POLL 2.8 New Battery Size

[Scooblitz]

Still haven't made a choice on the battery. It would seem that as there are 3 different sizes on offer for a 6 cylinder. The battery in the car at the moment is a 096 size. Cold start strength needs to be 650+ but since i live in Scotland, a higher rating is favourable. Also 70ah seem to be whats needed but i'm not sure so some advice is needed.

I'm a reluctant to overspend but happy to spend well for the right bits.

Thoughts and recommendation; any deals, favourite websites etc you might have spotted, please let me know.

Scooblitz

 

[IainP]

I wouldn't get too hung up about it, 650cca is fine. What's more important is to make sure all your earth's are good, I undo those on all our cars, clean them all back to bare metal, including the washers and under the bolt heads, retighten, then grease or waxoil over the top. Terminals to the starter too. Also, make sure the alternator is actually putting out what it should.
Doesn't matter a damn how powerful the battery is, if the starter isn't getting great voltage or, the alternator isn't charging the battery back up, you'll have starting problems.
You can also put an insulating jacket round the battery which helps when it's beyond -8. Don't buy one, bubble wrap (2layers) or, expanded polystyrene and gaffa tape works well. They won't, despite what some pub rockets assure you, trap acid and cause rust, if they did/do you have a battery which is pan bread or, an alternator that's overcharging.
I'm in Luncarty, just above Perth, our normal overnight temp are -5ish, even during last winters "unprecedented mild temperatures" we were hitting -10 to -14c and my daily oiler started without trouble on its old battery after I cleaned everything.

 

[Grumps]

I purchased a battery from ECP 3 years ago at a costly figure of £19 Inc delivery. It's small and brandless but it still works fine. It's a battery, I can't get excited about a battery so tend to go for the cheapest I can. Oh my car is a 2.8 by the way

 

[petecossie]

Really it depends what you want to spend on a battery. After checking prices at Halfords & ECP, I just went to my local motor factor he put in my car registration and came up with cheap battery at £46, I said my present battery is a Bosch S4-007, do you something similar? Yup! Identical battery for £76 with 3 year guarantee. Euro Car Parts came up with a Bosch at £179.999 (4year guarantee) and the Halfords equivalent was £98.
According to my service records/spreadsheet, the battery I replaced was purchased from ECP 10 years ago for £80, so it had done very well.

 

[mrscalex]

This is the BMW official battery for a 4 or 6 cylinder. Which to the best of my knowledge is 096. The 096 only refers to the physical dimensions - not the capacity of the battery. Although the larger the physical size of the battery then you would reasonably imagine the larger the capacity.

Personally I wouldn't use anything other than a 096 on a 6 cylinder.

The question for me would be what make of 096. And this is my go to battery.

https://zroadster.org/threads/quali...r-varta-77ah-silver-dynamic-for-£56-99.21689/

 

[gookah]

this looks a good price, no idea if they are any good, but 4 year warranty, good CCA and Ah ratings

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/New-Genu...800&pg=2047675&_trksid=p2047675.c100012.m1985

 

[Mario]

I wouldn't get too hung up about it, 650cca is fine. What's more important is to make sure all your earth's are good, I undo those on all our cars, clean them all back to bare metal, including the washers and under the bolt heads, retighten, then grease or waxoil over the top. Terminals to the starter too. Also, make sure the alternator is actually putting out what it should.
Doesn't matter a damn how powerful the battery is, if the starter isn't getting great voltage or, the alternator isn't charging the battery back up, you'll have starting problems.
You can also put an insulating jacket round the battery which helps when it's beyond -8. Don't buy one, bubble wrap (2layers) or, expanded polystyrene and gaffa tape works well. They won't, despite what some pub rockets assure you, trap acid and cause rust, if they did/do you have a battery which is pan bread or, an alternator that's overcharging.
I'm in Luncarty, just above Perth, our normal overnight temp are -5ish, even during last winters "unprecedented mild temperatures" we were hitting -10 to -14c and my daily oiler started without trouble on its old battery after I cleaned everything.

Where are the earth points do you have a list of the ones you clean please? Thanks

 

[handsomejackuk]

my 2.8's battery gave in this winter after being left laid up and my son had a new battery for his nissan micra it turned out his original battery was fine, i charged it and it sits on my 2.8 and starts the car fine... its very small but spins over the car no problem not sure how well it will work in the winter though.. but i probably put my 1.9s battery on then and keep the micra one connected to my solar cell when the 1.9 is laid up ini the winter months...