Hi.

I have a standard, old fashioned 2012 1.6 Superb diesel estate. (Not stop-start.)

I'm thinking of buying a better battery and I was wondering whether an AGM battery, such as the one in the link would be suitable?

https://www.tayna.co.uk/car-batteries/powerline/096agm/

Has anyone with a similar car to mine had any experience of using AGM batteries in this type of car and if so was it positive or negative?

 

 

You can't use an AGM battery in your car as it requires a higher voltage to charge fully, and your car being conventional without the smart alternator does not support this. Result will be undercharged battery with short life and possible starting issues.

 

You could in theory use an EFB or EFB+ battery which is an enhanced flooded lead acid battery. Exide sell batteries with carbon boost technology which is basically an EFB in all but name, but cheaper.

 

https://www.exidegroup.com/eu/en/product/exide-premium

Edited 18 January, 20224 yr by xman

15 minutes ago, 2006edr said:

Hi.

I have a standard, old fashioned 2012 1.6 Superb diesel estate. (Not stop-start.)

I'm thinking of buying a better battery and I was wondering whether an AGM battery, such as the one in the link would be suitable?

https://www.tayna.co.uk/car-batteries/powerline/096agm/

Has anyone with a similar car to mine had any experience of using AGM batteries in this type of car and if so was it positive or negative?

 

I have used an AGM in an older car than yours. After 2 years, it's still working well.

 

However, next time I would probably buy a regular SLA battery as they usually last me over 10 years and are quite a bit cheaper.

 

I suggest you only purchase a top brand of battery such as Varta.

 

Is that the correct physical size for your car that you have linked to?

 

Length 278mm

Width 175mm

Height 190mm

 

Edited 18 January, 20224 yr by Carlston

Likely to suffer overcharging if used in a conventional fixed-voltage charging system. See article about AGMs at battery university.com

BU-201a: Absorbent Glass Mat (AGM) - Battery University

Seems I may have got it the wrong way round as per @Winoin any case AGM cannot be substituted for standard due to charge voltage incompatibility and associated risk.

Edited 18 January, 20224 yr by xman

My AGM has always undercharged in a conventional charging system.

 

12.1V is the maximum it has ever charged to.

45 minutes ago, Wino said:

Likely to suffer overcharging if used in a conventional fixed-voltage charging system. See article about AGMs at battery university.com

BU-201a: Absorbent Glass Mat (AGM) - Battery University

Other sources suggest AGM batteries require 14.6-14.8 volts to fully charge.

48 minutes ago, Carlston said:

 

 

48 minutes ago, Carlston said:

 

48 minutes ago, Carlston said:

 

I have used an AGM in an older car than yours. After 2 years, it's still working well.

 

However, next time I would probably buy a regular SLA battery as they usually last me over 10 years and are quite a bit cheaper.

 

I suggest you only purchase a top brand of battery such as Varta.

 

Is that the correct physical size for your car that you have linked to?

 

Length 278mm

Width 175mm

Height 190mm

 

Hi.

I measured my battery tray and it's about 280 mm across. I think the dimensions of my battery tray and the battery height is compatible with those you mentioned.

Varta generally seem to advertise the longest warranties.lockquote widget

Edited 18 January, 20224 yr by 2006edr

Secret to a long battery life is keep the battery sufficiently charged all the time so if the car is stood for most of the time or used for lots of short journeys, throw a smart charger on every few weeks overnight to top it up. That will prevent or at least delay permanent hard sulphation which is the primary cause of failure in the UK.

 

Note! For cars with stop/start, follow the instructions in the car's user manual when connecting a charger, you don't just connect it directly to the battery terminals!

1 hour ago, 2006edr said:

 

Hi.

I measured my battery tray and it's about 280 mm across. I think the dimensions of my battery tray and the battery height is compatible with those you mentioned.

Varta generally seem to advertise the longest warranties.lockquote widget

 

This is the 278mm long model. The sizes either side have a length of 242mm and 317mm, ie. 36mm shorter and 39mm longer...so you don't have to measure your current one exactly to find the same size.

 

Varta 577400078

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/272917684700?epid=248477411&hash=item3f8b2961dc%3Ag%3A~fgAAOSwPA5h5Zi9&LH_ItemCondition=3

 

Varta Website

https://www.varta-automotive.com/en-gb/battery-finder?battery_code=577+400+078&find=find