Never fear a flat battery again with the CTEK MXS 5 Battery Charger

Over a period when my treasured classic car was undergoing work, the CTEK MXS 5.0 car battery charger proved to be a worthy companion. It's a 12V trickle charger that is designed to help recondition and keep your battery charge topped up should you leave your car parked for a while.

The MXS 5.0 has a healthy number of modes that are suitable for most people who need a battery charger. It can keep a motorcycle's battery maintained as well as a cars, and boasts a full recondition mode as well. Above all, you get a handy indicator on the top row of the unit which tells you how much charge is in the battery. The MXS 5.0 is the middle ground in CTEK's MXS charger range. It's more substantial than the MXS 0.8 and 3.8, yet isn't quite as comprehensive as the MXS 7.0 or 10. In a Porsche 911 sense, you can liken it to the GTS of the CTEK range.

CTEK is a Swedish manufacturer of automotive trickle chargers and runs among the top leagues in terms of quality and tech. This becomes evident after you begin to realise just how much of a reputation CTEK hold in the automotive world.

For instance, a browse around Joe Macari Performance Cars in West London reveals that tucked away beside the multi-million-pound specialist classic and sports cars are CTEK chargers trickling away the beating hearts of these machines. Upon my last visit, I almost tripped over MXS units hooked up to Maserati MC12s, a McLaren F1, and enough Ferraris to replicate Marenello's own museum. It's clear therefore, that industry leaders approach CTEK for smart battery chargers.

Verdict: A great quality, easy-to-use trickle charger that clears you of battery worries. If only a few more things came as standard...

Score: 4/5

CTEK MXS 5.0: The Good

The first thing you notice is the MXS 5.0 has the build quality and feel of a top-tier premium item. It's strange to say, but the materials throughout feel ever so slightly luxurious.

Another reassuringly great aspect is just how easy it is to use. The MXS 5.0 comes standard with a pair of crocodile clips or eyelet clips which connect to your battery terminals. Either works just fine, and it's simply down to personal preference. The advantage with the eyelets is that because they slot in between the terminal and the bolt holding it to the battery, it's secure in place.

If I connected the eyelets and ran the wires down with the main unit sitting beneath the engine, I could close the bonnet without issue. With the crocodile clamps, I found I had to leave the bonnet of my 1985 Mercedes 230E in its release position in order to accommodate them. Once you have power, the MXS 5.0 will simply supply power to the battery, maintain it healthily at around 95% and above, and you can go about your business. To put it simply, it does all the work for you

The Mercedes was off the road for a fuel pump repair, and presented the prefect test for the CTEK, keeping the battery topped up during this time.

CTEK MXS 5.0: How did it perform?

The routine was to hook it up, fire up the engine once every so often, and reconnect. After the first two weeks, I disconnected the CTEK, and the engine fired right up using a bypass for the relay. I then repeated this procedure a week and a half later, and sure enough, the engine fired up again.

What was especially reassuring was that the light on the MXS 5.0 was always green. Points 7 and 8 indicate a full or nearly full charge, and it was always showing that. The orange light anxiety (which usually indicates you need a new battery) simply never arrived.

I then decided to give the CTEK its ultimate test. I would disconnect it altogether and find out whether it's bi-weekly stints were having an effect.

Two and a bit weeks later, I go to fire up the engine again. And guess what? It fires up on the button. The therapeutic tickle, whine and buzz of the 4-cylinder engine ran through my veins once again, making me wish I could get out and enjoy it again. But above all, it got me wondering whether the MXS 5.0 had stored enough charge in the battery to do that, or that Bosch make car batteries like iron ore.

CTEK MXS 5.0: The Bad

The one thing that stood out which became of great annoyance was the lack of length in the cable. The one you get standard with the charger was only a metre long. But to add salt to the wound, CTEK's 2.5m extension cord is an extra £18. You're better off doing what I did. This was running an extension cord I already had on hand.

However, that's only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the cost of the CTEK optional extras. You can almost liken it to how luxury car brands charge the earth for their extras, bringing the total sum a far cry from the base price.

The test kit I was given came with a spare set of crocodile clips and eyelets. I also received the charging unit wrapped around the optional rubber silicone case - which is designed to protect the unit from getting scratched. It works brilliantly and grips well to the concrete driveway surface. But it's another £18. And those spare crocodile clips and eyelets combined? £25. Ouch.

It's at the point where the charger, plus those extras, and the extension cable on top, that circa £160 seems like an awful lot of money for an item that originally retails at £95. It's a difficult thing to get your head around. But unfortunately, every charger throughout the CTEK MXS range suffers from the same issue. Akin to the Porsche analogy earlier on, you do have to pay up large for the optional extras.

More items to consider

Who tested the CTEK MXS 5.0?

This test was carried out by Aaron Hussain, a commercial content writer for CAR and its sister automotive brand, Parkers. He is a strong believer in making a car last as long as possible. And it all starts from maintaining the easy bits properly - including a car's battery.

How the testing was performed

The methodology for testing the CTEK MXS 5.0 was keeping an old Mercedes battery in good health in bi-weekly increments. The test took place whilst the fuel pump relay is being refurbished. This did involve starting and running the engine every so often to prevent further issues from emerging within. And also to prevent the requirement of a jump starter.

This subsequently, did prevent the MXS 5.0 from trickle charging the engine for an especially prolonged period of time. For a lot of buyers, this is what it's ultimately designed to do. But it was my belief that it would be better to occasionally warm an engine up to temperature. Mind you, considering it was kept outside and hindered by wires, a solar-powered battery charger would've been handy.

Aaron Hussain is a commercial content writer at Bauer Media writing for Parkers and CAR. He is obsessed with classic cars and anything with a fascinating story to tell.

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