Since when did batteries cost so much..?
Discussion
FWIW It is all but impossible to get ECP to accept a battery return under the 3/4/5 year warranty. I'd buy it from anywhere except there.
Tayna batteries are good
https://www.tayna.co.uk/
Tayna batteries are good
https://www.tayna.co.uk/
MellowshipSlinky said:
Carparts4less - absolute w
kers.
Paid for next day delivery - nothing arrived.
Can’t reach them by telephone, web chat starts at number 163, get down to no. 12 and it cuts off.
3 times it did that.
Looking at their FB page I’m not the only one...
So now I need to find another battery tomorrow.
That's so annoying, firstly nothing turning up then customer service being none existent.kers.Paid for next day delivery - nothing arrived.
Can’t reach them by telephone, web chat starts at number 163, get down to no. 12 and it cuts off.
3 times it did that.
Looking at their FB page I’m not the only one...
So now I need to find another battery tomorrow.
I've used them in the past with no complaints, but stopped using them due to everyone else's poor reviews, I just think it will be my turn next.
I'm happy to pay a few quid extra now when I really need something (and I put the reason for that down to my own poor planning and try not to do it again.)
Since the invention of stop/start and AGM batteries I think!
My stop/start 2007 BMW 123d needed a new AGM battery that had to be coded to the car via the OBD - Sytner quoted over £300 in 2012 but a BMW Indy did it for just over £250.
But the battery for my 2006 E86 Z4 without stop/start or coding cost less than £150 supplied and fitted in 2016.
The price of progress.
My stop/start 2007 BMW 123d needed a new AGM battery that had to be coded to the car via the OBD - Sytner quoted over £300 in 2012 but a BMW Indy did it for just over £250.
But the battery for my 2006 E86 Z4 without stop/start or coding cost less than £150 supplied and fitted in 2016.
The price of progress.
Trevor555 said:
Are Bosch still the best batteries?
Someone recently said Varta were just as good?
I've bought from Tayna a couple of times for various vehicles - Varta & Bosch. Great service. Once in the depths of snow I ordered around 4pm - it arrived through the snow around 10am the next day. Someone recently said Varta were just as good?
On my spare car (on SORN each winter) I've recently replaced a Bosch S5 - it died after 16 years. It had been a bit weak for the last few years but survived with a CTEK charger connected over the winter, and made it through each summer fine just starting as normal every week or two.
Needless to say i replaced it with another Bosch S5 (in the hope that they are still made to the same standards - only time will tell) - overnight delivery from Tayna. Not sure how easy it would be to return a failed battery to them, however fingers crossed the quality batteries won't need that.
If i was buying an EFB battery (which I don't trust to last as long no matter the manufacturer) I would be tempted to buy locally or through a national chain in the hope (potentially misguided) that it would be easier to return.
Edited by C-J on Thursday 14th May 10:20
I'll let you guess who I'm talking about Tayna are good - used them loads times. The only downside is the white polystyrene they use - sticks to fecking everything.....!
I’ve become less impressed with Bosch S5 over the last few years - they seem to last for the warranty period and not much longer. Switched to Varta to try something different.
ECP are a joke. No idea why people still use them.
I’ve become less impressed with Bosch S5 over the last few years - they seem to last for the warranty period and not much longer. Switched to Varta to try something different.
ECP are a joke. No idea why people still use them.
stevemcs said:
Trevor555 said:
Steve, my Fabia has a Moll battery that's failed at 5 years old. Stop start car.
My wifes Fabia has a banner original fit, 3.5 years old.
I'd prefer to fit a Bosch or a Varta but local specialist says they only fit original, they've seen some problems.
What's your thoughts?
Wont hold you to it lol
Never had any issues with either to be honest, we stock Varta and fit them to most cars, occasionally it will work out cheaper to fit OEM or £15 extra at which point we give the customer the option. We supply Bosch if we don't have something in stock and need it quickly.My wifes Fabia has a banner original fit, 3.5 years old.
I'd prefer to fit a Bosch or a Varta but local specialist says they only fit original, they've seen some problems.
What's your thoughts?
Wont hold you to it lol
VW's seem to last 3 years or less and fail, BMW, Mini last about 5 years before stop start fails but they continue to work, Nissans are around 4 years when they fail they go mad electronically as do JLR - LR sometimes come up with transmission fault.
