Have a 2020 GLE350, going on 6 years old with 43k miles. Last month, the vehicle started giving “battery level critical” warning, so we had the battery replaced.

However, the warning still persists, and yesterday with 0 degree temps, we got a new warning (pictured below) instructing us to stop driving due to low battery level.

Dealer service advisor says this is normal due to low outside temps. What do you think?

 

Did you drive for at least 30-45 minutes and preferably on the highway?

 

Could be an alternator issue since the 350 doesn't have the 48v ISG until 2024.

 

Car is driven on highway for 60 minutes every day. The warning comes up after being parked for 30 minutes after a highway drive.

 

Put the car on a charger overnight and see if the problem still occurs. If it reoccurs, have the battery tested.

 

A five year old battery may be falling below 12v when sitting and cold. Normal as batteries age. Replacement is on the horizon. I think the last time I replace the one in our 2011 it would sit around 11.7 Volts when resting. Still always started right up but for sure had lost some capacity. I'd be curious to know what the threshold for the warning is.

 

Ya that indeed is not normal, see if trickle charger helps solve it, if it does, like another forum member mentioned, might be an alternator issue. Or maybe it is bad battery, even new batteries could be defective. For example, if a new battery was not properly stored or over discharged, it might damage it (bad battery).

 

Did your SA register the battery to SAM? Letting the vehicle know that a new battery is installed? They should had already done that as standard procedure if it was an MB dealership.

 

Here, bring up the workshop menu and report back how is the alternator doing, your battery voltage, the amps etc.

 

Another thing I forgot to ask is, how cold is very cold? What are the temperatures the vehicle being driven in?

 

I might be confused but didn't OP said a battery was already replaced?

 

OP here. Thanks for all the replies.

Yes, battery is new.

Temp is 0 degrees F. Haven’t had this past winters in same temps.

Not sure if SA registered the battery. I can check.

 

Update: 8pm and car wouldn’t start. I will take it back to the dealer tomorrow.

 

why put the battery under a seat that has to be removed. This battery could have easily been put under the back seat. In the trunk or engine department. Removing an electric seat is not easy and could have been engineered better

 

I mean, that is good topic to talk about for sure: https://mbworld.org/forums/gle-class...-surprise.html

 

Sorry to hear that, sounds like a bad battery/defective new battery that was installed, they should replace this battery with yet another new one free of charge.

 

Yes that temperature isn't low enough to cause issues, after all, MB test their vehicles in much heavier extremes before production.

 

No you're not confused, I was.
Could certainly be an alternator issue or a defective battery.
Too late now but were you able to open the workshop menu to see the voltage and amp draw in real time?

 

I’d like to know where these clearly incompetent dealers are located.

 

I see, all good : )

Ya, OP should check the aforementioned items.

 

Good idea so we know who to avoid, if they are not willing to work with OP, a review on Google comes a long way too.

 

I do miss the days when we could start our car....and take the battery out of it......

 

Good times : )

 

OP here.

Car was in the shop for a week. Service department detected a code from the door controller constantly waking the vehicle, so updated software on all 4 doors.

All work was covered under extended warranty.

Got it back yesterday and will see how the battery charge holds up…

 

That's a reasonable solution and I hope for a favorable outcome.
It sounds like they spent some diagnostics and thinking time. Good for them.
Thanks for checking back and we'd to hear the outcome.

Maybe all the dealer haters were wrong.