drgek

The first day I got my SL55 I hooked a CTEK trickle charger to the terminals under the hood as described in the Owners’ Manual. An hour or so later I got the critical warning from the app. As the battery in my 992 (lithium ion) had gone completely dead hooking it up to a trickle charger (again, exactly as described in the manual) I went out and disconnected the SL from the charger. I brought it to the dealer and had them put terminals on the battery directly to charge with the MB branded charger. Not a single problem since then.

mgardner23665

I’m trying to figure out what I can do as well. Please —- You had terminals put on the battery in the trunk ? Do you hook-up the Mercedes branded trickle charger directly to the battery in the trunk ? Thank you.

EZ2020

Yes, directly to the battery in the trunk. When I had my initial battery issues, the dealer agreed to give me the MB trickle charger for free and included the install to the battery; you can hook it up and the trunk will close just fine. I rarely use it now and havent had any more messages; remember, double click the lock button on remote and keep key away from car; dont use the Mercedes Me app to keep checking the battery; hopefully that will help. If not, they need to see if you car has a power draw from somewhere even after its locked.

mgardner23665

Thank you so much for sharing. I’m going to show our dealer your explanation of how your dealer helped you. Regarding the Mercedes branded trickle charger, is it just the standard one ?

drgek

Directly to the battery. It will charge completely over a day or so. It is just the standard one. My dealer wasn’t so kind; I had to buy the charger and they charged me to attach the charging cable to the battery terminals.

mgardner23665

Got it, thanks. Not sure if our dealer will be as kind as other dealers in or charge me too ?!?!? The last time our SL63 was at the dealer, they had it seven weeks! Had an EQS loaner which I found to be an interesting vehicle, but it was not the SL63!

Surge

You should trickle charge if you don’t drive it for 2-3 weeks, per the owners’ manual.

Sungkyo

Well Bummer. I came to see if anyone else ever had a battery critical issue, relating to my 22 SL 63 I purchased used with 450 miles on it. Guess I’m late to the party and didn’t’ due my DD 😜 I’ll start double locking but if I can’t get resolved I’ll end up getting rid of it quickly if I lose confidence in it. Before I got on this Forum I was investigating and noticed that the interior multi color led’s stay on unless I lock it. I couldn’t find any special delay timer for them in settings. I waited for 15 minutes, twice, with the fob 40 feet away or so, and led’s never went off (not referring to the map lights) if not locked, is that a thing? Part of the prob? Also notice my cooling fans stay on for 3 or 4 minutes after car turned off, even after a brief NON spirited drive. Otherwise enjoying the car. Just don’t want an “otherwise” in my car story ya know.

Thanks

Surge

You should always lock a modern car. Various systems will stay on unless locked. Any particular reason why you prefer to leave it unlocked? It should also automatically lock after a while, but that may need to be enabled in settings. I know my 2019 G Wagon (current gen) locks automatically, and I believe my 2019 AMG GTC also does.

Cooling fans running after you shut down is normal.

wem

Most modern cars will automatically relock when you have a locked car that you unlock with the fob and don't physically open the door within about 45 seconds. None of my cars including the SL will automatically lock a car after I walk away from the car. I know that Teslas will automatically lock when you walk away from the car.

I do NOT lock any of my cars when they are in the garage in my home. There are many times that I need to retrieve or put something in the car when I don't have the key with me and I need the car to be unlocked. So far no battery issues with my SL. I do use battery tenders on some of my other cars (my Porsche which is on a trickle charger still has the original battery after 11 years).

California John

Yes, the interior multicolored lights will stay on for about 30 minutes unless the car is locked. I don't know why but I suspect they pull about nothing vis-a-vis electrical draw. There is no setting. The cooling fans stay on to protect the engine - just a safety measure. The length of time is related to the program I've been in and how I've been driving.

Tifoso48

Double lock and keep the key away and you will be just fine. Additionally, when next at your dealer double check that you have the most up to date software.

other than that - drive and enjoy your marvelous new car!