VW don't seem to be interested after 12 months, warranties are a pain on all batteries. You may find your local indi gets a good discount at TPS which is why they use them. Ford Parts plus supply Omnicraft and the trade price is stupid, something like a Fiesta is less than £30 plus VAT.
Just make sure you put like for like on or at least better, at this time of year only truley knackered batteries will fail, also no point in spending on a great battery with a 5 year warranty if you only intend to keep it 1 year. Just avoid Lion.
Another update.
Since Monday I’ve also been trying to talk to the parts dept at my local Nissan dealership.
Calls go through a bleeding call centre and they kept telling me no parts depts are open.
Do a bit of digging and find a direct number and spoke to someone at parts - he reckons they can change the battery under warranty and I’m going this afternoon as they have one in stock.
Not holding my breath as to them having the correct one, but at least there’s a chance....
Since Monday I’ve also been trying to talk to the parts dept at my local Nissan dealership.
Calls go through a bleeding call centre and they kept telling me no parts depts are open.
Do a bit of digging and find a direct number and spoke to someone at parts - he reckons they can change the battery under warranty and I’m going this afternoon as they have one in stock.
Not holding my breath as to them having the correct one, but at least there’s a chance....
vikingaero said:
EuroCarParts pay their web monkeys with crack cocaine.
"There you go lads, another brick of the finest. Now go ahead and see how much you can fk up the pricing on the website today!"
ECP used to be my go to. Now I'd rather not unless so desperate. I love their pricing. Today £149 with 60% off. Next week, same item, £149 with 33% off. fk off. 
They get my business if they're significantly cheaper than anywhere else within 5 miles...mainly because they are less than a mile away. Walkable at a pinch"There you go lads, another brick of the finest. Now go ahead and see how much you can f
k up the pricing on the website today!"ECP used to be my go to. Now I'd rather not unless so desperate. I love their pricing. Today £149 with 60% off. Next week, same item, £149 with 33% off. f
k off. ECP should have an option for same day delivery (they certainly did before COVID) - you have to actually click through to selecting your delivery option before you'll see it though.
Bosch vs Varta - they're made in the same factory, and often equivalent sizes are identical in terms of specification: make of that what you will.
Incidentally, CarParts4less is ECP by another name, only without the ability to walk into store and complain when it doesn't fit. Personally would never bother with them.
Bosch vs Varta - they're made in the same factory, and often equivalent sizes are identical in terms of specification: make of that what you will.
Incidentally, CarParts4less is ECP by another name, only without the ability to walk into store and complain when it doesn't fit. Personally would never bother with them.
Mr Tidy said:
Since the invention of stop/start and AGM batteries I think!
My stop/start 2007 BMW 123d needed a new AGM battery that had to be coded to the car via the OBD - Sytner quoted over £300 in 2012 but a BMW Indy did it for just over £250.
But the battery for my 2006 E86 Z4 without stop/start or coding cost less than £150 supplied and fitted in 2016.
The price of progress.
But does it really have to be coded? Genuine question I don’t know the answer to. My stop/start 2007 BMW 123d needed a new AGM battery that had to be coded to the car via the OBD - Sytner quoted over £300 in 2012 but a BMW Indy did it for just over £250.
But the battery for my 2006 E86 Z4 without stop/start or coding cost less than £150 supplied and fitted in 2016.
The price of progress.
I just changed the one out on my 123d when it died (7years old). Not paying BMW to recode it. I am too much of a tight arse.
Although I always to this day still turn off stop/start. Increases wear to starter motor and battery just to save a few pence in fuel.
Seemed to work fine for me for the next 3 years and was still going irking fine when I traded it in. I’m not 100% sure all this coding batteries to a car isn’t just a giant con.
Infact could you just ditch the stop/start (code it out) and use a standard battery (much cheaper), my understanding is the AGM is just for the repeated stop/start.
I buy a lot of car batteries - the problem with having a collection of cars but no power for trickle chargers!
ECP vs Tanya, bought batteries from both for various reasons.
