HI All

Relatively new owner here of a 2012 4.4 TDV8 AB. Collected last Sat and whilst on my way down there, the seller called to report a dead battery which would need replacing. They were able to source one (according to LR spec supposedly) which was delivered and fitted by a local mechanic whilst I was there. I was not aware of the spec battery required at the time.

By Monday morning, it was dead. I stuck it on my CTEK and since then it's been performing fine however a health check by my indie this morning confirmed it was a poor choice of batter. Only 90Ah vs the required 900Ah for starters.

So...looking online for batteries and found 3 candidates (my indie informs me that for my model, AGM is not necessary) which are all WET batteries:

https://www.tayna.co.uk/car-batteries/enduroline/019/

https://www.tayna.co.uk/car-batteries/varta/h3/

https://www.tayna.co.uk/car-batteries/bosch/s5013/

Would anyone recommend any of these in particular?

Also I learned that the car needs some sort of reset when fitting anew battery to 'tell it' there's a new battery else error codes ensue. Can anyone advise if I'm able to do this myself somehow or will I need a diagnostic tool?

They'll all work, but correct battery is 019 AGM, which will cost a lot more than any of those I'm affraid. THese beasts have a lot of electrickery on board so need the extra power and charging capability of an AGM battery.

As it happens mine currently has a non AGM battery iffted (previous owner) and pretty much everything works except the FBH, which works for about 30 sec then shuts off. My Wife's 4.4 TdV8 was exactly the same until we fitted the correct AGM battery and the FBH now works as it should. Drives:
2010 FFRR TdV8 Vogue - Stornoway Grey
2010 FFRR TdV8 Vogue SE - Zermatt Silver
1998 BMW E36 M3 GTII

For your 2012 4.4 tdV8 you definitely need a 019 AGM battery.
The manual says you should use a diagnostic tool to reset the Battery Charging Unit when you change it.
However, several members who did reset the BCU using their GAP iid found that the new battery did not reach full charge as expected, so when I replaced mine I decided not to reset the unit immediately, instead choosing to wait and see how it went.
Nearly 3 years later and I still have never reset it, so it is definitely not essential, just personal choice.

Click image to enlarge

Thank you both! This is exactly the feedback I was hoping for!

A little annoying that the seller got away with putting a cheap battery in but c'est la vie.

My indie charges £45+vat to fit and configure the new battery so I might just do that tbh

I have a slightly different take to most, quite happy for people to disagree with me.

You do not need an AGM battery, AGM’s are awesome and great batteries work really well with start stop tech and in things like leisure industry.

If you leave the Range Rover for weeks without driving buy AGM if it’s a regular driver then a normal battery would be fine, Bosch is a good choice.

Just my view, ready to be shot down.

Is there a way to know for sure if you need AGM or not?

My previous battery was marked AGM so I replaced it with another (https://www.tayna.co.uk/car-batteries/exide/ek950/) but TBH I still get the odd "Special programs off" on startup - wondering if its perhaps not an AGM car, or could be lacking the oomph to start it up (95Ah) 09 RR Westminster 3.6TDV8 - Stornoway Grey / Black interior - now gone (sad face)
Nissan X Trail 1.6TDCi Tekna
Fiat 500 1.2

Having done a bit more searching and reading on the forum, I think I'm happy to go with AGM. My car will mostly be doing shorter drives and fairly infrequently.

There is a large price difference between the brands however - the cheapest I've found, and interestingly with 900CCA v the usual 850CCA but still with 95Ah is this one:

https://advancedbatterysupplies.co.uk/prod...echnology/

Would anyone know why it would be so much cheaper than the Varta or the Exide? I'm fine not going with Bosch. Have previous good experience with Varta but £43 would be quite the saving if I go with the 'Advanced AGM' one...

https://advancedbatterysupplies.co.uk/product/varta-g14/

https://www.tayna.co.uk/car-batteries/exide/ek950/

A JLR AGM battery was fitted to mine when the old one failed! I wouldn't fit anything else to my car...

JLR have VERY strict guidelines as to what should be in these cars and NO ONE (IMHO) matches those, hence my mindset!

Its the difference on around £100 on a £40k car! No brainer!!! I liken it to fitting Pirelli or Conti tyres! Maybe £40-£50 a corner more! again, no brainer!

All the very early 4.4tdv8’s were fitted with standard batteries, but by May 2011 they were recalled and all batteries were replaced free of charge to AGM type. From that date AGM were fitted at the factory.
They wouldn’t have gone to that expense for no reason.
Mike. G reg 2.5VM Vogue Portofino red 1991- 1999
V reg 2.5td P38 Rioja red 1999- 2006
53 reg td6 Vogue Oslo blue 2006- 2015
11 reg 4.4 TdV8 Vogue SE. Baltic blue 2015- date.
https://www.fullfatrr.com/forum/topic56162...tty+affair

Agreed, hence why I'm set on AGM. My last post was more along the lines of which AGM by brand as there seems to be a wide price range. And in my very simple understanding, 900CCA would be better than 850CCA, all else being equal...so the cheaper 'Advanced AGM' would be the one to go for surely?

But why is it so cheap??

Thanks for all the replies - I took the plunge and opted for the own-brand AGM from Advanced Battery Supplies after speaking to them on the phone. It comes with the same 5yr warranty as the Varta and would not need to be sent back to claim so in terms of risk, felt it was equal to the Varta.

I'll update here / on the forum once it's fitted with how it performs. I expect (and hope!) that even though cheaper than the Varta it will be at least equal in performance and longevity.

What one did you go for? 019 or 020? 09 RR Westminster 3.6TDV8 - Stornoway Grey / Black interior - now gone (sad face)
Nissan X Trail 1.6TDCi Tekna
Fiat 500 1.2

019. Didn't want to risk mail ordering 020 and it not fitting.

https://advancedbatterysupplies.co.uk/prod...echnology/