I use Costco Battery (Kirkland) brand. Basically made by the same company that makes Interstate Batteries.

Battery = $45.00

Cables...Humm sound very strange to me! My 1983 BMW 735 with 143K miles still has the Original Battery cables, believe it or not.

Re: Solar Charger is the BEST way to charge a battery...ie. trickle charge with very slow amperage.

My BMW used to lose charge if not driven for 2-3 weeks, then after a few cycles of discharges the battery was gone.

I have since used the Solar Charger (Radio Shack on sale for $19.95), the result is outstanding, even after 3 weeks of rest the car starts right up, even in the middle of the winter.

I posted this on the BMW board:

http://www.bimmerboard.com/forums/posts/41018

The difference is:

BMW cigarette socket is on all the time, allowing the solar charger to charge the battery as long as there is sunlight.

Volvo cigarette socket, I believe, is on ONLY when switched to radio (or ? run) position (check to be sure), anyway if you want to have a Solar Charger (which I strongly recommend...it will be the best $20.00 you ever spent in your life!); then you need to plug the Solar Charger into a live socket somewhere.

You might want to modify somewiring to connect the charger.

Your battery will never run low because of long-term of non-use.

Hope this helps.

cn
1998 V70