jadeethan

s-class friends,

Has anybody replaced their front battery? I went to advanced auto and autozone and they only stock batteries for the rear trunk which I actually had replaced...but my car still won't start..

i narrowed it down to the front is the issue..but according to the mercedes manual it says to let the dealership change the starter battery in the engine...

I would rather not have mb change my battery and charger me 300 and change..

a battery is a battery no?

Thanks guys...

jadeethan

so i checked pep boys and they do not list the front battery..

Is there something special about the front battery where common auto stores don't carry it?

Thanks.

marthyh

No have never done it but

should be a normal lead acid battery as long as you stick to the correct amps you should be fine?

hstmercedes

I replaced my MB front battery recently, and purchased the battery from my MB dealer. Cost was approx. $150 at the parts counter. It's really a small battery can understand why I was not able to find a replacement anywhere else - Sears, Autozone, etc. Took just a few minutes to remove and re-install battery without any issues - it's very simple to do.

Whenever I can, I replace all my the starter batteries at 4 years - as I just consider it cheap insurance.

jadeethan

Thanks guys...i called MB and it's $200. I also called Sears to no avail so I think i excercised all my options....if anybody has tried any other cheaper alternative that works let me know..

if I can save $100 or so, I would rather spend that at LongHorn steak house!

platt-deutsch

Nothing special except the size. The front battery is the starting battery.. The trunk battery is for the accesorys. Measure the old one and find the biggest 12 volt battery that will fit the space.. should work fine..

ImInPA

The front batter is rated at 850 Cold Cranking Amps. As long as you do not go lower than this, you will be fine. Also, consider and Optima or Odessey, and get the largest one that will fit. The only thing you will need to be mindful of is that the OEM battery has the Pos + on the right side.

ImInPA

The front battery is rated at 850 Cold Cranking Amps (CCA). It is a Valve Regulated Lead Acid battery (VRLA), but required an AGM type charge. As long as you do not go lower than 850 CCA and go VRLA or AGM, you will be fine. Also, consider an Optima or Odessey, and get the largest one that will fit. The only thing you will need to be mindful of is that the OEM battery has the Pos + on the right side.

Em Bee Lover

Likely after the fact reply, but I replaced the starter battery in my 2007 4matic Tuesday evening, Feb. 5. It was a fairly routine job.

I checked around, but opted to pay the MB dealer retail. I paid $205 usd, including taxes. The dlrshp. was charging $100 to install it. I figured the MB integrity was worth the extra $50-75 more over what I found at NAPA and Batteries +.

I highly recommend following the steps in the owners manual. If you have keyless go etc., there are specific steps that, if not followed, could mess up things a bunch. It isn't that difficult to follow.

You'll need a 10mm box or open end wrench. A socket won't work to remove the battery retaining strap. Also, you'll need a socket and long extension to remove another retaining piece at the base of the battery. Not much room to maneuver a regular wrench. That threw me a bit, as its being there was not mentioned in the manual.

Physically, it's easy. I would simply emphasize following the manual's directions.

Good luck.

jadeethan

Thanks Em Bee Lover,
What are some of the things it can mess up? i am going to MB to replace my battery tomorrow and will do it myself.

Thanks.

Em Bee Lover

Sorry, don't know specifics. I error on the safe side, per manual. The manual is very explicit, if one has Keyless go, to pull the button. I think it also said if the car sits inactive for at least one hour, it shuts down the internal electricals and it should be okay, I am working from memory, so I remove myself from offering specific directions/advice. It's really straitforward, if you follow the manual. I eliminated spending over $100 for dlr. to install by doing it myself. Three days later things are working fine.

Wish I could be of more help. Good luck.

jadeethan

Ok guys..i think i can sum this up...

I went to the dealer and just purchased the starter battery. After doing research, this front battery is no where to be found other then mb dealership. Any other equivalent size battery does not cut it due to the terminal locations, the battery drainage hose and the cold cranking amps that is required for the S.

Spent $200 and change and I saved money by replacing it myself. I am sure I saved at least $80 which was literally a 5 minute job.

Thanks for the feedback guys...

Jergemy

tomorrow and will do it myself.

jadeethan

Follow the steps in the manual as suggested by em bee lover. Better be safe because our cars are really complicated! Good luck!

CHEESYID

The front starter battery in my 2007 S550 is rated at 550 CCA. A Group 26 or Group 58 from any auto parts place fits fine with no clearance problems and has the right cranking amps. The terminals on what I bought were in the correct position (negative closest to passenger fender, positive closest to engine), if you simply turn the battery around so the "front" faces the firewall. It's simply a function of how the label is applied, the battery doesn't care which way it is turned.

I used a 26, which is taller but fits. It's a pretty deep well. You cannot use the top bracket as the battery is too tall. If the battery has a "foot" or lip around the bottom of the battery, you can still use the factory metal clamp that bolts to the tray. The Group 26 is the same width as the factory starter battery, so the tray clamp goes in the same hole. There are other threaded holes in the tray for wider batteries though so one of them should accommodate a Group 58, which is wider (longer?) than the factory battery but lower than the Group 26, or about as low as the factory starter battery.

A Group 26 battery from WalMart (where my battery happened to finally die) was $78.......battery clamps and the top bracket are 10mm bolts, the metal foot bolted to the tray is a 13mm. You will need a deep socket for the 10mm's and will need a good size extension (or two) to reach the foot bolt in the tray.


The REAR battery in the trunk is the VLRA 850 CCA battery....front is a 550 CCA old fashioned lead acid from the factory in my '07.

MBZSW221

Replaced mine yesterday. My old one was on it's last legs considering it was the original battery. Fires right up like a charm. I took the Keyless Go button off before starting because I think the manual said. Or was that for jump starting.