CWW

Maybe it's the economy or something? The dealers, and even sometimes corporate, are really starting to play these head-games where they act totally ridiculous and just bet on X% of people taking it up the azz and not complaining.

I first noticed this getting bad about a year ago, when a dealer's tech ripped the lens retaining tabs off one of my xenon headlights when he was changing a lens that got chipped by a rock. They called and were like "oh, we're sorry, blah blah blah" BUT NEVER OFFERED TO PAY FOR IT.

Then when I pressed the issue with the GM of the dealer, he came up with 47 excuses about how it wasn't their fault and they weren't paying for it. It wasn't until I faxed over a copy of the small claims lawsuit I was going to file that they finally gave me a new headlight.

I expect the overcharging and game-playing to keep getting worse, given the current economic environment. After that incident, I mostly deal with my indy now, who is heads and tails above the dealer in terms of competence. The one or two times he's broken something, he replaced it immediately at no charge. You out of warranty guys need to find a good indy, there is just no way to justify charging $500 for a friggin' battery.

E55BKS

My SA told me it's cheaper to have them come out to your car and replace the battery, they came to my house and I only had to paid $175.00 and they took the old battery. Car was out of warranty.

reitmeid

I have an 03 55 that I've owned for the past 9 months. Never been to the dealer yet and hadn't looked at my batteries. So I looked first at the convenience battery...a Fiamm..12V, 12 Ah, 170 A. It definately looked like the original. It only measured 11.65 V, and I noticed a date on it, 03. So I went to the local Fleet Farm store and got a AGM 14-BS, 12V, 12Ah, 210A battery, exact fit, for $58. I jumped the cables while changing it so all setting were saved and I got no warnings when I fired it up. Then I had a look at the main battery. On the back was a date sticker...01. So I had a 7 yr. old battery. I went to Sam's club and got a 49 group Energizer with slightly better ratings than the original for $85. I jumped the cables while installing this one too so I didn't have to resynch anything. Good feeling with Winter coming on here in Minnesota to have two new batteries in the Beast for a grand total of $143. All I have to do now is decide if I should start my modding with header/throttle body or Pulley/tune.

tthoang1

Since we're on the topic of batteries, I recently replaced my OEM battery with a non MB battery with the same voltage and amps. I will also be replacing the auxilliary battery too as preventive maintenance since my '04 E55 is no longer under warranty. The main battery has never given me any trouble until recently. I usually drive the E55 as a weekend cruiser. After sitting for about a week, the car wouldn't crank and a red ABS brake light came on. I ran a couple of checks with a voltmeter and determined that while the car was on, it read slightly above 14Volts which meant that my alternator was OK, but the battery wasn't holding a charge. I paid $100 for a new main battery and did it in 5 minutes. I also connected a battery tender while I was at it. Thanks to other MBworld members on the tip to jump the new AUX battery so you don't lose any convenience functions.

UT_AMG

Ouch! Sorry to hear about your run in with the stealership. I just recently went to the stealership for service D and it was about the same. I feel your pain.

daxcess

I had the exact same issue, except they gave me the estimate first.

$180.00 for the battery and $126.00 labor.

scuzy

a question i just bought my e63 recently and it's cpo do they replace the battery with a new one during the cpo process? since it's a 07 e63 i am not sure if i should worry about the battery yet.

daxcess

My E55 was CPO also, they do not replace batteries unless you put pressure on the sales staff. I was able to get 4 new tires and it only had 8,000 miles. Now it has almost 16,000 and the tires are still good.

Good luck with E63!

cnterline

If you dont use the car often, this electric consumers offline message comes on,I put a trickle charger on the battery and no more problems

allenjdmb

Have you guys bought one lately? Of any description? They have REALLY escalated in price-pertroleum and lead (the Chinese are buying it all). Two hours does seem a bit for an install though.....But this is nothing like the axx-whiping I took at the BMW dealer for a battery and a reboot--nearly $FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS.
BTW, this is while the car was still in factory AND BMW CPO warranty.

Crescendo

I know I can have my factory in China build those same 12ah batts to same cca specs for 15-18 dollars..

theeddie

i bought my aux battery for $69 at autozone
same model everything just didnt say Mercedes on it takes about 10 min to install

marcmc8867

I'm having lingering battery problems as well. Alternator is fine but the car has to be jumped if it sits more than 1-2 days.

