Ask a Shiter

[Hendry]

VWs don't tend to go to your normal breakers, they go to VW specialist breakers who make Megabucks flogging stuff like the clocks, fancy steering wheels and alloys to people who own povo versions. The shells are then crushed.

 

There was a guy in Nottingham, reckoned if he bought a crashed good spec MK4 he could make the purchase price back in an hour on eBay by knowing what would fit into what. This was a few years back so Mk5 is probably at that stage now. Drag it in, engine and seats out, clocks and stereo, climate controls, lights, unboltable panels, wheels, brakes. Cost is two minimum wage spanner-wielders for about three hours, he was having shells taken away every day. Leave the glass, carpets, loom, anything that can't be detached in ten minutes.

 

Am actually surprised there isnt more of a market for this with other Makes like Vauxhalls, Fords, BMWs, Renaults, Seats. Skodas, especially the latter 2 considering VADGE also, because interchangeable parts to fit poverty versions is easy to do on most cars now, not quite sure why its mainly just specifically VWs that people who own them are into upspeccing them, OK I am but Joe Bloggs would likely be happy with my cars standard spec, nice wheels, leather wheel, trip computer clocks and so on, MP3 compatible Aux stereo. Most folks dont usually get bothered by the upspeccing of cars like I do, unless its another of these "VW Scene modder" crazes, hope not, wouldnt like to think of myself as a VW Dub scene fanboy! 

[tommotech]

I always use Banner batteries. Made in Austria and OE supply to BMW, Liebherr and some VAG products.

Not had one let me down yet.

[PhillipM]

Fitted loads of Lion batteries, don’t think they’re brilliant but then loads aren’t these days. Had little trouble myself.

 

Exide are pretty good if you don’t want to fork out the extra for Bosch.

Lion are just rebadged Exides.

[Wack]

I've bought online from Tayna a couple of times.

 

https://www.tayna.co.uk/

 

The size and terminal layout is generally related to the battery part number code.  Once you establish thet it should be easier to find the one you want and also you might find some being sold with higher amp ratings than others.

I've had about 5 batteries from Tayna , never had a problem

 

Looks like yours is a 096  £81 delivered

Brand Enduroline

Product Code 096

Voltage 12 Volts

Technology Wet Capacity (C20)

78 Ah CCA (EN)

725 A CCA (SAE)

780 A Length 278 mm Width 175 mm Height inc. terms 190 mm

Other References Unipart GBA3096 / GBA4096 / GBA3100

Guarantee 4 Years

Barcode (EAN) 5060518620584

[Lacquer Peel]

I would try one of the multitude of outlets where they sell batteries.

[Hertz]

Excide Excell, I have always found great value and usually £50-60 delivered next day from ebay, for example:

 

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1x-Exide-Excell-71Ah-670CCA-12v-Type-096-Car-Battery-3-Year-Warranty-EB712/311578469316?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649

 

My wife's car always has to have a new battery as she is doing short trips. Tried various different types including Lion and the Excide Excell always seem to be the best. Just bought one for the T4 and it should be coming today.

[MikeR]

nothing to stop you bunging in a battery that will fit for now  to give you a chance to shop around , I have stuck Nissan Micra batteries in other cars and it all worked ok .

I prefer to go for the larger capacity if possible , it will just take longer to charge or discharge , but if you want to save weight and go hypermiling , fitting a smaller battery is ok , it will charge up quicker and take its load off the alternator ,

[Sigmund Fraud]

I have got it into my head that the standard vw battery is a varta though.

 

Varta is one of many OEM suppliers for VAG, as is Exide !

[NorfolkNWeigh]

Just go to your local scrappy and pay a tenner for whichever one on the pallet shows most volts, in this weather if any of 'em are showing over 12 it'll be as good as new one, probably*.

[Des]

The best car battery is one that's in a car being used regularly. I cannot offer ideal conditions so tried one of the spiral lah-de-dah six pack looking fuckers as they'll last decades and take all of your abuse and neglect. Terminated shortly after the warranty. I've found it best to ignore brands and look for the best price / longest warranty / nearest  available to home and for fucks sake keep the receipt, copy it, tape it to the battery, laminate it to use as a radiator blind and have its likeness tattooed on your butt if need be but for Christs sake don't lose it.

[omegod]

Halfords on trade always worked out well for me 

[Squire_Dawson]

This is more of an academic question you'd ask in the lusher. Are Yuasa car batteries shit? I reckon to have read a few grumblings about them. I went to my local autoparts store to buy a new battery - 063 - for the Minor 1000. Last time I bought one from the same store years ago they sold Robert Bosch with a 3 year warranty and a cheapo unbranded with 2 years' warranty. On that occasion I bought boche. Now they don't have Bosch; instead it's Yuasa or unbranded, same guarantee periods as before. I opted for the unbranded 'Drive Tec' job at £42.

