GregW / Oregon

Okay, I have not had any 48V battery issues (knock on wood) at 3 3/34 Years 30k miles, but frequently get the starter battery warning, which I take to mean the 12V, even though the 48V is the real starter battery - " The starter battery charge status of the vehicle SL90882 is critical. To ensure that the vehicle is able to start, please drive the vehicle for 30 to 60 minutes or connect a battery charger. When using the battery charger, please observe the notes in Owner's Manual in your vehicle." This is on a vehicle that is driven a minimum of 4-5 times a week 20 miles at a time.

I assume others are dealing with this as well? I've never had a car that ran the battery down like this and don't understand why.

Ron.s

I got that warning on my 2020 GLE 450 (12 volt) but it was in the first year of ownership. It happened a few days before a scheduled appointment and it turned out to be a bad battery. The test was to charge the battery by the Dealer, sit overnight, test the charge in the AM. Mine wouldn’t adequately hold a charge and was replaced under warranty. A symptom was that the auto leveling function would start to work 5-10 minutes after leaving home. I noticed when sitting at a traffic light that the car would start to level.
As you said, the 48 volt ISG masks the symptoms of a weak 12 volt battery. The 12V can be almost dead but still have enough juice to light up the dash…so since it doesn’t start the car it’s not easy to notice a weak battery.

Lucky 777

I have a 350, so may be comparing apples to oranges here. My car sits in the garage most of the week, sometimes not being driven for two weeks at at time. I've never had a low battery warning and never had any problems starting the car when I get in.

GregW / Oregon

I noted the concern to the dealer over a year ago, and they just charged the battery. Will check again when I take it in in March, but then being almost 4 years old there would probably be no prorate to replace it.

Wolfman

We had only put 10k miles on the car in the last 3 years (GLE350) so I am familiar with the messages. I see them as software-based reminders based on some battery voltage threshold with no actual implications. The car always started/worked as expected even after weeks of messages...

Ron.s

I doubt it’s normal, in almost 4 years (2 GLE’s) that’s the only time I got that message. Even letting my GLE 53 sit for over a week it didn’t get a low batter message. My bad battery had some kind of internal short. It would be good to get it sorted out while under warranty…bet a new one is $300+.

nextmilenium

I haven't seen the critically low warning but seen plenty of low battery warning as ours sits in the garage for 2-3 weeks at a time without being driven. When I see the message, I drive it for a while and it's gone.

user 7208224

I started seeing that warning on my 350 some time ago. The dealer said they load tested the battery and all was OK. Well several months later it started again and it would prevent the remote start sequence. The dealer then said it was a bad battery and replaced under warranty. Since I make a lot of short trips to the golf course, any time the partial charge comes up in the app, I connect my CTEK charger and I am good to go.

the_x167BLUES

I had the 48v problem - towed to dealer and battery replaced / software updated. Same problem again but this time it is the 12v. Been at the dealership for almost 2 weeks now… This car is garbage! Interested if anyone has successfully dome a buyback?
have A 2021 gls which is the same system…

GregW / Oregon

how could it be at the dealer for 2 weeks. What are the telling you? Can’t just be a bad battery.

hutch300

If you brought it up a year ago and are a knowledgeable repeat customer like you are, I'd think you will get a warranty replacement. I have had MB since 2008 with a short detour to a Range Rover. It happened to have a bad battery and it didn't take much to get them to test and replace it after initial resistance.