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

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.

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.

$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

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

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!

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.

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

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.

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

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