CTEK battery tender
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Joined: Mar 2021
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From: Beech Mountain, NC
E63s SL550 GL450
CTEK battery tender
My 2021 E63s is not a daily driver and sits for extended periods in the garage without being started. With Winter coming to the mountains it could potentially sit for 1-2 months without being driven. I bought an MB/CTEK battery tender which comes with the clamps and a 12V plug for a cigarette lighter. However, reading the instructions they don't recommend it being plugged into the cigarette lighter to charge the battery. It suggests having an additional "port" installed and hardwired to the car. I looked through some older threads and couldn't find any that addressed this specific issue. The service manager where I bought the car said it will work in the cigarette light, but my confidence is very low after having issues there in the past. Wondering if anyone is using one on their E63 va the cigarette lighter without any problems.
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From: Cary, NC
2024 AMG EQE SUV , 2021 E63S Wagon - gone, 2018 E63S Sedan - gone
My 2021 E63s is not a daily driver and sits for extended periods in the garage without being started. With Winter coming to the mountains it could potentially sit for 1-2 months without being driven. I bought an MB/CTEK battery tender which comes with the clamps and a 12V plug for a cigarette lighter. However, reading the instructions they don't recommend it being plugged into the cigarette lighter to charge the battery. It suggests having an additional "port" installed and hardwired to the car. I looked through some older threads and couldn't find any that addressed this specific issue. The service manager where I bought the car said it will work in the cigarette light, but my confidence is very low after having issues there in the past. Wondering if anyone is using one on their E63 va the cigarette lighter without any problems.
If you are not going to use the car for an extended period, you can put the electronics into standby mode via the settings on the front panel. That will turn everything off except the keyless entry. The car can stay in that mode for up to 6 weeks w/o needing to be connected to a charger.
Last edited by HBerman; Oct 16, 2021 at 10:36 PM.
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From: SF Bay Area
2021 E63S Wagon 2019 S63 AMG Coupé 2015 S Coupé Edition 1 1970 Chevelle LS5
[QUOTE=HBerman;8437925 you can put the electronics into standby mode via the settings on the front panel. That will turn everything off except the keyless entry. The car can stay in that mode for up to 6 weeks w/o needing to be connected to a charger.[/QUOTE]
Please expand on this in detail.
Please expand on this in detail.
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That feature, called standby mode is under the vehicle settings in the infotainment.
Put ignition to accessory mode and then you can activate the feature. Please be note that the car anti-theft alarm is also deactivated. Standby mode essentially shuts down all communication to MB's servers, conserving the starter's battery's battery life. During this time, you cannot remotely lock your vehicle, remotely locate your vehicle or do remote start.
To deactivate standby mode all you need to do is start the engine.
For COMAND NTG 5.5 (all pre-facelift E-Class so before MY21 (excluding MY21), standby mode is located under vehicle settings > Standby mode (right above belt adjustment, acoustic lock, automatic mirror folding etc.)
For MBUX (all facelift E-Class so MY21+) (basically NTG 6) standby mode is located under the "Vehicle" menu (below automatic door lock, automatic folding, Gas station search, etc.)
Put ignition to accessory mode and then you can activate the feature. Please be note that the car anti-theft alarm is also deactivated. Standby mode essentially shuts down all communication to MB's servers, conserving the starter's battery's battery life. During this time, you cannot remotely lock your vehicle, remotely locate your vehicle or do remote start.
To deactivate standby mode all you need to do is start the engine.
For COMAND NTG 5.5 (all pre-facelift E-Class so before MY21 (excluding MY21), standby mode is located under vehicle settings > Standby mode (right above belt adjustment, acoustic lock, automatic mirror folding etc.)
For MBUX (all facelift E-Class so MY21+) (basically NTG 6) standby mode is located under the "Vehicle" menu (below automatic door lock, automatic folding, Gas station search, etc.)
Last edited by W205C43PFL; Oct 16, 2021 at 11:09 PM.
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From: Beech Mountain, NC
E63s SL550 GL450
I have the same unit for my wagon (bought it for my 2018 E63S sedan years ago). The 12V plug is supposed to be used on the wagon connected to the 12V socket in the cargo area. The cigarette 12v socket and the one at the rear of the center console are not live all of the time and will disconnect from battery power after the electronics time out. I've never used the cargo socket configuration, however, and just connect the clamps to the charging points under the hood. I've found that bringing the battery up to full charge every 3 weeks is sufficient. I don't believe that the sedan has a 12V socket in the trunk.
If you are not going to use the car for an extended period, you can put the electronics into standby mode via the settings on the front panel. That will turn everything off except the keyless entry. The car can stay in that mode for up to 6 weeks w/o needing to be connected to a charger.
If you are not going to use the car for an extended period, you can put the electronics into standby mode via the settings on the front panel. That will turn everything off except the keyless entry. The car can stay in that mode for up to 6 weeks w/o needing to be connected to a charger.
I looked around in the passenger compartment and trunk for a socket, but have not found one. Possibly, I'm missing it if it is under a cover like the one in the front console. I considered using the clamps under the hood and it looked like it would be close to hitting the hood if lowered. I do keep the car covered when not in use so the hood would have to down for that to go on the car. I'll do some searching tomorrow to see if I can find an auxilliary socket. Thanks for the reply.
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From: Toronto, ON, Canada
2020 AMG E63S Wagon, 2021 Subaru Outback Limited XT
Wasn't aware of the standby mode. We usually travel to better climate in the Winter and are gone 6-8 weeks. My garage is not heated and I worry about leaving it without a charger during those periods of extreme cold.
I looked around in the passenger compartment and trunk for a socket, but have not found one. Possibly, I'm missing it if it is under a cover like the one in the front console. I considered using the clamps under the hood and it looked like it would be close to hitting the hood if lowered. I do keep the car covered when not in use so the hood would have to down for that to go on the car. I'll do some searching tomorrow to see if I can find an auxilliary socket. Thanks for the reply.
I looked around in the passenger compartment and trunk for a socket, but have not found one. Possibly, I'm missing it if it is under a cover like the one in the front console. I considered using the clamps under the hood and it looked like it would be close to hitting the hood if lowered. I do keep the car covered when not in use so the hood would have to down for that to go on the car. I'll do some searching tomorrow to see if I can find an auxilliary socket. Thanks for the reply.
- Remove the cover over the battery.
- Remove the protective cover on the positive battery terminal.
- Connect the charger directly to the battery.
- Route the charge cables through the engine compartment and out the front, between the rad and bumper.
Here's a video that shows the removal of the covers (and more...):
Ivan MacKenzie.
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Joined: Jan 2020
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'21 E63 S wagon, 2017 NSX, 2013 458 Italia, 1963 P1800
You can also call Ctek directly to send you a couple of free end cap plugs to fit into female connector if yours did not come with one so you don't get any water or fod into contact points when driving/washing car.
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if you have the same Ctek charger I have (mxs 5), there's a cord that you can install onto the battery terminals with a quick connect/disconnect for the actual battery tender. it's super easy to use and side steps the whole cigarette lighter issue.
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Thread Starter
Super Member
Joined: Mar 2021
Posts: 509
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From: Beech Mountain, NC
E63s SL550 GL450
