[SomeBeach]

Got my car back from the independent shop. He charged me $298 for the battery, $1.50 Florida fee, and $15 for shop supplies. He decided not to charge for labor - my lucky day.
Cheers!

 

[jzwu]

Did they register your new battery?

 

[SomeBeach]

Yes, they registered the battery.

 

[iconoclast]

Interesting that the Parts department was quoting the labor charges. At least you are not getting the absurd price quotes that some others here have.

$700+ for OEM battery+installation seems absurd to me.

 

[wspollack]

$700+ for OEM battery+installation seems absurd to me.

Well, I'd go as far as "seems expensive."

In a similar vein, I was used to paying about 5% of what I do now at the P-car dealership with the Macan, for oil changes, on my Camry at Jiffy Lube (and I'm too old and creaky, and don't have jacks, lifts, etc., to DIY an oil change on the Macan).

I'd reserve "absurd" for, say, the cost of adding leather to the air vents, or the sun visor or mirror, or maybe even changing the color of the gauges. But, you gotta pay to play; yes, I realize that it's silly to just throw away money, but I don't think any of us is here to minimize outlay as an overarching goal ... or we'd all be driving Sentras, or riding bicycles, or something.

 

[acronymous]

I'd reserve "absurd" for, say ..... changing the color of the gauges.

**** no, I'd pay anything to change the excessively subtle grey on grey Macan gauges! What does that cost anyway?

More seriously though, there's nothing particularly special about the batteries used In Porsches as against the batteries used in anything else, [even though they're glass mat internally], so the cost should be about the same as a small truck battery or similar.

 

[wspollack]

**** no, I'd pay anything to change the excessively subtle grey on grey Macan gauges! What does that cost anyway?

More seriously though, there's nothing particularly special about the batteries used In Porsches as against the batteries used in anything else, [even though they're glass mat internally], so the cost should be about the same as a small truck battery or similar.

Well, it looks as if, these days, you can only get the dials, optionally, in beige or red, and it'll set you back $700:

I could've sworn you used to be able to get them in white, yellow, and maybe some other colors. Me, I'd prefer that there was an option to have the dash backlight on all the time -- not just when the headlights are on -- because I think the gauges are very easy to see then, the backlight is very well implemented, etc.

As it turns out, I was just configuring a Rezvani for myself, as a result of the thread on that -- Rezvani -- started yesterday by @iconoclast. It turns out that I may have been wrong, that $700 may be quite the bargain. Rezvani charges a whopping $3,500 for non-black gauge dials (although they do offer a lot of choices for that; see Rezvani Tank Configurator .

But, um, you and I digress. This is supposed to be about registering the battery, remember.

 

[jzwu]

**** no, I'd pay anything to change the excessively subtle grey on grey Macan gauges! What does that cost anyway?

More seriously though, there's nothing particularly special about the batteries used In Porsches as against the batteries used in anything else, [even though they're glass mat internally], so the cost should be about the same as a small truck battery or similar.

I saw the Interstate H8 battery for Macan at Costco today at a whopping $178. Granted it only comes with a 36-month warranty.

 

[Shark]

$700+ for OEM battery+installation seems absurd to me.

I was referring to the $475 quote for an installed Interstate battery. Would anyone pay an extra $229 for an OEM Varta battery over an Interstate?

 

[jzwu]

That extra $229 buys you a new Interstate H8 battery with some changes.

 

[Shark]

That extra $229 buys you a new Interstate H8 battery with some changes.

What do you mean? Thought the OEM batteries are made by Varta, not Interstate?

 

[153060]

What do you mean? Thought the OEM batteries are made by Varta, not Interstate?

OEM batteries are Varta. Correct.

 

[.149317]

Sure but $700 to swap out a battery... you're right is not "absurd" it's absolutely insane. And no I'm not driving a Sentra neither am I throwing money to a dealer for that kind of profit margin. But if they're going to do the external mirror oil change and service...

siberian

 

[.149317]

The OEM is Varta but there are few places that carry them and the price is exorbitant. Best bet is Costco for Interstate.

siberian

 

[Shark]

The OEM is Varta but there are few places that carry them and the price is exorbitant. Best bet is Costco for Interstate.

siberian

Agreed, but my point was $475 for a new Interstate battery including labor (and registration) at a dealer is not absurd for those not interested in DIY. OK, it's high, but to me beyond high is the $700-$1000 quotes others have mentioned.

 

[.149317]

A religious debate. I'll just add that my Launch has already more than paid for itself

siberian

 

[oqjnLu@>@W]

The OEM is Varta but there are few places that carry them and the price is exorbitant. Best bet is Costco for Interstate.

siberian

I searched online several months ago and didn't find anyone in the US who sold a Varta battery for the Macan...


😭

 

[.149317]

It seems they are being imported now (for absurd prices) when compared to Interstate which have been the go to brand for VW/Audi etc. for years.

Just to clarify there's nothing "runner up" when comparing Interstate to Varta (or IIRC Bosch which I had in my old 356). They've been used in the US as replacement for years, so just because they've finally decided to import Vartas doesn't mean we need to dump Interstate because it's not OEM. One will work as well as the other for a lot cheaper.

siberian

 

[153060]

I have had personally great luck with Varta. They've been used in all of my Mercedes, sometimes lasting 8 years or more. My Macan is a February 2014 build and is on the original (state of health 69%). But I would only purchase them if they were cost competitive and they never are. So when it is time to change Varta batteries on my cars, I always go aftermarket.

 

[iconoclast]

I was referring to the $475 quote for an installed Interstate battery. Would anyone pay an extra $229 for an OEM Varta battery over an Interstate?

Yes, $475 is not absurd. Especially if you are not a DIY guy & do not own equipment to register the battery.