2018 S3 Battery question

[XMetal]

Does anyone knows the difference between the following two batteries?

• 000-915-105-CC
• 000-915-105-CC-DSP

My local dealer gave me a quote for 000-915-105-CC-DSP. However, when I plug this into the online Audi parts store (parts.audiusa.com), it said the 000-915-105-CC-DSP doesn't fit my 2018 S3? But the online part store does say that the 000-915-105-CC will fit? Both appeared to cost the same. So, what's going on here? Which is the right battery? Thanks.

Audi gives terrible to little info/description on their parts

[MikTip]

The dealership will run your VIN...and based on what the dealership has in stock or at a warehouse they will either send you either.

H6 is the battery size.

After I had two OE dealer batteries die exactly at 3 years each...I bought an AutoZone H6 battery.

Also VW/Audi at one point switched to flooded batteries over AGM then switched back to AGM.

I think it has to do with the covid supply chain thing...

Order from dealer...see what they give you as it looks like both will work.

All depends with what's on hand at the time.

[Spinnetti]

Audi doesn't make batteries in the US anyway. Local suppliers provide them. For my S3, I think I got the Autozone one, and for my R8 the dealer was actually cheapest and though labelled Audi, it was actually sourced from Interstate. So, all depends, but they aren't magic and wherever you can get cheapest should be fine (AGM the more premium battery but also more expensive). The battery in my Lexus is nearly 15 years old and still going strong, and the battery in my Corolla race car was at least 20 years old and still fine when I sold it. Lots of factors affecting longevity, though the A platform does seem to like to eat its batteries with my S3 one lasting about 4 years.

[XMetal]

Thank you both for your inputs. As it turned out, 000-915-105-CC is the actual part number for the H6 AGM battery. 000-915-105-CC-DSP is the number in their system that reference the 000-915-105-CC battery and that's the number that printed on your receipt...weird, I know.

Battery prices varies tremendously between dealers.

• The Audi dealer near my work wants $229 for the AGM battery as referenced above.
• The Audi dealer near my home wants $323 (part) + $375 installation & programming for the same battery - BIG NO. I then went across the street to the VW dealer and paid $216 for the same battery.

Other options I've looked into:

• Walmart H6 AGM - $170. I have one of their H8 AGM currently in my X5 and it's actually not a bad battery. Was going for this option, but it doesn't have an Ah rating, which was required for battery programming. If I had to, I can probably just use any numbers between 68Ah to 72Ah and probably be OK since it's the range for this size battery.
• Oreilly's H6 AGM - $240. Why bother when an OE can be had for less? Also doesn't have an Ah rating
• Autozone H6 AGM - $240. Why bother when an OE can be had for less? I had used their AGMs in my Z4MC and X5 in the past and didn't have good experience with it - wouldn't be my 1st choice.

Here's a picture of the new AGM vs the original EFB that came with the car. Since the OE EFB lasted more than 5.5 years, I would be pretty happy if the replacement can do the same.

AudiBatteries.jpg

[Why-man5]

I switched over to an interstate AGM battery… I’ve never had any issues with interstates… generally last longer than other batteries

[MikTip]

My first S3 OE AGM battery died at 3 years of age. Replaced it with same exact AGM battery from VW dealer as it cost less than Audi dealer.

2nd OE battery died at 3 years. At the time VW/Audi switched from AGM to flooded batteries...and had zero in stock in my area. I went to Autozone bought a Duralast for $200 DIY installed it myself. Its still going...

My alternator pulley went out. Its internal clutch didnt clutch anymore. DIY Replaced entire alternator.

2015 S3 doesn't have battery tender program.

[XMetal]

Batteries are usually a crapshoot. I have a Bosch AGM in my X5 that lasted over 7 years (and still going strong until I replaced it preemptively). Got a similar Bosch AGM in my Z4MC that crapped out less than 2 years (it had plenty of voltage output, but no CA/CCA to crank). We shall see how long this VW AGM will hold up. I'm not so lucky in that our 2018 requires "battery tender program", so I'm limited to those batteries that provides proper Ah specs for programming purpose just to be "safe".