Renault battery died and the dealer wanted 1100 – found a better way

[Freya Collins]

My 2018 Renault Koleos has been a great car overall, but last week the battery died with no warning. I called the dealer and they quoted me 1100 dirhams for a new battery plus installation and “coding” which they said was required because the car has a battery management system. That seemed insane to me for a relatively simple car. I started looking online and found that many modern cars, even non-luxury ones, need the battery registered to the ECU so the alternator knows how to charge it properly. I was about to just buy a battery myself and gamble, but a friend who owns a Megane told me about mobile services that specialize in European cars and include the coding in their price. I found a company offering Proficient Renault Battery Installation Service in Battery Zone UAE and decided to try them. The guy arrived within an hour, tested the old battery which was completely dead, and installed a new Varta battery. He used a little memory saver device so the radio and settings didn’t reset, and then plugged in his laptop to register the battery to the car’s computer. Total cost was 750 dirhams including everything, and the car has been fine for two weeks now. Has anyone else used a mobile service for a Renault or similar car? I’m curious if the coding they did is as good as what the dealer would do, because the stop/start system works perfectly now. Also wondering if they tested the alternator or just assumed it was fine. I’m happy with the service but always a bit nervous about using non-dealer options. Any experiences from other French car owners would be helpful. Thanks.

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