I'm still under original factory warranty. Is this covered?

izzyz28

After installing a new amplifier for my sub last week(wired into 4 Ohms for 1200W RMS) I got the message after driving for about 45 minutes and restarting the car a couple of times in short order. The message went away in about 30 seconds. I know the amp is pulling a ton of current and is the culprit, but I decided to check my batteries anyways.

Car is and 0'4 and both batteries are original. Aux battery measured 12.7V(Yaaayyy) and the main battery measured 12.3 or so after sitting with the engine off for about an hour, which indicates to me that it's about time for a new one. With the engine running my meter indicated right at 14 or 14.1, so charging system is good.

Any of you guys that have done a voltage test, are you getting a true 12.6 volts out of the main battery? I'm going to do a load test on it in a couple days just to confirm. It was fine a few months ago when I load-tested it, but the cold weather and 18,000 miles have probably taken their toll.

ryan0

Just got quoted $300 for the AUX and $400 for the MAIN.

06E55

YES! This is absolutely the best way to have a battery replaced. I was actually told this by one of the TeleAid people to NEVER have the battery replaced at the shop as they charge you for the diagnostic fees/labor to install the battery! I was told that if I ever had any indications that the battery was going bad to call them and to tell them that I have a vehicle with the auxiliary battery so the tech could make sure he brought one with him. They only charge the cost to replace the battery!!!

alltrac

i gotta replace my aux battery also. Whats the procedure for "jumping" so I can save my convienience features?

skratch77

your bat is fine we all get the stupid mess with systems,mine did it with a jl 500 watt amp,from what I read you need to pull current after the sensor back there.

Teflonman

The irony of it all....Now my Main battery needs replaced. Failed the test during the C Service at the dealership (They only do a B). I just had them do it for the 270 bones plus rapage because I've built such a good repertoire with my SA and tech, I would feel like a cheap *** saying, "Nah, I'll just do it myself." Figured it was just the "cost of doing business" in order to keep up the modding

izzyz28

Did a battery load test and the battery tested at 98% of its rated capacity, with good internal resistance and voltage recovery. I think part of the issue(and the low voltage) is due to the temperature being around 15 degrees right now. I'm not worried about it. As long as I know it's the system and not some other issue causing the message I'm happy. It hasn't come on while the car is being driven, only after startup for a short time, and then I've only seen it twice.

Coalman

I was going to make this same comment when I saw this post. My dealer also told me it was cheaper to have MB come out to the house to change the battery. Seems weird. I have an 03' with 39,000 miles so I figure its time to have them come out. Car starts a little weak after sitting in cold weather.

Nait Sirhc

Would also like to know this. Do you just hook up a 12v charger to the bolts you pull out of the battery? My charger only works at 2 or 6 amps...

DAGREEKNYC

thats what they do when you do not ask about prices , They go ahead and do the work and expect you to pay .

Dropped my tahoe for service next thing you know i got a 1100.00 bill , Guess they had to make up for the free water pump they installed under warranty .

One better my brother drove his 4 door jeep in for warranty service claiming the alternator wasnt charging well . He gets a phone call the motor is siezed and its not covered under warranty !!!!!!!!!


These guys suck . Im in the wrong line of work !!!!!! If anyone interested i do car repairs now . Cheap

E92-Lighting

+1. all the same

izzyz28

Went ahead and replaced the main battery today. Scored one for $77 and had it installed in about 15 minutes. I had a jumper pack hooked up to keep everything alive, but it's one of those newer ones that slowly ramps up the current, so of course everything went dead when I disconnected the old battery.

Got the job done and fired up the car. I had to reset the windows and sunroof by running them open/closed and keeping the button depressed for a couple of seconds at the top and bottom. A mesage for the active cornering lights also popped up, so I turned the steering wheel lock to lock about 3 times, shut off the car, and then restarted it. Message went away and all is well. Not even worth trying to keep everything alive IMO.

We'll see if this helps the electrical consumers message I've been getting every now and again when I go on short trips in the cold weather. The old battery was the original with 6-7 years and 80K on it. Even though it tested ok, I decided to change it now before something happens and it takes out the alternator or a module.