New Battery Needed

[finishing touch]

Looks like a new battery will be needed on my '03 Sport mk 2.5


Why the Panasonic Gell ? What's the advantage of these ? Why is my wallet stuck in my pocket ? Why can't I sleep at night ?


Paul G

[MX-5 Lazza]

Bosch S5 063. Job done.

[J-Tuner]

Finally replaced my s5 this month with another one - just watch out on the pricing. A lot of local suppliers wanted £130 or so and i got it online for £74 delivered (came over from germany i think).

Performed admirably given i really abused it and ran it flat multiple times - wouldn't have anything else.

[cwinterb]

Here we go again. For the record I have a non-AGM Bosch battery in my mk1. However, when it had some bodywork last year minor repairs were required to the battery tray/boot floor. I put the same battery back in it though. Perhaps I'm stupid.

The theory says AGM batteries don't leak acid, or vent much. So they don't make your boot all rusty. If a non-AGM battery leaks or vents excessively, especially without the vent pipe connected up, your boot floor may dissolve.

YMMV. Other bits of your car are probably dissolving anyway.

What will I do when by battery finally dies? Who knows.

[MX-5 Lazza]

When I had the (rubbish) Westco gel battery in mine, when I removed it after it died, the battery compartment was full of white powder, despite it being properly vented.
My Bosch S5 hasn’t produced any white powder despite it not being vented - the vent holes are plugged so it’s not possible to vent it.
If you can afford it, go for the original Panasonic. It is much cheaper than it used to be at just under £100 but my Bosch cost me £65 around 5 years ago and is still like new despite the car getting very rare use.