Do I Need To Get Battery Replaced By Dealer?

[Peter_S]

spud, "Dash was like a christmas tree on power up, but all cleared no issues and error codes cleared."

That's decided it for me, thanks.   What error codes?  My nerves couldn't stand seeing that!   

It's going to the dealer on Thursday for a new battery.

Mine is the same as yours i.e. SeBang - Korean EFB type dated ? (must check that tomorrow).
Car is MY16 built April 2016

I've told the dealer I want a warranty claim putting in even thought its over 3 years old now.

It let me down for the second time in a month on Monday -it had been standing for three days in the garage following a fast 80 mile motorway round-trip on previous Wednesday, then 3 miles to town and back into the garage on Thursday.
It's helpful isn't it when it won't start and you get the error message "12V battery very low.  Drive car to charge"  But of course, you can't drive it!

Does the dealer need to know the radio code after the battery is replaced or are they able to save that with the other codes before they disconnect the original battery?

Peter_S

I've just replaced mine, May 2016.

Got a Bosch S5A 08 AGM  from Battery Megastore for £126.52 inc delivery on a Discount Code.
Battery removed is a SeBang - Korean EFB type dated 12-16 so end of March.
I think the OEM battery is definitely spec'd on price, as long as it lasts 3 years VW are in the clear.
Changing battery took about 30 mins, including the coding with OBD11.
No adverse effects from change without piggy back power.
Dash was like a christmas tree on power up, but all cleared no issues and error codes cleared.
Only lost the trip mileage all other settings, codings etc intack.

[Exonian]

I definitely would have thought it valid to expect at least a sizeable partial goodwill gesture from VW at such a young age.

[Talk-torque]

If it’s the original radio unit, it is paired with the car ECU, so doesn’t need to be coded.

Push hard for a decent contribution Peter - this is not a reasonable failure in a decent car that has been looked after.

[Spud122]

To be honest it was a little disconcerting on power up to start with. 
I checked error codes before removing battery, none.
Changed battery, ignition on, plenty of lights and warnings, including parking sensors disabled, ACC disabled etc.
Sort out coding changes for new battery.
Short drive all lights go out, power off and restart, all clear.
Check for codes and clear them all, no issues since.
 
Wish you well with getting a VW contribution, to be honest i couldn't be bothered in trying.
Eurocarparts have the bosch at £334 before any discounts, so i figured VW would be at least that, plus fitting cost, so even if they did decide to pay 50% it was still going to be £200.

spud, "Dash was like a christmas tree on power up, but all cleared no issues and error codes cleared."

That's decided it for me, thanks.   What error codes?  My nerves couldn't stand seeing that!   

It's going to the dealer on Thursday for a new battery.

Mine is the same as yours i.e. SeBang - Korean EFB type dated ? (must check that tomorrow).
Car is MY16 built April 2016

I've told the dealer I want a warranty claim putting in even thought its over 3 years old now.

It let me down for the second time in a month on Monday -it had been standing for three days in the garage following a fast 80 mile motorway round-trip on previous Wednesday, then 3 miles to town and back into the garage on Thursday.
It's helpful isn't it when it won't start and you get the error message "12V battery very low.  Drive car to charge"  But of course, you can't drive it!

Does the dealer need to know the radio code after the battery is replaced or are they able to save that with the other codes before they disconnect the original battery?

Peter_S

I've just replaced mine, May 2016.

Got a Bosch S5A 08 AGM  from Battery Megastore for £126.52 inc delivery on a Discount Code.
Battery removed is a SeBang - Korean EFB type dated 12-16 so end of March.
I think the OEM battery is definitely spec'd on price, as long as it lasts 3 years VW are in the clear.
Changing battery took about 30 mins, including the coding with OBD11.
No adverse effects from change without piggy back power.
Dash was like a christmas tree on power up, but all cleared no issues and error codes cleared.
Only lost the trip mileage all other settings, codings etc intack.

[Peter_S]

Exonian, thanks for that reassurance. 
I'll post back here to let you and the others know how I get on tomorrow.

Peter_S

I definitely would have thought it valid to expect at least a sizeable partial goodwill gesture from VW at such a young age.

[Peter_S]

Talk-torque, phew! Thanks, that's a relief as I thought I'd have to go ferreting around looking for a radio code!  I have the original radio unit Discover Media Generation 2
Yes, I like to think I look after it.  It's only done 26k and is always garaged.

