Battery help recommendations please.
 

Hey guys.
I apologize if this has been covered a dozen times.
I tried a search.
The Interstate battery in my '87 300 TD is 6 years old.
Currently 245 K miles and only 30K miles in the last 6 years.
I am thinking that it is time to replace the battery to be on the safe side with winter coming.
I asked for it to be checked at the last service but the tech seemed to be rushed and I don't know if he did, it looks like he added some water.

Also the pos pole has a little corrosion.

So Where can I buy an Interstate for the best price?
Are the different brands made by one of two companies and does it matter how long a battery has been sitting on the shelf before I buy it.
Any recommendations are welcolm.
You guys are the best.
Again sorry if these are dumb questions.

Thanks in advance.

B

IMHO I use and recommend Optima batteries

Anybody know the price of Genuine Mercedes battery if you have a wholesale account???
I will probably just settle for an Autozone group 49 battery......:(

With an 84 month warranty, 850CCA, and a $70. price, I'd hardly call it "settling", Jimmy.

In fact, I'd ask the question..........why buy anything else? An Interstate is no better and it will cost you 50% more.

The Optima might be considered, but, it'll have to last over 12 years to pay for itself.

Thanks guys
 

Sounds like AZ is the way to go.
I think the Interstate cost me 120+ six years age.
70 sounds a lot better. Yearly and periodic maintenence is already expensive enough.

Will AZ loan me the tools to change out.
My tools are packed for a move in 5 days.

Thanks again.

B

Hey, I can take advice!! ;);)
I need to dump some old oil anyway......

the battery i got at Auto Zone looked exactly like the interstate that i took out except for the color of the plastic.A feature i liked is that you can check the water level in the cells,thats not seen on many auto batterys these days. My$.02 Don

my autozone battery has 1000CCA and was 75$..two years and its still going strong... I just think its time to rebuild the starter.. it doesnt seem to crank as fast as it should

I also have the McParts store group 49 batteries in my cars (advanced auto in my case). They work well and they are very cheap (about $70-80 as I recall). For a show car, I would use the correct dealer battery, otherwise it is just a maintenance part that will be replaced every few years anyway. Advanced auto replaced mine free (almost one year old) after I killed it due to a bad alternator a couple of months ago.

........might be right........the new batteries could be higher than 850CCA.

You are correct.
 

Just called AZ.
Their computer says the battery that they have for my car is indeed 1000 CCA.

No. I just bought one this week. Interestingly, the Autozone Gold battery has fewer CCA's than the cheaper version. A higher CCA rating is only a good thing up to point. It comes at the expense of reduced longevity due to the need to utilize thinner plates to increase the output.

http://www.autozone.com/R,APP353826/vehicleId,1684601/initialAction,partProductDetail/store,199/partType,00175/shopping/partProductDetail.htm

http://www.autozone.com/R,APP356884/vehicleId,1684601/initialAction,partProductDetail/store,199/partType,00175/shopping/partProductDetail.htm

FWIW, Advance has essentially the same battery as AZ on sale for a couple of dollars more, but it has an additional year of "free replacement" warranty, and one less year pro rata warranty.

However, AZ will provide warranty service at any AZ store. That may or may not work with Advance.

They will install it for you.

There is CA and there is CCA. CA=1000. CCA=850.

Yep, CCA remains at 850. The "1000 CCA" is BS. They state "1000 cranking amps" which is a meaningless specification.

Thanks for the info.