Is there any difference between Duracell Ultra 760 CCA, Group 48 and Interstate AGM VRLA, 760 CCA, group 48. I can get the Interstate from a reputable independent installed for $300. The dealership will charge me about $450-500 based on previous costs for an "M-B" battery.
Thanks,

 

Assuming the Duracell is not AGM (advanced glass mat), and lead-acid - that would be a major difference. They are both brands of JCI. I always choose AGM over lead-acid. Amazingly, MB batteries in the Chicago market are competitively priced. OEM MB Batteries are most likely from JCI owned companies as well.

 

AGM is led-acid battery. The only main advantage of them is that they can work upside down, so if you need the option in your car, then you should get it.
I've been buying flooded batteries for all my MB all those years.
Got lucky buying Bosch battery before they discontinue. Lucked on this one as it failed a month before 3-year exchange warranty expires.
Pep Boys no longer have Bosch batteries, so they gave me Champion AGM instead. About double price what I paid for Bosch, but flooded batteries in the size are no longer available.
When I was buying Bosch from the shelf - I went there with my Solar tester. Picked up battery who was listed at 1000 CA, but actually was delivering 1300.
The "smart" charging system lifted W212 have is killing batteries prematurely, so 3 years is actually good time for battery life in them. You save fuel and environment, but than you have to replace battery every 2-3 years.

 

Apparently JCI (Johnson Controls) sold off the battery division to Clarios.

 

If the Duracell above is AGM, like this one
https://www.samsclub.com/p/auto-grou...ee/prod9510085
I will go to Sam's club and get it there then.

If both are AGM, and likely will only last @3 years, I take Interstate and your Indy will install the replacement 3 years later anyways. You keep $150+ in your fund for future repairs

 

Thanks for the replies. I have had three batteries since 11/2009 and current is at the four year mark. The other two each lasted four years and then had to have Roadside Assistance come and jump them off. I drive less than 3,000 miles per year so that doesn't help.
Right now I am thinking of going with the independent from whom I purchase my tires. They are fairly good sized and do tires, batteries and all types of maintenance.
Only concern is with the M-B electronics, that's why I would never go to Sam's, Costco, etc. Four years ago I checked with the auto parts stores that sell and install batteries. All in my area would sell me one, but none would install it - company policy because of past problems with M-b electronics after installation.

 

My apologies, I assumed you would do the install. I buy batteries from Sams, but I do install them. No way I let them touch the electronics.

I have to take the nut covers of the wheel for them to take the tires off. They do not even want to scratch the wheels taking the plastic nut covers, the same "club policy" speech.

 

Costco is not selling batteries in our size, that is why I had to go to PepBoys.
Replacing the battery on W212 is like 3 minutes job and the only hard part is lifting the sucker over the fender.
I did it last week on PepBoys parking lot.

 

Why didn't PepBoys install it?
I had one replaced by M-B Roadside Assistance once and I watched the tech do it. He fiddled with something inside the car as relates to instruments, installed the battery and then fiddled with the instruments again. Took well over 3 minutes for him to do it. At least 10 and closer to 15 not including opening and closing the hood or actually removing and placing the battery.

As with almost all things M-B, there are almost NO instructions in Operator's Manual for owner maintenance. Replacing cabin filter or engine air filter for instance.

 

I am very successful in driving our high-mileage MB without troubles - mainly becouse I never let professional mechanics touch them. If you had mechanic fiddling with your W212, he was screwing around as W212 doesn't require any resets, what was the issue with previous models.
You want the job done right.......DIY.
They wanted like $28 for 3 minutes of work anyway
Sold the $185k miles W212 this year, still running great. The "lower" mileage white W212 just passed 143k miles. Still making 42 mpg at highway speeds.
Did the cabin filter yesterday. You need good fingers to unscrew the cover bolts, but that is where phone camera on selfie mode come handy.
The filter tabs are flimsy, but pretty straight forward.
Engine air filters are getting trickery. On my diesel the filter box is having ECU bolted on the top, to use the air flow for cooling.
I need to unplug ECU, pull it aside before I can get to about a dozen screws holding the top cover. Than filter pulling require disconnecting MAF sensor.....
It is not technically challenging as MB is using very logic fasteners, but require some thinking, or pictorial for less advanced DIYers.
Coming back to professionals, our last purchase - 2016 GLE had air filter changed once, or maybe twice in its life by dealer where the car was bought, serviced and then traded-in. Meaning you can't dream about better service arrangement.
Yet when I got to it, the gasket between ECU and box was folded, (not crucial, but still) 2 of the screw have stripped thread and wire harness is hanging loose on broken clips.
I am getting impression that lot of dealer's mechanics have their roots in demolition derby.

