alimar

Thanks for all of the helpful information here. It made this operation a breeze. Here's some helpful info all in one spot for those looking to do this in the future.

This is true with W211 E-Class 2003 to at least 2005, possibly 2006.

The car has 2 batteries. I went with the OEM trunk battery at $253. The Interstate was $240. For $14 after tax I went with OEM for safety, longevity, etc...

The aux battery OEM was $180. Interstate equivalent was $76. I saved better than $110 after tax. Interstate battery CYTX 14-BS was a perfect direct replacement, couldn't have been any better.

I pulled the negative from both batteries, then the positive and removed. Went to Interstate and MB, got the new batteries. Put the Aux in first, positive connected only. Put the trunk unit in connected both positive & negative then went back and connected the negative on the aux battery. Tightened everything up, replaced the AC filter, etc...

Start the car. Display will say ESP unavailable, go to owners manual. Useless that is because only here did I find the right info. Turn the steering wheel lock to lock. ESP cleared. Set the clock. Re sync the windows - that's simple. Pull all of the windows buttons full up until the windows close and continue holding full up for another second or two. I did this fronts, then backs. Re sync the moon roof, similar to front seat, with the window closed push the button to raise the pop up roof and hold it for a second or two after the pop up stops raising.

Done deal. Took all of about 30 minutes labor plus the driving and buying...

dapperdonny

Thanks for all the helpfull info. I too have a 2003 W211 and replaced the battery in the trunk only. I re-synced all the same things you did without a problem. The only problem that I'm having right now is my power trunk. I can open the trunk using the fob and I also can control it from the driver side door to open and close. But the red button on the trunk lid which is suppose to make it close isn't working. Any idea's?

SAguirre

My 2004 E's batteries just turned 7. I tested the VRLA/AGM trunk battery and it was testing well over 100% CCA It was coming in at about 1100 . The aux (flooded) battery, was testing over 220CCA (it is a 170), but I had to add a significant amount of water to it. When the aux battery dies I am going to buy an AGM odyssey motorcycle battery and forget about it. When the main trunk battery dies I will buy the OEM kind.

I have NEVER had any battery last this long!

Steve

Dexion

My trunk battery died last week after the car sat got about 8 days straight. Tried to jump it but wouldn't juice the starter.

Got the Duralest Gold battery which is 950cca and 100Ah which is a small improvement over the oem. The warranty is 8 years and was only $130 from autozone . But 8 Yeats from the OEM battery is damned impressive, now to change the auxiliary one so the red battery message can go away.

Davel

Must be the colder weather. I just replaced both this weekend too. My car is an 2003 (im original owner) and both were the original batteries, so almost 9 years of service from those batteries. I replaced the trunk battery with OEM, dealer screwed up on pricing over the phone so i got the battery for $200, the aux battery i purchased at Autozone for $89 (could have gotten cheaper but wanted to finish both the same day).

Funny, the Aux is the only battery that started to die, but i didnt want to wait till the middle of winter to test the life of the trunk battery

Davel

When i was at autozone those batteries were not AGM?

Dexion

No you are correct they are vented towards the bottom rear of the car. It was more of a "need to replace now" decesion and the warranty seems attractive. I honestly did nit save much, OEM battery from parts.com is $134+sh

Dexion

If you don't mind telling me which battery part no. Did you get from autozone? I need to replace the auxiliary as well it keeps popping the red battery message every so often as well as before I even start the car

Craftysince86

i just replaced my trunk battery in my '03 and the price has gone up apparently

i paid $300.03 but i got $22 back for core

Davel

it was the GTX14-BS, its the AGM battery and is the exact size of the oem and the terminals have threads in the top to screw on the connections just like the OEM

Andrew_Mai

Has anyone heard of 12V lithium replacement batteries for this car. I am the original owner of a 2003 E320 sedan with the factory original batteries.

nopcbs

These things are hideously expensive, can catch fire (witness recent Volt reports and that FedEx freighter that crashed/burned transporting new ones), are meant to supply large amounts of current over extended periods (unlike starter and brake assist batteries).

Wrong battery in any W211 application.

