KillerPancake

Cooler weather today has me thinking about the battery...

Typically I'd swap out an oem maintenance free battery at 4-5 years whether it's needed or not, just to avoid a dead battery on the coldest morning of winter.

I've reached the 5 year mark on the C230 battery. Car has 155K km and I'm the second owner. When I got the car two years ago, there was room to add water to the battery, but it certainly wasn't desperate so I think it was maintained (by the dealer). Can't say how many times the last owner discharged the battery, but I haven't done it once.

The car cranks like a champ. No current evidence of any issues. This is also not your average mass produced crappy maintenance free battery. This is a big, honkin, made in Germany Varta. I saw an older flooded type battery live for 10 years in an Omni, so am thinking this type of battery has a higher average lifespan than the maintenance free type.

Anyway, what's the scoop? Should I ditch the Varta before the snow flies or has it got a few good years left?

capt_paul

I am still on my original battery since I purchased the car in August, 2004 (MY2005). I am at 72000 miles.

Milkm4n

the battery in my 06 is the same type that is in my 82 and the record for a mb battery for my is 7 years

fookoo303

I am still on my original at nearly 170,000 miles

Glyn M Ruck

7 years old & doing fine on OE battery. I almost can't believe it.

rocafel1a

Same. OEM battery on 05 and is probably still running strong haha

on the other hand, my buddy's 08 subaru forester xt had his oem battery die exactly after 2 years he bought it...

mtnman82

I just replaced the original on my '03 at the beginning of the summer. To be honest, it still seemed fine - but I had the time and was in the right location and since it was 7+ years old... I just didn't want to possibly get stuck this winter. Plus I'm in a small town, so likely would have had to settle for something less than an OEM battery. Can you go into dyno mode and look at the voltage after it's sat overnight (car not running)? Mine was at 12.2 or 12.3 volts if I rememebr correctly. I'm amazed at these batteries...enough so that I really wanted an OEM replacement. I've seen quite a few references from people saying 7+ years so I wouldn't doubt that you have another year or two. The only way to know for sure is to look at the resting voltage after it's sat for a while (general indication) or have a load test performed (true performance).

LILBENZ230

Mine says 12.2-12.3 after a sit, too. I'll not replace it until I experience issues. @89700 miles and the car's production date is 01/25/2005.

TemjinX2

the oem ones usually last 5-7yrs since there sealed. The aftermarket ones usually last 3-5yrs but you can just refill it to make last 5-7yrs since there not sealed. At least thats what someone told me..

samaritrey

I replaced my oem at around 145k or so last winter. I was bad tough and let my battery go completely dad twice since i got the car so that is not good. BTW my battery was made in January of 01 so mine did 8 years or so and was fine until the two times i let it die. I call roadside assistance and they put the battery in for me in my garage for cost of battery like $145 or so.

Glyn M Ruck

Yes - You must go the 100Ah OE or similar battery. Benz cars don't like wimpy batteries.

Midnight Koop

just had my '03 battery replaced last week... no issues. just want to make sure i dont get stuck in the winter

Xhale707

One of the cells died in my 02 just had it replaced last year.. 7 years on the org battery

KillerPancake

Thanks all for the input!

Seems like these batteries can generally make it to 7 years. I'm going to keep an eye on the terminal voltage and go for the long haul.

ggms16

I changed mine a few days ago, lasted for 5 years, and it didn't completely died, the car was showing the message "LIGHT SENSOR FAULT" and the guys at this forum suggested it was the battery, so I changed it and no more errors. BTW the battery I took out of my benz is now working for a 02 Silverado 5.3lts V8

OneOfaKindTrini

I have a 07 and I have a habbit to just sit in the car sometimes with the engine off and play music when I come home at night and just leave all the lights on. Yeah in other words the battery is really strong. If mine died I would just go get a optima red top

Taiwanese

2003 with 53k miles and still on OE battery. I am thinking about getting a new one though.

For those of you who got new battery, what brand did you get?

MW_ATL

My wife's '03 had the battery replaced at the beginning of the summer. It was almost exactly like mtnman82's and showing about 12.1. I put another MB battery in.

My '02 Coupe had the battery replaced under warranty about a week before the warranty expired. My dealer wrote it up as "slow starting" while they were doing some other work. (I don't think it was needed at all) and it has now been in the car right at 5 years and is going strong.

phister

I would stick with OEM battery unless you want to shell our a couple hundred more for an optima, braille, or an odyssey. I had an odyssey on my previous car an it was great, but I think this time around I'm going to stick with an OEM for this car. Had everything checked out yesterday since my warranty was going to expire and everything was good, the service guy was surprised I really didnt need any parts replaced. They check my bushings, battery, everything and my car was in good shape except for some cosmetic flaws.

hieracity

how do i check which after market battery will fit our car (more specifically, the 2005 coupe). I heard that there is a special line that goes out of the battery to remove the fumes from the area where the battery is placed since our cabin filter is located right above the battery.

Also, I might need a higher capacity battery since I have after market audio installed on my car. Just a few days ago, my amp stopped powering the sub and the 'Low Volt' light lit up. I dont know what exactly that means and that is why i stated the following thread ==> (https://mbworld.org/forums/audio-ele...lt-jl-amp.html)

I have a feeling that it might be my battery that is running low on juice.

TIA

phister

are you sure you have everything hooked up to the amp right where its not continuly running? like the remote wire? If it is hooked up right, i'd invest in a capacitor. as for looking up which aftermarket battery you need you can go to any parts store or look on line which one will fit because it'll ask for make year and model and narrow it down for you. or if you're specific of which battery brand you want say an optima or odyssey battery, you can go to their direct site and it'll narrow it down for you as well.

Cintoman

I know, old thread but figured I'd resurrect it. My '05 C230K is still on its original battery !! My car has an 04/2005 build date, so the battery is at least 10 years and one month old !!!

No issues with it until just recently this past weekend when it was pretty warm out, so I started the car up, turned the a/c to AUTO and Max, and was idling trying to get out of a parking lot, when I felt a quick minor surge, almost as though someone behind me bumped me very gently. No car behind me, but then when I turned my steering wheel, I noticed the center display in red, with a picture of a battery, and the following message:

Battery
Alternator
Visit
workshop.

Uh oh...there was one or two other very minor shudders, but nothing major. Still, I ended up shutting the a/c off and drove home with the windows open. Got home, shut the car off, removed the key, turned it back on, and everything looks good. No issues since.

I just had my battery checked at a local AutoZone, and they mentioned that the voltage was fine at 12.5V, charge is at 84%, and all cells looked good, but it did say "Bad Battery", and they recommended replacing it.

I think I just might, but besides the "Bad Battery" message, it seems as though everything's fine with it.

Cintoman

SeaCoupe

What are the battery options in the aftermarket? I saw Glynn's comment about needing a 100 amp battery. Anyone know of specific brands that have been successful?

E

samaritrey

I have seen tons of people running the AGM advanced auto parts battery some also like the Bosch agm from pepboys.

Lgraz5

Cintoman,
The OEM battery on my '03 was 10 yrs old when it first did exactly as yours did. One occurrence and no further trouble for 6 months, until the day it abruptly left me stranded on the NYS Thruway. Cruising at 70+ MPH and the car shut itself down. Needed battery and alternator. Replace them now.