Sungkyo

[QUOTE=Surge;8804140]You should always lock a modern car. Various systems will stay on unless locked. Any particular reason why you prefer to leave it unlocked? It should also automatically lock after a while, but that may need to be enabled in settings. I know my 2019 G Wagon (current gen) locks automatically, and I believe my 2019 AMG GTC also does.

You may be correct, but to answer your question, its probably just habit. I park just outside my office and I can see what I drove. I have never locked vehicles inside the garages, since garage locked and alarmed. Several decades of never having an issue or a battery story, and living in the Midwest I guess. (of course I lock at every location other than residences or office) Of the other vehicles, only my wife's Tesla automatically locks. But its set to NOT do that at home. I have 3 cars that always stay on a CTEK Mus 4.3 tender since seldom driven. But I planned to drive this one around 5K or 6K miles a year. I travel and sucks that I would need to put on a tender every time. This last trip that prompted the critical message, was just 3 days long.

Thanks!

California John

As stated above the ambient lighting will stay on for about 30 minutes without locking. It isn't you.

Sungkyo

Thank you Sir!

IrishSL55

There is now an open recall for the battery issue and they give you a free MB trickle charger. Hardly a fix for real problem.

Raulr

I drive my SL about an hour a week and I have no issues. In the beginning I kept getting emails about the low battery, I did charge it with the provided charger for a few days (car is just sitting a lot in the garage) and no issues afterwards. Maybe the trickle charger improved the battery charge a little?

Streamliner

Each owner will have to decide for themselves if being handed a trickle charger is an appropriate and acceptable remedy. Personally, if I buy a new car—especially one that sells for over $100K—I would not be willing to accept a “bandaid” type of fix like this. I would want my expensive car to operate properly. I’d want to be able to take it to the airport, put it in the long term parking lot, set the alarm and know it would start right up when I get back from Maui in three weeks. If it won’t do that, I’d want the car fixed or I’d want my money back. Honestly, is that too much to ask?

pkochanski

I've been having the same battery issues since I purchased the car. dealer solution--they gave me a trickle charger ..that does not help. I still get low battery warinings
and now the car wouldn't start...and it was driven 3 days prior over 400 miles..so the car was charging the battery
anyone know if MB has solved this problem?
I'm being told its a software update issue...

streborx

Have you or the dealer run an OBD scan?

pkochanski

this is what they did to try and diagnose..attachment

Mike P

It's pretty sad that after 2 years, MB hasn't a clue. My hope of buying a SL63Se is rapidly fading. I spoke to two MB employees about 3 weeks ago. I inquired if solutions were at hand......"we're working on the fixes"
Meanwhile the R232 buyers are unpaid beta testers. Others on this forum accuse buyers of "bashing" which hurts resale...........sure! Giving you a trickle charger to fix inherent flaws is insulting.

There's a reason why MB is 2nd from the bottom in reliability ratings.

Surge

That's certainly not from a real/reputable source.

I've had 5 Mercedes in 10 years and all have been very close to perfect. Much better than my new (at the time) 2012 Lexus, for that matter.
Current 2019 G550 and AMG GTC have had one 1 minor issue each in 4.5 years of ownership.

Crito

It's not from CNN or Faux "news" if that's what you mean.


SOURCE: https://www.consumerreports.org/cars...s-a7824554938/

Surge

Ok, Consumer Reports is legit. But --you need to dig into the specific models and issues. With CR, if the glovebox rattles, they will mark that the same way as if the car doesn't start.

As mentioned, I had a completely different experience with 5 MBs (2x B250, 1x C63, 1x G550, 1x AMG GTC) - all purchased new, starting in 2012.
My 2012 Lexus was terrible - poorly engineered and with a major reliability issue.
My parents' Infiniti QX50 is absolute garbage - not at all like the EX(?) that was made in Japan.