Audi OEM Battery vs Autozone Battery
 

Fellow Audi members,

2005 Audi A6 4.2
recently been getting alot of fault codes. License plate light, parking brake malfunction, and since its been getting colder in michigan (about 10degrees out today), the car has been dying after about 3-5 hours of turning off the engine. and id have to jump it to start the dead battery. Took it to dealer. said i have voltage faults and will need a new battery. Which makes sense since the battery is probably 6-8 years old.

My question is, do i have to pay the $280 for a OEM battery that i was quoted for by the dealership(which has a 550 CCA, and 120 reserve power). or buy the battery from autozone/advanced auto parts and get a H7 AGM for $180 (thats without adding all the discounts offered right now) which has 800+ CCA and 140 reverse power?

$180 installed?

I got a Bosch size 49 (850CCA) at pep boys for $115 and put it in myself

The OE-style AGM are great, IME.

I went with an Autocraft Gold from Advance for $130 after various discounts. AutoCraft Gold Battery, Group Size 49, 760 CCA.

In your case, the Autozone batteries are made by Johnson Controls who also happen to make Interstate batteries. Interstate are excellent batteries, so I'd absolutely go that route.

There is no way I'd pay double for the pleasure of having the dealer install it.

battery
 

Go with the autozone or pepboys battery as long as cca is same or greater and output is same why waste $.If battery goes bad bring it in they test it and replace on the spot .
Audi doesn't manufacture batteries .
I run all different batteries interstate eco power sub brand of interstate in bmws no problems.

Yeah, just making sure. the OEM battery has a 600 CCA which is terrible for $260 battery. Id rather go with the better brand BOSCH/Duralast with a 850 CCA for the harsh Michigan weather. I just hope autozone or pep boys can install it for me.

I like the Interstate batteries myself. As for your question, re: install, Pepboys offers this: http://www.pepboys.com/lp_free_battery_install

So go get it done...before your battery completely dies.

Your dealer is overcharging you.
My dealer quoted me $180 installed and so did my other local battery shop.
Haven't bought a battery yet because the car always starts up. Haven't had to jump it or had it die on me although every single day the car is low on battery (no leaving home lights, interior lights, doors don't open with key in pocket, etc) everytime I get off work.

If you are an AAA Member, call them up and have them send a truck out with the battery. They will install the battery and provide a 3 year free replacement warranty and a 3 year pro-rated warranty. Most others are offering only a 2-3 year warranty.

Not only that, they will come to you if there is a problem.

Pep boys didn't have the agm Bosch one in stock. Auto zone only had the gold duralast. But advanced auto parts have the autocraft platinum in stock and got me a good price from 180 to 160 plus core. They would also install it for me too. And there battery CCA is actually better than the duralast.... Thanks for all the help!