After 5 years it looks like my battery is dying. So I'm in the market for an 096 AGM battery. Is there any people recommend. It needs to be able to cope with the demands of stopstart and be able to support a parking mode dash cam that auto shuts down at <12.3v. it's going to be put through its paces throughout its working life and want something that will last

The best recommendation would be to replace with the same as you have now. After all it has lasted 5 years, so it can't be that bad.

True, the one I got now is a "powerline endurance" I got off eBay it's a yellow and black battery that came on a brown box with no brand name on the box or the battery. The only specs listed was on the top in black marker pan "AGM 096 75ah 780cca". Given how long it lasted I don't question the spec as it's lasted but could or easily gone the other way.

Exide, Varta, Yuasa, Bosch...plenty of decent brands to choose from.  

Tayna batteries on ebay are decent, free next day delivery and currently have 15% off with code TAKEIT...  Plus cashback through TCB as well.  

096 agm | eBay

agreed same model etc heavy duty if they do it, try some of the online battery suppliers ti guage prices, its all about cranking power, so your engine turns up to speed.

One of these from here:

https://www.tayna.co.uk/car-batteries/types/096-agm/ 

I normally buy Varta ones. The Ford branded original battery in my car is made by Varta too. Alternatively you can buy Bosch. Both normally have long warranties. Cheaper one may only have 3 years, not 4 or 5 years.

Also depends on battery placement so size is a factor, on my mk2 its half tucked under the front scuttle.

so i've borrowed a battery optimizer that reconditions bad batteries and its managed to get the fully charged voltage from 12.3 to 12.7 volts. although from what i've read online it should be 13v+. i'm in 2 minds whether to see how it goes or just bite the bullet and replace the battery. looking around ive found an 096 ENDUROLINE AGM STOP START 12V 70AH 760 cca 5 year warranty £121 or a Halfords advanced (yuasa made apparently) 096AGM Start/Stop AGM 70ah 760cca 5 year warranty £159 (140 after discounts and cashback).

 

any local motor factors, car spares shops, europarts etc. 5 year warranty is fairly standard, so really comes down to cost and what your prepared to pay. If you can coax it on for while ok but it will be in the back of your mind one day it will refuse to start

 

So I've put the old battery back after a couple of days regenerating and reset battery monitoring and all looks to be well including SS working again. I'm going to use SS functionality to monitor battery condition and if it stops working again I'll look at getting a new one.

I’m a bit sceptical about a battery optimiser reconditioning a battery.if it’s dieing it’s dieing 

2 minutes ago, isetta said:

I’m a bit sceptical about a battery optimiser reconditioning a battery.if it’s dieing it’s dieing 

Did you watch Car SOS last night? (106 Rallye). Tim cut open an old battery and showed how the sulfation deposits reduce the battery efficiency.  The theory behind electrical pulses removing those is fairly sound, though obviously there is a limit to how much a reconditioner can do.

The regen charge only limped the battery on another 6 months. Although it still just about started the engine SS didn't work due to low voltage. Tried recharging it but after 24 hours tripped a fault code as the charge failed. So bitten the bullet and got a Bosch s5a08. At least now I know it's going to last the winter. SS now kicks in within half a mile