oblivionis

iTrader: (2)

The time has come to replace the battery on my IS350. It was still working but it was 8 years old and I didn't want to take chance this winter. I did a lot of reading here and determined that I need a group size 24 battery. I decided that a Bosch battery would be the best performance and affordability choice for me. So I ordered a Bosch Premium Performance Battery Group Size 24 from a local PepBoys for $100 with free installation. Installation is pretty easy and there is a good DIY thread here https://www.clublexus.com/forums/is-...e-battery.html but since it was free and it was 15*F outside I decided to let PepBoys do it. I'm really glad I did because that battery did not fit. It was about 1/4-inch taller than the stock Panasonic and since there is no adjustment on the bracket that holds the battery down, it could not be secured in the vehicle. This picture here shows the OEM battery next to the Bosch group size 24 battery.

That small size difference made the battery not fit in its compartment. When researching this topic I found that there are batteries for northern and southern climates. I suspect that there is a difference in size since some members here were able to install that battery without any adjustments.
What I ended up doing is buying a Bosch battery in group size 34 which meant that the battery was about 1/4-inch shorter than the OEM battery, putting some rubber tubing underneath the battery to raise it a little bit and installing the plastic surround and clamping it down. The mechanic at PepBoys spent a lot of time looking for a battery that would fit and for something that would raise it so it can be properly secured. I'm glad I went to PepBoys to have this done otherwise I'd be going back and forth between stores to find a battery that fit. So in order to help other ISX50 owners looking to replace their battery in the future I figured we should have a thread here where users that had swapped the battery would post information on the subject. I think it's best if we post in this format so the info is complete and easy to read:

-Brand/model of battery used:
-Group size:
-Your location:
-Any adjustments/modifications needed?:
-Was factory plastic surround re-installed?:
-Cost installed:
-Happy with the battery?/How long have you had it?

I'll start:
-Bosch Premium Performance
-Group size 34
-Chicagoland
-Used thick rubber tubing to raise the battery about 1/4-inch
-Yes, plastic surround re-installed.
-$100
-I just got the battery so can't comment on longevity but it comes with 3-year free replacement and FREE emergency jumpstart!

4TehNguyen

iTrader: (1)

Duralast Gold
Size 24
Houston, TX
No adjustment or mods
Plastic surround reinstalled
Previous one failed 2 months shy of 3 years around July 2013. Autozone replacement warranty gave me a new one which is currently being used

Gville350

iTrader: (10)

I think I ended up with a Group 34 this year and it fit snuggly, but fit nonetheless.

clubfoot

Lexus branded OEM battery,...required use of the addon plastic spacer to bring it to the correct installation height.