[V8] OEM batteries are good?

[Daniel Hussey]

AutoBahn tells me it was a direct dealer replacement, but not the original
factory battery.  AutoBahn is how the dealer used to badge factory
replacement parts and accessories.  They've since scraped the name.

The factory Audi battery is a VARTA and IMHO is the best battery you can
buy!  They last WAY longer than any other battery that I've found, other
than possibly an Optima.  I highly reccomend replacing it with another OEM
battery.  I had a second VARTA in my '94 S4 and it never gave me an ounce of
problems in sub-zero weather in Wisconsin.  I even left my radar detector on
while I was away on vacation.  I killed the battery, but an overnight charge
brought it right back to life and just kept ticking.

My father works for Rayovac Corporation, who bought VARTA's consumer battery
division a few years back to fuel expansion by tapping into the european
market.  Johnson Controls bought VARTA's automotive and commercial battery
division at the same time.  As I understand it the production facilities in
Germany pretty much remain and still produce the same high quality
automotive batteries.

I bought my last VARTA battery from the dealer (that was a few years ago),
but I have no idea if the dealer still uses the same manufacturer or if they
are available aftermarket.

Later,
Dan


----- Original Message -----
From: <dsaad at icehouse.net>
To: <v8 at audifans.com>
Sent: Thursday, April 07, 2005 8:35 PM
Subject: [V8] OEM batteries are good?


>
>
> My battery finally started to act up a little. It did not totally fail but
> cranking sounded odd so I checked battery voltage with a meter - and I
have no
> idea how a battery as dead as mine seems to be could have been working so
well.
>
> No load voltage with a good meter was 12.0 volts (engine off) - after
driving
> for 30 minutes.
> A lead acid battery is considered "dead" at 12.2 volts.
> The CC readout voltage was 13.6 volts while driving.
> The new battery reads 13.8 volts while driving - as it should.
>
> Even more strange is that this battery seems to be the original OEM unit.
It
> still has the Audi 441-xxx-xxx part number on it.
> Is it possible for a battery to last this long? It was an "Auto Bahn" 60
month.
>
>
> Dave
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