Long Islander

Like this one, by Black & Decker:

http://www.blackanddecker.com/Produc...roductID=15582

Do they work well? How long do they last before the battery on the jump starter goes dead?

Thanks.

SAguirre

I don't own one of these since I have another car that I can use with a set of jumper cables. I would suggest that you buy a battery maintainer. Mine is very similar to this one:

http://www.nextag.com/Schumacher-Ele...81/prices-html

It is permanently attached to the rear battery in my E class. I leave the trunk open (the lights turn off automatically) so that I can plug the maintainer in and It also reminds me to unplug it and close the trunk before I drive away. I have one in each car and they have been quite good.

Just my suggestion.

Steve

Long Islander

I have a battery maintainer that I plug into the cigarette lighter of my Porsche (the cig lighter is always live). But, somehow, a battery on one of the cars manages to go dead, so I need a jump start. I thought this would be an easier way to jump start than car-to-car.

pinebaron

I use a Sears one in the link below. I love the Sears warranty and they will replace the item with virtually no questions asked. I leave in the garage and connect to power just behind where it sits on the shelf, once a month. Never had it go flat. We use it to jump start cars, lawn tractors etc. Works well.

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_1...1988000P?mv=rr

Long Islander

Holy cow! 1150 amps! That is pretty awesome. I hadn't thought about the Sears version, but now I will. Thanks.

lkchris

Please check your owners manual.

For at least one of our cars, use of these devices is specifically prohibited by Mercedes.

SAguirre

As far as the maintainer is concerned, MB might say that it is not recommended. However, MB sells an old charger that will overcharge your battery. I have used this for months at a time over the last 5 years and I have never had any problems.

Hooking up and jump starting your car on the other hand should be the last resort. You can cause a lot of errors in the computers. As far as the cigarette lighter charger technique, MB does not leave them on when the key is out of the ignition. I have never had a dead battery! I only use the maintainers because I currently have a 3 car per driver ratio in my house.

Steve

Diesel Benz

You mean your local MB shop sells these or are you referring to some MB branded product?

There is this CTEK charger available as an MB version, this one is perfectly safe on MBs (be it the original CTEK product or the MB branded one).

I assume lkchris was referring to the jump starter device(?), some of those may fry the car electronics.

braizedtofu

I have one that i got from pepboys 2 years back for my other car. I have left my e5 at home without starting for 2 weeks at a time and starts without a problem. Is there a reason why you need one?

With that being said, my other car has a light weight braille racing battery that needs a start every week or 2 to maintain the charge, thus needing the jump pack.

AMGfan

Like others have said above...I would go with something like a CTEK. I have actually two now hooked up to my E55...one for the auxillary battery under the hood and the other one hooked up to the main battery in the trunk.

I got both of them off Ebay at a far less cost than getting them through MB. Just make sure if you are maintaining the aux battery that you charge it as a bike battery (that is basically what it is)...

I've had it hooked up this way for as long as 3.5 weeks (went on vacation) and it started up with no problem...past experience with dead batteries after long periods between driving forced me into getting the CTEK's.