You sure there is even something like a Li-Ion battery for the W211?

vettdvr

LiPoly would be a good choice but THE CAR IS NOT DESIGNED FOR IT!.

Improperly charged LiPoly or LiFe could catch fire/explode if improperly charged. Stay with OEM design.

Alfa Fan

The battery light on the dashboard went on and $1100 later, we have 2 new batteries. WOW! Either batteries went up a lot or my stupidity level went up even higher!

Wheelnut

After 8 years I have just replaced the main battery in my W211/E270cdi

It all started when I kept getting the 'accessories disabled' message on the dash. After the battery module software upgrade last year and regular 'trickle charging' it was still playing up, clearly its days were numbered.

After a bit of wheeler dealing my local MB dealer price matched the best I could get on the internet and I ended up paying out £114.00 instead of the £159 quoted originally. Fitting is easy and following the handbook re-setting the windows/pano roof etc all is now well.

One thing I have noticed is that the auto wipers now work as they should - prior to the new battery I had noted that when at rest at road junctions, traffic lights and the like the bl**dy things started to wipe even in dry and sunny conditions. I can only surmise that the voltage drop in the old battery was causing this annoyance.

So a happy bunny am I once more

Djay441

I appreciate the info, how are those batteries doing? Do you wish you took another route? Or we're your choices pretty good.

The reason why I ask cause it's been quite some time since this post, and I'm in that same situation you we're in. Smh

Wheelnut

If you are referring to my post on this subject then yes all is still well and changing the main battery was in my case the right choice.

Regards

AMG903L

Autozone has a Duralast Platinum H8-AGM $155.00
batteriesplus has a X2Power AGM X2-14 $95.00

You can hook a battery up to the jump points and not worry about loosing the memory during the swap.

Zaphodsplanet

I think I remember seeing the price almost that high back last fall (2011)... I just checked and price is now $100.30 for an OEM battery from parts.com My back battery isn't really bad yet but a couple times when it was cold I saw a "shutting down accessories" message.... so I might as well bite the bullet on this before it really dies. Dang thing is 8 years old now. The benz batteries do have an awesome lifespan. Only bummer is that backup battery up front. I've now replaced it twice (non-OEM).... but the original did last over 6 years. The smaller battery gets a lot more stress temperature wise under the hood with the engine. The replacement I used (for front battery) was from Batteries Plus. The first one died one month out of the one year warranty. The second one... well... it's still going but it if dies I might go with an OEM even though that damn front battery is $220 while the larger back one is only $100. The Batteries Plus battery was I think about $70.... but now that I've replaced it twice we're up to $140... or almost the cost of an OEM.

Just thought I'd throw in my 2 cents for anyone else running into this issue.

spinn

was going to replace the rear battery with a Duralast Premium and found out it's not mfr by Johnson Controls, but by Best Parts Inc...which I can't find any info on them. I wish Advance Auto was local.

vettdvr

I bought my rear bat at Carquest Gell Cell about 3 yrs ago. It matched OEM identical and it is still going and going and going.

Djay441

Thanks again wheelnut...I have been doing pretty well since my last post. Unfortunately I have been getting the message "low battery convience functions temporarily unavailable". I guess im going to have to change the smaller battery under the hood now. Fingers crossed!

Quattrodude

Anyone ever considered one of these?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Braille-Batt...&forceRpt=true

http://www.braillebattery.com/index....tteries/b10049



The Stats seem pretty good? but i have never heard of them before until I just started considering a new battery (after I killed my again).

They also make a lithium ion battery too in this style but its like friggin!!! $$$ from $1600 to $2600 - but they do only weight 14-21lbs...

http://www.braillebattery.com/index....duct_group/i49

Or would there maybe be an issue with it being too powerful?

Long Islander

I saw that Autozone has a Duralast H8 AGM battery for $160. Specs look very good: 850CCA and 170 minutes of reserve capacity. Also, 3 yr free replacement warranty.

spinn

Yeah, good specs. I ended up getting it and rationalized that I could go to any Autozone to replace it with no issues.

Hooked it up and my red warning light disappeared...though I didn't get the warning dash lights coming on after starting it up.