Two years ago I changed my A6 Allroad battery for a Varta Silver Line 110ah battery. No BEM codes were on the battery and I got help from this site in trying to invent codes which may have worked, but now just after two years I am again suffering low battery power issues.

Are the only batteries issued with BEM codes those which are supplied by Audi? And how much do they charge, because it will be a supply and fit, oiks like me keep our filthy fingers off! Is it just a big con? I suspect so.

The first issue I notice is that the electric tailgate would not open, except with the engine running, just after a longish run the battery was only showing 12.16V, but with the engine running it is 14v.

Is there no way around this problem, a new Varta battery costs around 200 Euros, and a new one every two years?

Suggestions appreciated, I often wish I had never sold my 1998 A6 estate AEL 2.5 tdi, so much more simplicity.