SL/R230: Post up where you bought your batteries from and did they last?
Member
Joined: Dec 2018
Posts: 131
Likes: 15
2003 SL500
Old thread but I'll post a current update.
My front battery went to the big charger in the sky yesterday. Texas heat is battery killer and I was about 80 miles from home. I got the car started and stopped by a nearby Autozone. It was $199 plus tax for an AGM front battery, and they had it in stock. It was a 3-year battery and I noticed the date tag on my MB battery was just over 4 years old. Soo, to the dealer I went, with the car running the entire time mind you... The dealer got $215 plus tax and core, ballpark. It was $260 out the door. Then with the car still running, headed to the nearest Home Depot and parked in the shade and shut her off. Went inside and got a 10mm combo wrench for two and a half bucks and changed the battery right there under a tree. Baby cranked over like she had a new life! That was yesterday. June 14. 2019. So yeah, it was $15 more for a genuine MB AGM front battery that lasted a year longer than the Autozone battery was rated for.
My front battery went to the big charger in the sky yesterday. Texas heat is battery killer and I was about 80 miles from home. I got the car started and stopped by a nearby Autozone. It was $199 plus tax for an AGM front battery, and they had it in stock. It was a 3-year battery and I noticed the date tag on my MB battery was just over 4 years old. Soo, to the dealer I went, with the car running the entire time mind you... The dealer got $215 plus tax and core, ballpark. It was $260 out the door. Then with the car still running, headed to the nearest Home Depot and parked in the shade and shut her off. Went inside and got a 10mm combo wrench for two and a half bucks and changed the battery right there under a tree. Baby cranked over like she had a new life! That was yesterday. June 14. 2019. So yeah, it was $15 more for a genuine MB AGM front battery that lasted a year longer than the Autozone battery was rated for.
Last edited by Blazeracer; Jun 15, 2019 at 07:54 AM.
Banned
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 1,982
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From: Atlanta, unfortunately
'09 S600, (2) R129 300SLs, '03 SL500, '03 SL55
When the R230 was launched the starter (front) battery was a conventional-type battery as was the Mercedes-branded battery I got from my local dealer two years ago. Since the starter battery is charged by the power supply module and that module's software is possibly optimized for a conventional battery, I wouldn't buy an AGM battery to go under the hood.
Banned
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 1,982
Likes: 393
From: Atlanta, unfortunately
'09 S600, (2) R129 300SLs, '03 SL500, '03 SL55
Banned
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 1,982
Likes: 393
From: Atlanta, unfortunately
'09 S600, (2) R129 300SLs, '03 SL500, '03 SL55
Just this morning I realized what has probably been obvious to most owners: that Mercedes starter battery is not maintenance free. Yet despite neglect, the two I have had have lasted c. seven years.
MBworld Guru
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 10,782
Likes: 1,011
NO LONGER ACTIVE
Parts counter guys can be notoriously uninformed. The other day, I went to buy some new lug bolts for the ML350 (kid's friend changed her tire on the side of the road and lost several). The parts guy told me that the new ones were now black anodized to prevent rust and that I was supposed to use a special socket to install them so as not to damage the coating. Huh? I've never heard of that. When he came back with them, they were the regular gray painted ones. He commented that, "they must have changed the color coating because customers were complaining that black doesn't look right with silver rims." I then asked for the special tool and he spent several minutes trying to look it up, then finally said, "I can;t find it, so it must be a dealer-only part." What a bunch of BS! And this guy knows me and knows that I am not an uniformed average Joe off the street.
As for the starter battery, I replaced mine last fall. it was the original and was over 8 years old. I had added a bit of distilled water to it over time.
As for the starter battery, I replaced mine last fall. it was the original and was over 8 years old. I had added a bit of distilled water to it over time.