Peter_S

If it’s the original radio unit, it is paired with the car ECU, so doesn’t need to be coded.

Push hard for a decent contribution Peter - this is not a reasonable failure in a decent car that has been looked after.

[Peter_S]

spud122, I'm sweating even more reading your excellent description of the procedure you went through   

The dealer says the battery (they did not say/know what make) would be about £225 incl VAT, so that probably stacks up with the Eurocarparts one after discounts, right?

Peter_S

To be honest it was a little disconcerting on power up to start with. 
I checked error codes before removing battery, none.
Changed battery, ignition on, plenty of lights and warnings, including parking sensors disabled, ACC disabled etc.
Sort out coding changes for new battery.
Short drive all lights go out, power off and restart, all clear.
Check for codes and clear them all, no issues since.
 
Wish you well with getting a VW contribution, to be honest i couldn't be bothered in trying.
Eurocarparts have the bosch at £334 before any discounts, so i figured VW would be at least that, plus fitting cost, so even if they did decide to pay 50% it was still going to be £200.

spud, "Dash was like a christmas tree on power up, but all cleared no issues and error codes cleared."

That's decided it for me, thanks.   What error codes?  My nerves couldn't stand seeing that!   

It's going to the dealer on Thursday for a new battery.

Mine is the same as yours i.e. SeBang - Korean EFB type dated ? (must check that tomorrow).
Car is MY16 built April 2016

I've told the dealer I want a warranty claim putting in even thought its over 3 years old now.

It let me down for the second time in a month on Monday -it had been standing for three days in the garage following a fast 80 mile motorway round-trip on previous Wednesday, then 3 miles to town and back into the garage on Thursday.
It's helpful isn't it when it won't start and you get the error message "12V battery very low.  Drive car to charge"  But of course, you can't drive it!

Does the dealer need to know the radio code after the battery is replaced or are they able to save that with the other codes before they disconnect the original battery?

Peter_S

I've just replaced mine, May 2016.

Got a Bosch S5A 08 AGM  from Battery Megastore for £126.52 inc delivery on a Discount Code.
Battery removed is a SeBang - Korean EFB type dated 12-16 so end of March.
I think the OEM battery is definitely spec'd on price, as long as it lasts 3 years VW are in the clear.
Changing battery took about 30 mins, including the coding with OBD11.
No adverse effects from change without piggy back power.
Dash was like a christmas tree on power up, but all cleared no issues and error codes cleared.
Only lost the trip mileage all other settings, codings etc intack.

[Peter_S]

Well, I got the battery changed today.
Long story shortened is that they would not entertain a warranty claim or offer a goodwill contribution.
I expressed my disappointment.
They said that the Golf R battery problems related to a specific batch and mine was not one of them - they would say that wouldn't they?
However, they knocked £50 off the quote £290 so I paid £242 inclusive fitted, a Varta VAO 669 627 RA 12V 70Ah 420A DIN "Made in Germany" with a two year warranty apparently.
That's better than a Sebang from Korea isn't it?
I was originally quoted £329 and the Halfords offer was £182, Yuasa five year warranty.
So the dealer has come down £87 which I suppose is something.  They also gave me a complimentary Up courtesy car.  Quite impressed with the little critter actually, surprisingly sporty exhaust note.  Are they 3-cylinders?

A noticeable difference when starting up now.  Instant. 
My confidence in the battery is back - let it snow!   

I was worried about what Spud122 reported on powering-up the new battery.
Everything seems be ok, which is important to me:  Radio, CD player, iPhone charging, Infotainment - satnav; Apple CarPlay incl Deezer; SD card in slot 2 (music); WeConnect and Huawei E8372 Wingle, DCC, ACC, mirrors, windows, heated seats, aircon, parking sensors and stop-start.

The only thing I noticed like Spud122 I think, was that the "CAR/Driving Data" stats had been wiped.  You know the day's fuel consumption; long-term consumption and consumption since fill-up.  That does not bother me as I know I can always get 40+ on a motorway run.

Thanks again to everyone for their inputs to help inform my decision.

Peter_S

[Spud122]

Glad it all got sorted for you without any hassle.

Stewart

[Peter_S]

Stewart, yes thanks, it is a relief.   Peter_S