We’ve owned our 2018 550 since new and it’s been a good vehicle, I won’t say great as it’s had some small issues along the way but nothing major!
As we know a lot of Mercedes vehicles are hard on batteries, mine definitely is! Under warranty was no issue they would replace it quite often…. But now that it’s no longer under warranty I’d like to try to keep it charged or get longer use in between changes
We live in Nortern, Alberta Canada so -40*c winters are coming quick.
has anyone installed a battery tender to help trickle charge the battery when plugged in? worth it, did it help at all? They make some pretty compact permanent mount trickle chargers these days.
here’s a picture of the rig. Currently sitting at 78xxx kms
Any other “long term” 550 owners out there? Would like to hear about your ownership experience!
Shortly after I bought my 2016 GLE I installed a lead between the battery jumper posts in the engine compartment and the lower grill. It was a bit of a pain to get it in and routed but I didn't have to drill any new holes or do any cutting. I used one of those
you can buy as a starting point, left the two-pin connector on the end that I routed out the lower grill, and added the terminals on the other ends so they attached securely to the factory connections. I think I had to remove the front under-pans but it works well and it's invisible unless I have it plugged in.
I plug it in whenever it's in the garage. My experience is that the batteries will last much longer if you have them on a tender/maintainer when the vehicle is not being used. I'm still on the original primary battery and there are no issues with it.
Shortly after I bought my 2016 GLE I installed a lead between the battery jumper posts in the engine compartment and the lower grill. It was a bit of a pain to get it in and routed but I didn't have to drill any new holes or do any cutting. I used one of those extension cables you can buy as a starting point, left the two-pin connector on the end that I routed out the lower grill, and added the terminals on the other ends so they attached securely to the factory connections. I think I had to remove the front under-pans but it works well and it's invisible unless I have it plugged in.
I plug it in whenever it's in the garage. My experience is that the batteries will last much longer if you have them on a tender/maintainer when the vehicle is not being used. I'm still on the original primary battery and there are no issues with it.
so essentially you mounted the positive / negative end right to the jumper posts And the battery tender stays in your garage?
Slideshow: A one-of-one U.S.-spec Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren Roadster became even rarer after a factory-backed transformation at McLaren's headquarters.
