Battery help please - AGM or not?

[Gollom]

I ordered a battery yesterday (A000 982 21 08) but the vendor has come back and said it is not correct for my S204 and I need an AGM battery (Bosch 0092S5A110 and Varta F21 - they do not have the AGM ones so it's not an "upsell" opportunity!)

However A000 982 21 08 is the part number on the existing battery (see pic) so now very confused. Help!

 

[markjay]

Your S204 is Edition 125, so it's the facelift model with the Stop/Start functionality, and the battery is indeed an AGM battery.

 

[markjay]

 

[markjay]

EDIT

 

[Gollom]

Ahhhh - so normal and AGM batteries share the same part number?

 

[jimbg]

VRLA stands for Valve-Regulated Lead-Acid and is the designation for low-maintenance lead-acid rechargeable batteries. Because of their construction, VRLA batteries do not require regular addition of water to the cells.

An AGM (absorbed glass mat) battery contains a special glass mat separator that wicks the electrolyte solution between the battery plates. This material's design enables the fiberglass to be saturated with electrolyte – and to store the electrolyte in a “dry” or suspended state rather than in free liquid form.

 

[Gollom]

VRLA stands for Valve-Regulated Lead-Acid and is the designation for low-maintenance lead-acid rechargeable batteries. Because of their construction, VRLA batteries do not require regular addition of water to the cells.

An AGM (absorbed glass mat) battery contains a special glass mat separator that wicks the electrolyte solution between the battery plates. This material's design enables the fiberglass to be saturated with electrolyte – and to store the electrolyte in a “dry” or suspended state rather than in free liquid form.

Thanks for that. Now even more confused - Markjay's pic above says VLRA and AGM! The battery that is on my car at the moment (see pic above) says VLRA/VLRA

Could the wrong battery have been installed from new?

 

[OneForTheRoad]

Vrla is for zee germans

Vrla is for zee englander .

 

[Gollom]

Vrla is for zee germans

Vrla is for zee englander .

Nope, still confused!

 

[markjay]

Ahhhh - so normal and AGM batteries share the same part number?

Yes, that would be odd.

But given that the OP's car is a 2011 model, so will have Stop/Start, I would hazard a guess that his battery is AGM, even if it does not say so on the sticker label.

 

[rf065]

Yes, that would be odd.

But given that the OP's car is a 2011 model, so will have Stop/Start, I would hazard a guess that his battery is AGM, even if it does not say so on the sticker label.

Both my cars have AGM batteries, and both needed replaced between 4 & 5 years old. So maybe the OP's car being 2011 is not still on the original battery?

 

[markjay]

Both my cars have AGM batteries, and both needed replaced between 4 & 5 years old. So maybe the OP's car being 2011 is not still on the original battery?

Difficult to say. My 2013 W204 has this very same battery, and it is still fine at 8 years old. I don't think there's a hard and fast rule here, it's probably down to a range of things including the number of engine starts and how the car was being used over the years in general.

 

[190]

AGM batteries are VRLA but normal non AGM batteries can and usually are these days also VRLA.

VRLA just means they have a pressure release valve fitted which in normal circumstances eliminates loss of water.

AGM refers to the physical construction of the plates which is something different entirely.

 

[Gollom]

AGM batteries are VRLA but normal non AGM batteries can and usually are these days also VRLA.

VRLA just means they have a pressure release valve fitted which in normal circumstances eliminates loss of water.

AGM refers to the physical construction of the plates which is something different entirely.

Now that makes sense. Totally confusing when VRLA can refer to Lead Acid, but there ya go! LOL

 

[CarFan79]

Both my cars have AGM batteries, and both needed replaced between 4 & 5 years old. So maybe the OP's car being 2011 is not still on the original battery?

The date stamp is on top of one of the posts on the battery, week and year. 42/18 for example

 

[markjay]

Now that makes sense. Totally confusing when VRLA can refer to Lead Acid, but there ya go! LOL

Lead-Acid 'wet' batteries can either be VRLA, or not.

But all AGM batteries are VRLA.

 

[190]

Lead-Acid 'wet' batteries can either be VRLA, or not.

True but these days it's getting rare for normal lead acid batteries to not be VRLA. When manufacturers bury the battery with limited access as is often the case with MB, then there is no real choice but to use a totally maintenance free battery and that means VRLA. Even when they don't bury them, typical customers have no interest at all in looking after a battery and that also drives the move to VRLA.

 

[Gollom]

Thanks to everybody for the help.

OK, next challenge - find someone who has stock of either Bosch 0092S5A110 or Varta F21 The only three in stock (and that's a bit vague!) I can find are over £250 Anybody else has no stock and there is no indication of when they will be available

I am normally pretty good when it comes to this kind of thing, but have failed today!

Any help appreciated

 

[pmcgsmurf]

A000 982 21 08 was £150 from Edinburgh last time I ordered.

 

[Gollom]

A000 982 21 08 was £150 from Edinburgh last time I ordered.

Do you have a weblink please?