[Mike's ML]

MK Battery also manufacture AGM stuff, marketed as WestCo.

The Miata uses a WestCo AGM battery (originally made by Panasonic). I have one in my MGB. It's really tiny, but packs a punch. It will happily sit for a year or two and hold a charge just fine.

Mind over matter bro. If you dont mind, then it dont matter. hehe =)

Now to find a Deka battery dealer closer. I cant believe there is only 1 dealer in the entire SF bay area. What other brands are there aside Optima and Deka that offered a sealed battery?

Scott in post #25 mentioned MK / WestCo makes AGM batteries but I neve came across them when searching for batteries for my vehicles a few months back. Johnson Controls / VARTA also makes AGM batteries but do not market them in North America.
Autobarn.net sells the Deka AGM Group49 battery with Free shipping but I could not find the Group 48 battery that you need on their site. You may want to give them a call.
Since they are a sealed battery they are shippable by normal carriers.
Mike

 

[ChrisR]

I have checked out the Optima Red Tops and they are pricey. Arent the terminals like reversed too? I think the Yellow ones are so the Positive terminal is on the left side instead of the right side.

I have an Optima Red Top in my 190. They do make an "R" (reverse) version which switches the position of the terminals (neg is left and pos is right).

 

[Scott ZHP]

Now to find a Deka battery dealer closer. I cant believe there is only 1 dealer in the entire SF bay area. What other brands are there aside Optima and Deka that offered a sealed battery?

If you really want a Deka 48 AGM, let me know. I can stop by Deka and pick one up for you. I can ship it FedEx ground/freight. Plan on about 60lbs from 18062. If you dont mind a blem, they are half price, but they don't always have them in stock. It's hit or miss.

Odyssey also manufacture AGM batteries. Their ER15 is very popular with the E46 M3 crowd looking to save weight. Their PC1220 is a group 48 size. It's pricey at about $300.

I dont have an ax to grind either, however a random post above about Optima irritated me. There are FAR better batteries on the market.

 

[Runninrebel211]

If you really want a Deka 48 AGM, let me know. I can stop by Deka and pick one up for you. I can ship it FedEx ground/freight. Plan on about 60lbs from 18062. If you dont mind a blem, they are half price, but they don't always have them in stock. It's hit or miss.

Odyssey also manufacture AGM batteries. Their ER15 is very popular with the E46 M3 crowd looking to save weight. Their PC1220 is a group 48 size. It's pricey at about $300.

I dont have an ax to grind either, however a random post above about Optima irritated me. There are FAR better batteries on the market.

Yeah the Optimas are like $200 bucks and Made in Mexico. I d rather spend my money for something made in USA. Call me old school. Thanks for the offer Scott. I will keep that in mind. Really appreciate you offering too. Thanks.

For the blem ones are they like the ones sold on Amazon.com as blems? They are $60 bucks there but missing stickers and everything. Just stamped 2ND on the black battery case. They want like $30 bucks for shipping. I might as well get an Interstate at that price.

 

[aardvark]

Just bought a battery today from Interstate. The old one was about 5 to 6 yrs old and has went through some harsh winters and much sitting. I noticed 2 cells low on water, filled em, but the poor thing just wouldn't hold a charge for a week.

SO.
Off to interstate for another "blem" battery, like the last one.
Price? $30.00 + tax = $32.10, and if I had the car with me, they would do the swap.

I opted for 750cca, instead of the 550cca that the manual calls for. Why? I would rather burn up a starter over a long time (which is unlikely, since I've used 750cca's for the past 10 yrs), than not have enough juice and spin in January/February, when the temps regularly hit below -20deg, on cold mornings.

Anyways, be wise and don't dump $200 on a battery for "show", unless you have a "show car". This battery actually looks like new.

aardvark

 

[Runninrebel211]

Just bought a battery today from Interstate. The old one was about 5 to 6 yrs old and has went through some harsh winters and much sitting. I noticed 2 cells low on water, filled em, but the poor thing just wouldn't hold a charge for a week.

SO.
Off to interstate for another "blem" battery, like the last one.
Price? $30.00 + tax = $32.10, and if I had the car with me, they would do the swap.

I opted for 750cca, instead of the 550cca that the manual calls for. Why? I would rather burn up a starter over a long time (which is unlikely, since I've used 750cca's for the past 10 yrs), than not have enough juice and spin in January/February, when the temps regularly hit below -20deg, on cold mornings.

