Macan Battery Replacement and Registration?

[carrera3.2]

I tried doing a search on this topic, but was unable to find a definite answer. I am wondering if anyone on this forum has actually replaced their Macan's original battery other than at a Porsche dealership. The OE Porsche battery is a Varta AGM 12V 92Ah 520A DIN. I have seen what I think are exorbitant charges for replacement at Porsche dealerships. Contrary to what some are saying, I believe that AGM batteries, being completely sealed and presenting little or no hazard of acid spills, may be shipped. Sunset Porsche seems to have about the lowest price I have seen at $331.

Varta does not seem to sell batteries in North America other than through dealerships. So, following a little research, I think I found another possible source for our batteries. Interstate sells an MTX-49H8 that is AGM and seems to be a direct replacement for our Varta batteries except that it is rated at 95Ah instead of the Varta's 92Ah, a minor difference. The case dimensions are identical. The price at my local Interstate shop is $203, a substantially less amount than the dealership prices. They have them in stock.

So, here is a potential problem: viewing YouTube videos of Varta installations, the hangup may be in "registering" a non-Varta battery. The registration appears to be done using the Porsche PIWIS unit and requires inputing a serial number from the new battery to complete the process.  Can you plug in info from a non-Varta battery and have it accepted?

Anyone have any experience or learned advice about this?

[carrera3.2]

Still no comments on this subject?  Has no Macan owner yet replaced the original Varta AGM battery at other than a Porsche dealership?

[JFP in PA]

The answer to your question is yes.  What you describe as "registering" the battery is actually setting the charging system output to match the type of battery (AGM battery for instance use a slightly higher charging rate than flooded cells).  This requires the use of a PIWIS system.

[carrera3.2]

10 minutes ago, JFP in PA said:

The answer to your question is yes.  What you describe as "registering" the battery is actually setting the charging system output to match the type of battery (AGM battery for instance use a slightly higher charging rate than flooded cells).  This requires the use of a PIWIS system.

JFP,

 

Thanks for the reply.  I am aware that Porsche dealers use the PIWIS system to perform this function.  What I would like to know is if there is any generally available unit besides the PIWIS that will perform this operation.  The iCarsoft POR V2.0 unit is advertised to do this for the Macan.  So I bought one and when I tried to see if it could do what was advertised, I found that it would register a new battery for every Porsche model except the Macan.  I returned it and got my money back after their technical rep told me they "are still working on it".  Still looking for a reasonable solution to what should be a rather simple problem.  BTW, it is rather easy to perform this kind of AGM battery registration on a BMW, and at a very reasonable cost.  I don't know why someone can't bring out a product for Porsche's biggest selling product, especially in light of the fact that the oldest Macans are now more than 4 years old and will soon be needing new batteries.

[JFP in PA]

8 minutes ago, carrera3.2 said:

JFP,

 

Thanks for the reply.  I am aware that Porsche dealers use the PIWIS system to perform this function.  What I would like to know is if there is any generally available unit besides the PIWIS that will perform this operation.  The iCarsoft POR V2.0 unit is advertised to do this for the Macan.  So I bought one and when I tried to see if it could do what was advertised, I found that it would register a new battery for every Porsche model except the Macan.  I returned it and got my money back after their technical rep told me they "are still working on it".  Still looking for a reasonable solution to what should be a rather simple problem.  BTW, it is rather easy to perform this kind of AGM battery registration on a BMW, and at a very reasonable cost.  I don't know why someone can't bring out a product for Porsche's biggest selling product, especially in light of the fact that the oldest Macans are now more than 4 years old and will soon be needing new batteries.

 

The answer is simple: Porsche uses a unique programing logic that has always been a pain for others to emulate, and quite simply the number of vehicles produced is still rather low.

[carrera3.2]

1 hour ago, JFP in PA said:

 

The answer is simple: Porsche uses a unique programing logic that has always been a pain for others to emulate, and quite simply the number of vehicles produced is still rather low.

That is understandable.  But I just find it hard to comprehend why the battery management menu for the iCarsoft unit had entries for all of the current Porsche models, including the Cayenne, but not for the Macan.  Perhaps the Macan is unique in this regard?

[JFP in PA]

2 minutes ago, carrera3.2 said:

That is understandable.  But I just find it hard to comprehend why the battery management menu for the iCarsoft unit had entries for all of the current Porsche models, including the Cayenne, but not for the Macan.  Perhaps the Macan is unique in this regard?

 

In a way, it has its own DME.