Anyone tried Costco Interstate brand battery for our cars? I have '15 F Sport RWD. It's almost 4 years old. Thinking that I should replace the battery before it fail. What's the difference between Costco and OEM battery? Costco have it for about $75. Not sure what dealer wants for battery, but pretty sure it's alot more.

 

Just out of curiosity I checked the Costco/Interstate website and the GS350 doesn't come up for 2015 Lexus models, while it does come up for 2016. Are you sure it's the right battery? I have a 2015 also.

 

I check the catalog in the warehouse. It listed Group Fitment 22 Group Size 24 CCA700 Item #850231 as compatible with our 2015 GS.

 

Interstate batteries are top quality. $75 is at least $25 cheaper than any where for a good battery.
I believe they give you an extra year replacement.
These are all I buy.

 

I've bought many Interstate batteries for a variety of Lexus and Toyota vehicles with the last several purchased at Costco. Maybe Costco sells Interstate batteries for less in California. The one (size 24F, I think) I bought last year at Costco here in Kansas cost about $100 including taxes. The last battery I priced at a Lexus dealership was around $250 - I laughed and walked out.

I assume that Interstate batteries are at least as good as other brands - it's the only battery brand sold by the indie Lexus repair shop I use.

I've never replaced a battery until it showed signs of failure or failed completely without warning. The longest an original battery has lasted in one of our Lexus has been five years. The original battery in one of our current Toyotas is still going strong at 6 1/2 years although the vehicle has less than 40,000 miles on it.

If you have an AAA auto club membership, you can call them for a "free" jump start that will get you home or to a Costco store. If you have an active Safety Connect subscription and AAA, you can press the SOS button and ask the Response Center to send AAA.

BTW, the annual subscription cost of Safety Connect was sharply reduced in 2017. We're now paying only $80/year per vehicle. An interesting aspect of Safety Connect is that it works in rural areas where we have no service on our hand held cell phones - maybe it's antenna in the roof gives Safety Connect more range.

 

Thanks for tips guys. I think I'll get it at Costco. Bought batteries with AAA in the past for my other cars too, they're great as well. Cost little more than Costco because they come to you. I can install battery myself, it's so simple.

 

I think Costco battery for our car is $90, with 3 years warranty.

Edit: $90 after turn in the core, otherwise $15 more.
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At least here in Tucson, Costco sells batteries, but does not install them.

 

The Lexus branded battery is made by Interstate and the same specification battery (without Lexus branding) is not available from any source except Lexus. The Lexus battery part number is #00544-MF240-575. It's a Group Size 24 and carries a Lexus 84 month warranty. The cost is ~$115.00, which is about what a similarly specified Interstate battery cost.

 

My 2011 GS350 still has the original battery, and 25,000 miles on it. Almost a year ago, I had a indy shop run a battery test and it came back "replace." Well, that was a year ago and it has never hesitated to start. I think I'll run it until it dies. So we're into year 7. We'll see if we can make 8.

 

It would be interesting to know if the Indy shop used a high-quality [true] 'load test' device on the battery a year ago. I suspect your car likely sits in a garage and is not exposed to a lot of high heat and bitter cold over the years, which decreases the life of a battery. With so few miles on your model 2011 GS 350 do you use a battery tender to keep it charged-up? I'm curious why would you not replace such an old battery and save yourself the aggravation of being stranded at the least opportune time? Are you a penny-pincher or tightwad by nature?

 

I realize I'm taking the risk of being stranded, but I rarely drive this car more than five miles from my house. I figure if it ain't broke, don't fix it. I don't use a battery tender to keep it charged up, even though I have one. The battery still looks perfectly new. The battery load test showed 73% life. I don't know how low it has to go before it won't start again, but I'll just take that chance.

 

I find that your thought process is odd, but good luck with it. Replacing a battery every 4-5 years only costs an average of $25-$35 a year, or a few bucks a month - less than a 20% tip for a $15 lunch once-a-month. It has never made any sense to me why some people hold-out replacing their old battery until it leaves them stranded...

 

Crikey, I've never heard of a battery with a warranty longer than 30 months!

 

The Lexus branded battery comes with a 24-month free replacement warranty and prorated for the 5-year balance of the 84-month (7 Year) warranty period.