Anyways, be wise and don't dump $200 on a battery for "show", unless you have a "show car". This battery actually looks like new.

aardvark

Are you sure your Interstate is a blem and not a rebuilt? My Interstate company down the street sells them for $60 bucks rebuilt. Not sure how good they are using old batteries and pouring acid in them. $30 bucks sounds like a steal if they are just a blem. I love my Interstate MTP 91 for my 190E. Also got it in the S class too. Only issue we have with them is the spraying acid out part. Real bad when your battery is in the trunk! My last one lasted 6.5 yrs and most of it spent outdoors in the Las Vegas heat and the Las Vegas cold. Drove the trip from San Fran to Las Vegas like 16 times. I lost track. Gotta have quiet tires for those long drives and a nice sound system or you will go insane. My best time was 6 hours and that was going 120mph most of the way. Back then there were no cops with budget issues. Now the trip takes min of 8-10 hrs with traffic and a lot of CHP and local sheriffs and local police patrolling freeways where it was only Highway Patrol traditionally.

 

[aardvark]

Pretty sure they are a blem. Certain they are not old. This Interstate doesn't put out old, refurbished batteries.
It's all I've been buying for the last 15 years and multiple vehicles, from them.
Of the (maybe) 30 batteries I've bought, I've only had 2 that didn't pan out. Mostly they all give me a solid 5 years. (Yeah, I own and play with a mess of cars, and lost count after ~75 vehicles, since 1973).
Had my Stang GT on a trip last week.Chi-town to Mid State Mich. Averaged between 70-90mph, and got 24 and 25mpg. Michigan doesn't seem to mind if you run around 10 over, but I fell in with those running faster. Limit is 70mph there. They "laser" you in the Stater Patrol cars. Not much chance to kill it down.

 

[Runninrebel211]

Pretty sure they are a blem. Certain they are not old. This Interstate doesn't put out old, refurbished batteries.
It's all I've been buying for the last 15 years and multiple vehicles, from them.
Of the (maybe) 30 batteries I've bought, I've only had 2 that didn't pan out. Mostly they all give me a solid 5 years. (Yeah, I own and play with a mess of cars, and lost count after ~75 vehicles, since 1973).
Had my Stang GT on a trip last week.Chi-town to Mid State Mich. Averaged between 70-90mph, and got 24 and 25mpg. Michigan doesn't seem to mind if you run around 10 over, but I fell in with those running faster. Limit is 70mph there. They "laser" you in the Stater Patrol cars. Not much chance to kill it down.

Sounds like your Interstate company is better over there. They are all independent. They even charged me a buck each for those rubber vent tubes that are suppose to be free. This is the Burlingame, CA Interstate factory.

Man I havent been to Michigan in years. I remember I got flipped off a lot tho when driving the Interstate there to Detroit because my aunt had an appt at the Canadian Consulate. I drove from Toronto so had Ontario plates. Man they hate Canadians...this was the time when all the Ford factories went way up north. But I'm American so I gave them the 1 finger salute back! The troopers there park in the middle of the freeway sideways at least from Windsor and it was hard to not get written up because its wide open and they have a clear field of view. Speeding would be too hard...unless of course you had a radar and laser jammer in your trunk- educational purposes only....of course. Then Double 00 is your fav number. I remember the speed limit being 50 mph back then. Upstate New Yawk too. It made me appreciate the 65 mph we have in California and the 70 mph limit in Nevada.

 

[Beverly Sharp]

b

Grown men insulting each other over batteries? Really, can't we bring this discussion to an end? iI's hard for me to imagine any additional information which would be crucial.
Hemersam

 

[Scott ZHP]

Yeah the Optimas are like $200 bucks and Made in Mexico.

Odyssey ... not the same thing as Optima. Totally different animal.

For the blem ones are they like the ones sold on Amazon.com as blems? They are $60 bucks there but missing stickers and everything. Just stamped 2ND on the black battery case. They want like $30 bucks for shipping. I might as well get an Interstate at that price.

Yes, blems are plain black case. Same warranty though.