Tanya are awesome, very quick shipping, nearly always the cheapest, everything in stock. incidentally, I ordered a Yuasa battery from them them yesterday and it has been delayed with COVID delivery issues, every other time it's been next day. Also noticed they are selling Mobil One oil cheaper than anywhere I know online at the moment
ECP, super quick for me (usually same day) and no shipping charge, with one of their many discount codes can sometimes be cheaper than Tanya, but not often
I have returned BOSCH batteries under warranty to both companies - ECP was actually much easier to deal with - filled out an online form, warranty return approved, dropped into a store with old battery, they handed me a new one. Tayna wanted me to run tests (luckily I have a battery tester so sent them a screenshot and they authorized a return). had to ship the battery myself (not easy to find a sturdy enough box!), wait for them to receive it and test it (1 day) and then they sent a replacement. no real way they could it quicker, but as a customer, the ECP replacement was more convenient.
Both batteries where ~4 year old BOSCH.
Brands, I tend to buy Bosch, Yuasa, Varta and occasionally enduroline.
As mentioned Bosch and Varta are actually the same batteries, the price difference usually is a few pounds, and the bocsh have a slightly better warranty so I buy them.
Yuasa tend to be better spec'd batteries in most sizes, I usually buy them for my hondas as they have physically small batteries. Warranty isn't as good as Bosch and Varta and when they die (usually 4 years) they do no respond to repair/reconditioning. most other batteries can be revived with my NOCO charger
Enduroline - not sure who makes them, but the spec for motorbike batteries is usually better than most other manufacturers. seems to work well, but they aren't much cheaper than 'name' brands.
Regarding battery 'coding'. yes, you do need to tell the car's ECU you have a new battery. For BMW, the charging circuit learns the characteristic of the battery and usage and modifies the charging pattern to optimise the battery, so the charging circuit 'learns' the battery. if you dont tell the ECU you have installed a new battery the charging performance isn't optimised and the battery life will be shorter. how much, I couldn't say, plenty of people dont bother coding the battery although some cars will throw errors. This is a bigger issue with AGM batteries as they are more picky about voltage and charging
ECP vs Tanya, bought batteries from both for various reasons.
Tanya are awesome, very quick shipping, nearly always the cheapest, everything in stock. incidentally, I ordered a Yuasa battery from them them yesterday and it has been delayed with COVID delivery issues, every other time it's been next day. Also noticed they are selling Mobil One oil cheaper than anywhere I know online at the moment
ECP, super quick for me (usually same day) and no shipping charge, with one of their many discount codes can sometimes be cheaper than Tanya, but not often
I have returned BOSCH batteries under warranty to both companies - ECP was actually much easier to deal with - filled out an online form, warranty return approved, dropped into a store with old battery, they handed me a new one. Tayna wanted me to run tests (luckily I have a battery tester so sent them a screenshot and they authorized a return). had to ship the battery myself (not easy to find a sturdy enough box!), wait for them to receive it and test it (1 day) and then they sent a replacement. no real way they could it quicker, but as a customer, the ECP replacement was more convenient.
Both batteries where ~4 year old BOSCH.
Brands, I tend to buy Bosch, Yuasa, Varta and occasionally enduroline.
As mentioned Bosch and Varta are actually the same batteries, the price difference usually is a few pounds, and the bocsh have a slightly better warranty so I buy them.
Yuasa tend to be better spec'd batteries in most sizes, I usually buy them for my hondas as they have physically small batteries. Warranty isn't as good as Bosch and Varta and when they die (usually 4 years) they do no respond to repair/reconditioning. most other batteries can be revived with my NOCO charger
Enduroline - not sure who makes them, but the spec for motorbike batteries is usually better than most other manufacturers. seems to work well, but they aren't much cheaper than 'name' brands.
Regarding battery 'coding'. yes, you do need to tell the car's ECU you have a new battery. For BMW, the charging circuit learns the characteristic of the battery and usage and modifies the charging pattern to optimise the battery, so the charging circuit 'learns' the battery. if you dont tell the ECU you have installed a new battery the charging performance isn't optimised and the battery life will be shorter. how much, I couldn't say, plenty of people dont bother coding the battery although some cars will throw errors. This is a bigger issue with AGM batteries as they are more picky about voltage and charging
Are there any benefits/issues with bumping up the capacity and CCA?
Car is a 2011 Qashqai and current oem battery spec is 60 Ah and CCA 600a. Most sites coming up with 2 options, similar to above or 74 Ah and 700a (some recommend this one).
Second is slightly longer but there is space in the battery tray and only £10 extra.
Car is a 2011 Qashqai and current oem battery spec is 60 Ah and CCA 600a. Most sites coming up with 2 options, similar to above or 74 Ah and 700a (some recommend this one).
Second is slightly longer but there is space in the battery tray and only £10 extra.
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