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which battery for 72 super beetle?

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rockabillyted Learner Dubber

18 posts · joined Oct 2008 ·

#682458
Hi, does anybody know what battery i need to buy for my 1972 super beetle? Thanks!

helbus Administrator Mad fabricator, paint and body

7,386 posts · joined Sep 2002 ·

#682489
Part no 3372 for a standard battery or part no 3552 for a premium battery
Those part numbers are used by roadside services RACV RACQ RAA NRMA etc.

This is a recessed post battery as used by many European branded and manufactured vehicles including BMW, Porsche, Mercedes, Citroen, Fiat, Lancia, Vectra etc.

The reason for recessed post being very important with a Beetle is that if someone sits on the back seat and the battery is too high, the metal springs can touch the battery terminals. This can then start the fibre in the seat to catch fire.
EJ22 into Bay Microbus - Finished project build thread- click on this spot here for info

jsheppard64 Officially Full-On Dubber

323 posts · joined Mar 2008 ·

#682525
Bosch BDIN 53L
Century BDIN 53 L
they are virtually the same. if i remember correctly it's 480CCA

round about $200
and they got 2 years warranty with them

or alternatively
10 1.2v rechargable AA size tied together with electrical tape.

Joel Now containing 100\% E-Wang

9,368 posts · joined Feb 2006 ·

#682668
$200.... fark me getting ripped dude

Ted, if u dont have any huge power drawing accessories and it still has the generator then any battery from 300-400cca will be fine as long as its normal size and has the mounting lugs down either side for the VW clamp... and a floorpan to sit it on is always a good thing to

u wont get a much more overloaded electrical system than my poor bug.
1200W of amplifiers, alarm, remote keyless entry, electric windows, too many guages, fuel pump, boot release, etc, etc and A/C in the works has managed fine for 3 years on a standard off the shelf Exide 475cca battery
cost me $99

68AutoBug Beetle Restorer - Experience over 138\% - YIKES --

11,654 posts · joined Aug 2002 ·

#682682
rockabillyted wrote:Hi, does anybody know what battery i need to buy for my 1972 super beetle? Thanks!
I recommend EXIDE batteries... P460D
I wouldn't use anything else...

You can buy EXIDE [champion is the same] from BIG W
they are a bit over $100 now..

Now available with the recessed posts without costing an arm and a leg...

about 455 CCA,s from memory...
anything with recessed posts over 400CCAs will do...

EXIDE P460D is the One I have

--- ++

EXIDE

LEE
- Helping keep Air Cooled VWs on the road - location: SCONE in the Upper Hunter Valley - Northern NSW 320 kms NNW of SYDNEY---

jsheppard64 Officially Full-On Dubber

323 posts · joined Mar 2008 ·

#682957
well a german car deserves a german brand eventho the batt was made in aussie. it gives me the comfort that underthe back seat has bosch sticker... also my dad paid for it 😂

greasykitchen Officially Full-On Dubber

375 posts · joined Dec 2007 ·

#683001
I paid about $130 ish for one for my Beetle from the RAA a few years ago. Recently Ipaied about $185 for one for my Golf. The both have recessed posts, and apparently the price of lead has increased lately. That was pretty much the going rate for that CCA and some were even pricier. I'm glad I don't have to buy one every year!
'76 Golf

eraser Fahrvergnugen

970 posts · joined Mar 2005 ·

#683057
For my daily driver i got a small truck battery (200 ish) for the other beetle i got a $50 battery from sprint auto.. so far so good and has 12 month warranty.

68AutoBug Beetle Restorer - Experience over 138\% - YIKES --

11,654 posts · joined Aug 2002 ·

#683113
small truck battery seems over kill

and $50 for a battery which can't be much good...

the EXIDE battery in My beetle has been in it since early 2005

My beetle can sit in My garage for a week or more without being used..
just the alarm LEDs flashing... and the memory of the CD player Radio..

LEE
- Helping keep Air Cooled VWs on the road - location: SCONE in the Upper Hunter Valley - Northern NSW 320 kms NNW of SYDNEY---

eraser Fahrvergnugen

970 posts · joined Mar 2005 ·

#683119
truck battery was because my orig 1968 didnt like turning over when it was hot.. needed the extra boost (tried everything to find the issue {4 new auto starter motors}, {re ground and rewire}, {new dissy, points, sparks} this was the only shore fire way to get her going.

as for this $50 battery so far it fires up week after week (had it for about 3 months now), and i have left it for a month and its all good still. (touch wood), but the truth is i got it because i was buying the new VW and the hippy stole the bloody battery out of it, and i didn't have all that much free money floating abouts. :P

What i really couldnt mind is one of those sexy new deep cycle batteries.

jsheppard64 Officially Full-On Dubber

323 posts · joined Mar 2008 ·

#683127
what u need is a bosch GT40 (german brand) with electronic ignition that has dwell extender...
or MSD 6AL and anything that comes with it...

and also you need a strong German dude as ur passenger...

after all it's a german car

68AutoBug Beetle Restorer - Experience over 138\% - YIKES --

11,654 posts · joined Aug 2002 ·

#683134
I think those deep cycle batteries need Just that -
to go down nearly flat and then recharged like when used in rural [no power ] situations...

The latest car batteries are the calcium type...
usually more expensive too...

Do You have a relay in the starter system??
so the current goes from the battery to the relay [which can be sitting next to the battery or the starter solenoid..]
to the starter motor...

the usual problem with beetles is the long voltage drop between the key switch and the battery and starter motor solenoid...
PLUS - the contacts in starter switches themselves are usually burnt badly after 30+ years...
so You end up with a high resistance in the starter switch.
and a very slow starter motor....

Lee

PS: Yes,I remember the disappearing battery.... Lee
- Helping keep Air Cooled VWs on the road - location: SCONE in the Upper Hunter Valley - Northern NSW 320 kms NNW of SYDNEY---