 

[shingleback]

Oh thats the same chart I used. I misread dude. The rating was for a 48 battery and not the 49. But we cant use the 49 one in the 190E right? They dont have a search by model chart on their website like Interstate batteries does. I would love a sealed battery cause I dont want rust and white powder everywhere. Tired of that turning into acid especially when it rains and mixes.

Hang on a minute; the proper size for my car is Group 49 because of the turbo diesel engine (and it is a huge battery). If it will fit in that compartment on my car, it will fit all 190Es; you might have to buy a new tray for the 190D turbo model.

I put in my car's details on the Deka website and one choice is the 9AGM49

 

[omegared24]

Grown men insulting each other over batteries? Really, can't we bring this discussion to an end? iI's hard for me to imagine any additional information which would be crucial.
Hemersam

Probably the best comment in this thread. I like how they just skip right over you and continue the discussion...haha

Seriously...I wish legitimate questions got this kind of attention. If you are that concerned about your battery just keep a set of cables in the car so you can get home. Really

 

[Mike's ML]

Hang on a minute; the proper size for my car is Group 49 because of the turbo diesel engine (and it is a huge battery). If it will fit in that compartment on my car, it will fit all 190Es; you might have to buy a new tray for the 190D turbo model.

I put in my car's details on the Deka website and one choice is the 9AGM49

Somehow we got off on 190E batteries in this string of posts which use a Group 48, H6 battery. However the OP has a 190D which you correctly you pointed out uses a Group 49, H8 battery. I looked at the battery tray in my 190E and it does look like it could accommodate a Group 49 battery. The only physical difference between 48 and 49 is the length. The other dimensions are the same. The Group 49 is one big mother battery for a little 190 and the Group 48 cranks my 190E 2.6 six cylinder just fine.
Mike

 

[Runninrebel211]

Hey Mike could we trouble you for a pic of this Group 48 battery sitting in the tray just for reference please? Thanks.

 

[Mike's ML]

Hey Mike could we trouble you for a pic of this Group 48 battery sitting in the tray just for reference please? Thanks.

All I have is a cell phone camera and I know the lighting is going to suck but I have nothing more important to do today so I will try to get an acceptable picture around noon today.
Stand by --
Mike

 

[Teutone]

I have a group 49 battery in the 2.6. It just fits.
My preference are marine batteries. The can be completely discharged multiple times without damage.

 

[Mike's ML]

I hope these pictures are good enough.
Group 48 next to Group 49 on the bench.
Best I could do with the lighting was each side separately.
Two of the Engine side and one of the fender side with a Group 48 installed.
The tray length is about 1/8" to 1/4" longer than the group 49 battery.
Mike

 

[Mike's ML]

I have a group 49 battery in the 2.6. It just fits.
My preference are marine batteries. The can be completely discharged multiple times without damage.

That's whats nice about AGM batteries. They can also be deep discharged many times without any degradation.
Don't marine batteries come with wing nut connections and not automotive +/- posts?
Mike

 

[Runninrebel211]

Thanks for the clear pics. I thought you were using the AGM battery in your 190 that did not have a vent tube for the battery acid? The larger Mercedes battery is the size of the S class battery. I dont think that would fit in the 190 tho the tray is large enough to hold it. The hood gets in the way.

 

[Mike's ML]

Thanks for the clear pics. I thought you were using the AGM battery in your 190 that did not have a vent tube for the battery acid? The larger Mercedes battery is the size of the S class battery. I dont think that would fit in the 190 tho the tray is large enough to hold it. The hood gets in the way.

No, that's not an AGM battery but it is a Group 48 size battery. I wish I had discovered Deka back in August when I needed to get a new battery quick for my 190. The Deka AGM Group 49 battery is in my 05 ML. The two batteries on the bench are the two old batteries that come out of my 190 and ML. I used another battery for the core charge when I bought the 190 battery and since I bought the Deka directly from their distribution center they did not require a core charge. By law they would have taken my old battery for recycling if I wanted them to but they would have given me no money for the old battery.
That White Group 49 battery will fit in my 190E. The height of the battery is the same as the Group48 battery in the picture and is well below the hood. It will be a tight squeeze getting it in but it will fit. The next battery for my 190E will definitely be the Deka 9AGM48 battery unless something better comes along. My 190E cranks so well that I can't imagine needing a Group 49 battery. It was even cranking fairly well on the last battery with one 1/2 dead cell.
Mike