Chimaera, in around 1 hour - not as hard as I had expected. Also found a hole in the floor (next to the fuse panel) where a bolt should be but now unused, so plugged that up to - should stop carpets getting wet now! Would a garage have bothered?