The Bosch 49/850B battery in my wife's 2006 XK8 gave up the ghost this morning after 4 years 7 months in the car. I removed the battery and headed to Pep Boys along with my original receipt and a $25 gift card they had mailed me a month or so ago and wound up paying $85 for a new Bosch 49/850B battery after my pro-rated credit and $25 gift card were applied....

One big difference, though - this battery no longer has the 6 cell caps that you can unscrew to add water. Looks like it is indeed completely sealed. Not sure I like that....

 

Hmmm . . . your car and thus, your choice of battery, but perhaps you are aware that this was not the OEM fitted when new, nor as recommended for replacement. The original was manufactured by Varta of Germany, was always fully sealed (no caps for topping up) but vented (via tube to outside car). Very reliable, very heavy, and expensive.

When coupled to smart chargers (battery tender) to cope with even short-term non use, the Vartas in both my S-Type and XK8 lasted a bit beyond 10 years . . . and have each been replaced now with the uprated Varta H3 Silver Series.

Cheers,

Ken

 

I think it depends on the type of battery. If it is a "maintenance free" AGM battery, it is sealed for life (here we go again with those words). If it is a "low maintenance", conventional acid-lead model, it should have caps that pop off for maintenance.

I have an Interstate battery, "low maintenance". It looks nice and tidy, and completely sealed, but with the right application of a flat-blade screwdriver, the whole top does come off for maintenance. It is a one-piece cap that goes across the whole width, but (reluctantly) pops off. The underside of that cap as individual "corks" for each of the cells. I knew I should have taken a picture...

Separately, did you check the vent tube was on?

 

Sorry, but I am not paying the extremely heavy price for a Varta battery. The OEM Varta battery in this car lasted 7 years 4 months (and it indeed had the six unscrewable cell caps so I could add water as necessary). I feel for what it costs, it should have lasted much longer....

Yes, I removed the vent tube from the old battery and plugged it into the new battery as required. That little step is a no-brainer....

 

Jon,

You have absolutely nothing to worry about. The battery is obviously to Jaguar specification - it's SEALED FOR LIFE.

Graham

 

Graham,

As long as I can continue to receive the appropriate pro-rated credits coupled with using the Pep Boys $25 coupons every 4 to 5 years to swap in a new battery for about $85 when the old one dies, I'll live with it....