My MK7 is still rocking the Varta OEM battery from 2015 since new, and my MK4 has a "duralast" Gold H5 which has a 1/2016 stamp on it and it is still doing fine.
So maybe your dealer does but we receive ours from interstate and have Varta branding on them.
The Odyssey PC680 is probably the best battery out there, if you can make it fit. I'd stay away from lithiums, you buy those when you are looking to save weight. For reliable low temperature operation, stick with a lead acid thats had decades of development.
I had an OEM VW battery made by Varta. It lasted from October 2005 to May 2014. It spent time in Michigan, Minnesota and northern Germany. I never had any problems with it.
The OEM battery is probably the best bang for the buck. I replaced mine with another OEM one after 7 years as a preventive measure. It was still performing fine.
Agree with everybody on here, change your battery - I had similar problems and others not mentioned, changed the battery and almost all problems disappeared.
I used straps like the first link when I had an Odyssey battery a few years back. Eventually went back to an OEM one but the straps were an easy solution
I bought my 2008 3.6 4motion wagon a little over 3 years ago. It came with the original OEM battery, part number 4F0 915 105 E, and I was both impressed that it lasted that long and curious as to how much longer it would last.
I have a half-sized lightweight battery from odyssey. I wouldn't have chosen it, but its never given me any problems and I've been using it for years at this point.
Service guy just stopped over and confirmed the battery was bad. Replacement installation in progress.
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