Well it looks like the 3-4yr old Westco battery in my Mk1 has died. It started to not hold charge at the end of last year but now seems to have given up completely to the extent that it won’t hold charge for any length of time and I’m running round with a spare battery and jump leads in the boot. I’ve tried charging it on an old trickle charger for 5 days twice now and no joy and the supplier is obviously sticking to the 2yr Guarantee terms so no come-back there.
I’m therefore now looking for a replcement but an not at all impressed with the Westco longevity and quality given it’s price. The OE Panasonic on the MX5 for example lasted 11 years, my OE Mitsubishi was never replaced in 11 years, the OE battery on my Octavia has lasted 5 years and is still strong, the Varta one on the Fabia has lasted about 9 years and I don’t think I ever replaced any other batteries on any other cars I’ve owned.
I don’t recall EVER having a battery last for so little time on ANY car I’ve owned so I’m loathe to buy another Westco…
Anyhow, rant over, I’ve been offered a Varta Black Dynamic B23 (048) by the local battery specialist (South Yorkshire Batteries) who reckon they have fitted them to lots of MX5’s. I trust them from many years experience and have always had great experiences with Varta batteries so I’m tempted but…
Does anyone have direct experience of this particular battery in a Mk1 MX5 in terms of fit (it is physically slightly bigger) and venting arrangements etc?
So you are going to keep the car for a few years? If so buy the OEM one. My car is 22 this year and is on it’s second Panasonic battery, the first one lasted 14 years =£10/year, cheaper than a new Varter[ I know the sums aren’t quitwe correct but you get the picture]
Yep - I’ve had the car 14 years now and still have no intention of selling so it’s a keeper!
And in terms of sums…
Panasonic £140 over 11 years = £13/yr
Westco £90 over 4 years = £23/yr
Varta £47 over, say 7 years (average of the two Skodas as they are both Varta - OE and replacement) = £7/yr
But it’s not really a question of cost - even if I only go the three years out of it (the guarantee) at £47 it’d be £16/yr, cheaper than the Westco and close to the Panasonic - what I want is reliability and longevity and the ability to charge it if needed when it goes flat if I don’t use it over the winter. I could buy a charger/conditioner but I’ve already got three chargers (two old trickles, a smart charger/maintaner suitable for gel and a solar charger) and that is just adding to the cost.
So reliability and capacity are the key methinks so that when I’m not driving for work and using the Skodas I know I can open the garage and it’ll start.
I think what has wound me up is the fact that this supposed better, much more expensive, battery has actually turned out to be poor compared to a boggo known technology and brand.
And I guess my thought is it is cheaper to replace if I do knacker it (which is easier with AGM)…
I don’t drive my '5 a lot these days for a variety of reasons, so it is always connected to my Ctek. No problems whatsoever. When I was in the UK with the battery getting very old I used to leave it on the Ctek charger during the winter. It finally got stuffed when I left the car with my sone, who couldn’t keep it on charge. If it were me I would buy a Panasonic, and leave it on charge during the winter months
Frankly, a lead-acid is always going to be better value than a gel battery.
If choosing one though, get an externally vented one (I don’t know about that model), so that you can connect up the breather and don’t go back to it in a couple of years and find it has rusted its way through the boot floor.
As Geoff says the best battery for the car is the original Panasonic. There are several threads on the forum that may have info to facilitate you saving 10% from the dealer - it will still cost £120+.
These batteries are particularly good where the car is used irregularly, as in my case. Just do what Geoff does and keep it on an optimate charger/conditioner or something similar.
My girlfriends Eunos is is daily use - we fitted a wet cell battery with a four year guarantee, bought off ebay for around £33 delivered - has been on the car for over 2 years with no problem. Make sure the battery is well secured in the boot. They have a habit of coming loose and spilling acid/denting the o/s wing.
Cheers guys and apologies for the delay i responding - i’m currently laid up with a kidney infection!
Anyhows I’ll make a few more enquiries nad let you know how I get on.
Incidentally I’ve just noticed that the Westco has ‘weeped’ from one of the vents so I guess I’ll have to wash the boot down with bicarb now as well - ho hum!
Well after much thought I plumped for neither the Varta B23 (no external vent connection), the Westco or the Panasonic and instead went for a Varta Blue Dynamic B33. Size-wise it is virtually identical to the original Panasonic but a bit taller 238Lx129Wx227H with a 45Ah capacity and 330CCA.
Fitting it was a bit fiddly due to the height but it sits in the OE tray perfectly and clamps in fine using the top hole for the clamp. It needed a longer threaded hook (provided free of charge) that I cut to size (about 30mm longer than OE), but that was easy enough, and has about 20mm clearance at the side to the rear wing. Room at the top for attaching the negative terminal is tight but easy enough with a small 10mm spanner, socket or box spanner.
It’s fully sealed, so can’t leak into the boot, and can be vented from either end so I have it venting on the inboard side with the outboard vent plugged (plug supplied) and just one of the OE venting tubes connected (new elbow provided), the other being plugged and wrapped up the threaded hook so nothing can collect in it.
Cost was £53 all in with a 4 year guarantee so only marginally more expensive than the one I was originally looking at but still half the price of alternatives and if it lasts as long as the Varta Blue I have in the Fabia I’ll be a happy man.
The advantages that appealed were that it has a capacity of 45Ah - some 50% more than the Westco - I can jump start it without worrying about knackering it, can charge it with any charger and quickly in a few hours if needed and it’s a brand I know and trust which, from experience, will well outlast the guarantee
The longer hook came from the same place as the battery - South Yorkshire Batteries in Sheffield and both it and the vent connector was FOC. Excellent service from them as usual and highly recommended.
