I think that I need a new battery.... Any recommendations on a brand? Should I buy an OEM battery from the dealer?

 

Bosch from Pep Boys which is on sale

 

** EDITED: I See you are not in UK so my supplier is no good to you! what's the price over there?***




Varta "silver top" which is the same as the manufacturer's original. My original lasted 9 years. I keep it in the garage and it is still strong enough to start lesser cars.


I got the latest part no from Varta. Mine is the very long 100A version H3, which is very heavy at 22kg but has a big handle. I paid £84 for mine, incl delivery next day, from an online merchant in Tewkesbury called Battery Megastore. I usually get them from my local factor but they could not match the price.


The E11 is only listed as a "blue top" range, which is £64 but not as good.



Varta said:
"There are two listing depending on performance.
If the original battery was around 75Ah then the replacement will be part number: 574 012 068 (short code = E11)
If the original battery was around 95Ah - 100Ah then the replacement will be part number: 600 402 083 (short code = H3)"

 

Thank... Just picked up one today. Great price and unbelievable value.

 

In my case, it was the DSC not available message that indicated I should get another battery. As mentioned above, once the battery starts going south you can see all sorts of weird things happening.

The Pep Boys deal on the Bosch is pretty good. I got one for the S-Type I used to have a while ago.

 

I learned a lesson about battery tenders; had one from HF on my 86 Daimler Double Six and it boiled two cells dry and ruined the battery; another gift from the Chinese.

Any recommendations for a good battery tender?

 

I have a CTEK 3.8; it ramps the current right back as the charge comes up, and in the end (after a couple of days of minimal trickle charge) it just does checks of the battery voltage every 20 seconds or so (I think, hard to tell from the mains power meter I have in the mains outlet) and goes back to trickle charge if it drops.

 

The useful life, usually printed on the outside of a battery and the start date usually punched out, (but not always) is merely a ‘suggestion’! The actual voltage percentage (From testing with a scan tool for YOUR vehicle) that shows the actual life of your battery. For instance, you only have to drop down below something like 11.8V or 11.7V and your battery becomes not much more than a paperweight!! Some batteries (such as wet) can be desulfated (But it won’t be like new.). Batteries can also be charged, but that doesn’t mean that they HOLD their charge! Once a battery loses too much voltage it’s a goner. And surprisingly it’s not very much voltage at all!! I have owned seven jaguars and experienced this myself, so that’s not just an opinion, I lived it!

 

The last response to this thread was 7 years ago. My original Jaguar battery lasted 13 years. That's about as long ago as when I joined this forum on May 14, 2010. The average battery lasts 5 years. Your time frames may vary.
The original Jaguar battery felt 2 times heavier than the H8 Interstate battery that replaced it. Time will tell if weight matters too.

I would never change a battery before it starts to give problems. It is convenient and easy to get a new one. Imagine throwing away a battery after 2 years when there is a chance it may have lasted 13.

 

With these new electronic everything cars, stop start, levellers, tire monitors, windows, seats, radios and monitors etc. I change every 4 no matter what. Seems these new AGMs don't last as well in cold or hot weather. Been stranded only once. But, my lead acid in the boat (3 batteries), and RV (2 batteries) and 97 Land Rover, 64 Valiant, and 72 Triumph can last 7-9 yrs. When my 57-58 Jags are done, lead acid even though the bring risk of paint damage and rust.