paulv

I need to replace my main battery and don't want to get the expensive OEM battery from the dealer (they already beat me up when I had to buy a new aux battery). Anybody have any experience with the Deka battery? I can get one for under $200 + shipping. Thx.

Regards,
paul...

vettdvr

Paul I haven't replaced my main yet,, amazed it is still going.

A while back I was checking at Autozone and found they had a AGM main battery for around $200 also. They had one in stock and it was a identical fit and the vent lines were also identical to the OEM.

Don't remember for sure but thought it had a 3 yr free replacement on it, you might check them out.

vettdvr

NorseWagon

Have had good experience with Deka batteries in general as I use them on my boat. (5 batteries), but not the MB replacement battery.

Looking to put a Deka in my 04 E-500 when the time comes, quality should be no problem.

starbrite

Wow, if the Deka is ~$200, then how much more is the oem ?

vettdvr

Who sells Deka?

paulv

Thx guys for the responses.

Not sure about the Autozone batteries as the ones listed online are not the same dimensions and don't even mention if they're AGM.

Also heard good reports on Deka batteries.

For dealer prices, I checked a couple of years ago just out of curiosity, and the main battery was around $300 to $350 -- I just called 2 dealers and they're asking around $260 -- I was investigating alternatives because I thought it would still be around $300.

Found the Deka batteries from two sources and they're the same price (~ $180) when factoring in shipping: http://www.remybattery.com and http://www.autobarn.net

Considering there's a ~ $80 difference, I'm leaning toward buying the Deka although the OEM battery is a Varta which Johnson Controls makes for the Euro market and not US.

Regards,
paul...

Just checked with Napa and they have the Legend 75 #9849 which is suppose to replace the OEM AGM battery -- it's about $210.

vettdvr

Paul the Autozone bat is special order you have to go into the store and have them look it up. vettdvr

How do they ship the battery? Last time I tried to order the aux bat. noone would ship it.

sosh

I have had excellent experiences with DEKA batteries. In my boat when all the others I had used lasted 4 years I got 6 years from Deka. They are a relatively small manufacturer in NE PA near Allentown and have been in business for years. Never used them in a car but I have used them also in Aircraft years ago and I believe that they were OEM for Piper Aircraft. They no longer mfg aircraft batteries due to product liability.

paulv

Appears to be UPS/FedEx ground only from the two vendors mentioned above. BTW, I did find out that the Napa battery is made by Deka and my local Napa dealer has it in stock, so I may go that way -- $209 + $10 core.

Regards,
paul...