Battery pricing

[eyelight]

This is not strictly Mercedes related so hope it's okay on this list.

Pricing a new battery for the E220 yesterday. Called into two differnet motor shops while walking through town, and got 2 very different prices, but what was interesting was that both salesmen told me that car battery prices would be rising very soon. By as much as 50% according to one of them. Appearantly a shortage of lead on the world market or something.
Has anybody else heard this or is there any truth to it?

Thanks,
Larry

 

[television]

This is not strictly Mercedes related so hope it's okay on this list.

Pricing a new battery for the E220 yesterday. Called into two differnet motor shops while walking through town, and got 2 very different prices, but what was interesting was that both salesmen told me that car battery prices would be rising very soon. By as much as 50% according to one of them. Appearantly a shortage of lead on the world market or something.
Has anybody else heard this or is there any truth to it?

Thanks,
Larry

Very odd Larry as lead prices have not risen in proportion to other metals of late, and how do they know

 

[jibcl500]

Where I used to work we had a chap (gippo) that would take our waste metal, he recently asked if he could start taking the old batteris away with him. £700 a ton he seems to think lead is fetching......

jib

 

[Marco Polo]

The price of lead on the London Metal exchange is currently reasonably stable at around £1640 per ton, although it did increase sharply between May and July this year, from £1000 to £1500 per ton.

This price is not comparable to the scrap market value, but the current stability suggests that there is no anticipated shortage. Forward rates are stable as well.

 

[jberks]

I thought that a lot of modern batteries no longer contain much lead?
Price wsise I got very confused recently with a wide variation in prices quoted. A local factor was £110, Halfrauds £85 and a local shop £50. I was a bit suspicious of the quality of the 'local' one and as Hanfrauds came with a 3yr warranty I boughht that one.

 

[moosehead]

Try www.tayna.co.uk

Purchased a Varta battery for the wifes SLK last winter. They are very competitive and the delivery charge is very reasonable.

 

[Schtum]

I priced one from National Tyres. £85 for a Varta. You can get 10% off by booking online first. I didn't need it in the end, as the original came back to life with some water and a good charge.

 

[philharve]

This is not strictly Mercedes related so hope it's okay on this list.

Pricing a new battery for the E220 yesterday. Called into two differnet motor shops while walking through town, and got 2 very different prices, but what was interesting was that both salesmen told me that car battery prices would be rising very soon. By as much as 50% according to one of them. Appearantly a shortage of lead on the world market or something.
Has anybody else heard this or is there any truth to it?

Thanks,
Larry

Hi Larry

Purely for interest, what prices were you quoted for batteries? I replaced mine during the last really cold spell and I went with my indie's recommendation for a replacement and made a saving of £100. MB prices are inflated.

REGARDS

Phil

 

[eyelight]

Purely for interest, what prices were you quoted for batteries? I replaced mine during the last really cold spell and I went with my indie's recommendation for a replacement and made a saving of £100. MB prices are inflated.

Well www.tayna.co.uk are quoting £49.99 for a Numax battery, £67.99 for Delphi and £68.99 for Varta. Plus £8 for delivery within England or Wales.

Local motor parts shop down the road says £49.99 for a battery, which they claim to have on the shelf. They didn't mention a brand, and seem a bit disorganised. They had trouble fining out which battery fit the car in their book.
And www.autolex.co.uk in Henley quoted £70, which I think was for a Yuasa battery.

 

[philharve]

Well www.tayna.co.uk are quoting £49.99 for a Numax battery, £67.99 for Delphi and £68.99 for Varta. Plus £8 for delivery within England or Wales.

Local motor parts shop down the road says £49.99 for a battery, which they claim to have on the shelf. They didn't mention a brand, and seem a bit disorganised. They had trouble fining out which battery fit the car in their book.
And www.autolex.co.uk in Henley quoted £70, which I think was for a Yuasa battery.

Hi eyelight

I paid GBP50.00 for mine. Fitting was free by my indie. My MB dealer wanted GBP150.00 and would levy a charge for fitting. I haven't regreted my decision to stick with my indie's suggestion. I forget the battery manufacturers name but it was manufactured by one of the biggest battery makers in the World. MB and other car makers stick their own badges on them and make a big profit.

REGARDS

Phil