 

Good morning all -

I would also consider the Oddessy Battery - 49-950, great build quality - and you can pick it up from FCP (No affiliation- but where I purchased mine) for about $260 smackos and also get a lifetime. Warranty too.

I would like to think they are one of the better batteries out there.

Fit perfect and never had an issue with them in my cars and watercraft - they take a beating and just work.

Cheers

 

Not everyone with a shirt sporting the NASA patch is rocket scientist, nor an astronaut.

Roadside assistance is subcontracted most of the time, and I am nearly certain they would not have the MB training required to be on the main floor of a dealership. Sure there are exceptions, but I would never call then MB techs so easily.

Sure, the assistant could have check the voltage of the battery on the cluster, be certain to pull the key off the ignition, change the battery, put the key back, and recheck the voltage of the new battery. I would say 10 min top and includes chatting with you along the way.

 

This is a good and accurate read of AGM vs. Lead Acid Batteries... https://www.repairsmith.com/i/blog/agm-vs-lead-acid/

Appreciate the nice review of the Bosch battery program from Pep Boys. I was the NA team member of Global project team and launched the program in NA during my long-time career at Bosch. Global effort was with a colleague from Germany (EU) and China (APAC). The program was based on USA Dealer and Global Hotel related ratings. 3 Star being the minimum ... 3S, 4S and 5S (good, better, best) with 6S being AGM Ultra Premium. The program was first launched with JCI sourced batteries, but later I switched sourcing to Exide as conflicts between Interstate and Bosch brands thwarted JCI sourcing. Getting a Bosch branded Optima was always an issue as well. Bosch being a brand for many EU makes - I needed an AGM offering. For the most part 3S - 5S were exactly the same batteries - all you were paying for was a longer free replacement warranty. It was a very successful program - not sure what caused Pep to discontinue it. Exide made a good pitch to get the Bosch brand in its portfolio and their batteries were excellent - I'm glad you have had good luck with them.

In any case - my 2016 W212 E350 Sedan accepts either an H6 or H8. I went with the H8 AGM from Costco which replaced the MB Branded H6 AGM that came in the car as new. I second the DIY challenge of getting it safely over the fender - beyond that, it's pretty easy. It's nice that the hood opens to 90 degrees.

 

awesome history above.


2013 63 wagon with lots of options.

Replaced with a Champion Agm h8 from pep boys last weekend. Fit perfectly fine in the tray with the oem tie-down. It’s two ten millimeter nuts on the battery and three plastic clips on the airbox above it. I wanted to try a bigger battery to prevent my rarely driven wagon from giving me warning lights (unavailable features) upon startup or discharging to the point of no startup in the winter when not driven much at all. Since both this and the stock are agm, I could not think of any negatives to the bigger battery.

The battery worked great.

 

Bigger battery is heavier, when with lack on REC option on those models, you seldom need big battery.
Some people run audio on high power when they park for long time, others run seats heating with engine off.
Other than that, I can operate my car on cigarette pack-sized lithium jump pack.
What I read on the forum - European models come with smaller batteries than US models. First conclusion usually is that this is due to electric seat adjusters.

 

I thought W212 will fit both H7 and H8. Is that not correct?

 

Yes it will fit (h8 fit my wagon perfectly) and h6-h8 are the sizes people use. I sized mine to not think about it as much. If you don’t listen to the radio or enjoy other features when the car is not charging from the alternator, follow the advice above. Most want more capacity and the extra ten pounds can be sorted in the gym.

 

Yes they both fit and for me at AutoZone they are the same price so I got the H8, but I live in the snow belt and appreciate the extra CCA's

 

The Tech came directly from the dealership.

 

Decided to probably go with the Interstate AGM Valve Regulated Lead Acid [VRLA] 48/H6. In 2017 the dealership installed an H7 battery.
Is there really a significant difference between H6 and H7 as it relates to M-B vehicles?
Thanks,

 

H8 battery is 15" long, when H7 is 12 3/8 and H6 is 11"
The weight and aH are proportional.

 

Thank you. Should work. Interesting thing is that the intake for the vents is behind the battery and I guess air is pulled in from around the battery.

 

There should be a cover that connects those vents. They should not be open above the Battery on the firewall.

Main batteries became smaller when accessory battery became standard. Imo, with lots of accessories, a bigger (stronger and or more capacity) is better.

 

There is a cover that goes over the battery and fits tight against the firewall.

 

Thanks for replies. Got the Interstate MTX-48/H6 battery. Took it to highest rated indy in area who also does my tires. Didn't take long at all and everything worked fine when finished. Checked all the audio, nav, phone, settings and so forth and all still there.