If I knew where to obtain one, it would've been a Samson battery, to keep things in the family, as it were. Is my prejudice unfounded?

[twosmoke300]

Never had any bad dealings with them - they do 2/3and 5 year warranty versions I think .

Drivetec is usually crap and a cheapy 063 is about 20 quid trade !

[Squire_Dawson]

Never had any bad dealings with them - they do 2/3and 5 year warranty versions I think .

Drivetec is usually crap and a cheapy 063 is about 20 quid trade !

 

I HAV BIN CONED!!!

 

We'll see how it stands up. Parts counter man said thirty-odd trade, I guess I should've worn my overalls.

[mercrocker]

Its all my local motor factor sells.   They have been OK.    Not as OK as the scrapyard Bosch-that-refuses-to-die that has been in the Cowley since I have had it, though. 

 

To be fair the Yuasa leisure and service batteries in the camper van have had a less than perfect maintenance regime and stood up to it, both now a couple of years out of a 3 year warranty.

[Squire_Dawson]

I was weighing up whether to ask at the scrappers or not, I suppose at about half the price of a new one you take a gamble. But I was persuaded to buy new.

[Tamworthbay]

Never had an issue with any Yuasa batteries, when I was racing the electric cars I was buying twenty a year and cycling them very harshly and never had a failure, not even a dead cell.

[DodgeRover]

Back in the day Yuasa bike batteries were good,

[RichL]

Been buying Yuasa batteries at work for a couple of years now. No problems.

Fitted an 075 on my old Focus last winter, 45 quid.

[Angrydicky]

The three year old Yuasa in my Austin A35 packed up last week, so I robbed the one out of the Standard. It has spent a lot of the last three years parked up awaiting a rewire though, and batteries don't like sitting around.

[Kiltox]

Can the noise/vibration from a roof rack be dampened?

 

My van has a Rhino modular rack fitted and I’m thinking about sacking it off because it’s so awfully loud on the motorway

[DeeJay]

Don't some have little spoiler/deflectors things on them?

https://www.ebay.co.uk/i/351163404950?chn=ps&dispctrl=0&adgroupid=49522826281&rlsatarget=pla-434453974527&abcId=1128966&adtype=pla&merchantid=101727004&poi=&googleloc=90465

 

There are cheaper versions out there.

[Kiltox]

[sal]

I fitted a Yuasa battery in my daily 5 series over a year ago when original Bosch gave up and it’s never been a problem. Fitted another new one to my 3 series last week when the original Bosch one died in that. So far so good when moving it around albeit it’s a summer use car.

[DeeJay]

Bugger me, that's a big one.

Ignore that post.

[Dick Cheeseburger]

Has anyone on here fitted window tinting film? We carry our greyhound in the boot of my E91, and currently have a couple of shitty Halfords blinds fitted on the glass to cut glare out for her.

After looking on eBay, I could buy a 6m roll of 20%, along with a blade and squeegee thing for £8.99. The joy of the E91 is that the tailgate glass hinges up and it’d be relatively easy to get to all the edges to trim neatly.

I’m fairly neat with most fiddly jobs, but wonder if fitting window tint film and expecting it to not look shite may be a step too far. Any experiences? Also, any ideas if 20% tint still lets in a bit of light? I don’t want it to look like the glass is pitch black...

[Jazoli]

I tinted the rear windows on the cheap dispatch I bought last year from this

 

 

 

Was easy enough if a bit fiddly, soapy water and a squeegee is your friend, I'd also recommend buying a proper fitting kit for a tenner off eBay.

[Dick Cheeseburger]

^ Looks like a tidy job.

I asked the same question on an E90/1 fartface group, and all the kids are suggesting I go as dark as possible. That means I won't. I reckon 35% should do the job. Hopefully.

[Des]

Wash to buggery the glass and all around it, smallest of dust specks will make great big map of Africa bubbles in your tint, and a scalpel is invaluable. I found anything but the darkest of tints didn't give much privacy, but then they're a pain for night driving. 

[Dippy]

I also have a greyhound and find that he likes to see out when we are driving, he has been in many different cars with us and always settles in cars with good vision.

In the wifes convertable with awful rear and rear side vision he is not too happy and cars with less window area and more tint he is not as happy.

 

Surely it would only need a light tint to minimise the sun and as has been mentioned a dark tint is terrible at night.