The battery DIY, without losing settings

[sailswish]

Just lovely! Got my E320 in May and should check to see if the original battery is there, would be due for a swap since model year is 2002.

[guanabara]

Originally Posted by Frankbenz

Well, it might be true that for W210 you don't need the radio code. The MB road assist guy did not reset anything after changing my battery.
Anyhow, thumbs up for Greg to picture docs the procedures

It is not true. The 1999 E320 (W210) does require the radio code to be re-entered if the battery is disconnected even for a few sec.

The 06 E320CDI radio may have an internal battery to save settings and that may be preventing it from loosing the login code. Not sure that car is still a W210 though and how secure is a radio that does require code when battery disconnected.

[texholdem]

Hi Greg,

thanks for the great write-up. Many repair jobs require that the battery be disconnected. Is there some location under the hood for that? or the rear seat bench has to be removed (and re-inserted) every time?

[Matt L]

My car does require that the radio be recoded (non-COMMAND), but I still can't figure out why it needs absolutely nothing else. The owner's manual says that it does, but experience says otherwise. The windows and IR remote don't lose synchronization, and the seat memory is retained. One of these days, someone else will appear with the same "problem."

[keyhole]

I don't know if it is available in the US, but here in the UK there is a device from Draper called a Computer Memory Saver that does the same job..

This can be powered either from a 9v dry cell, or hooked up to a stand-by car battery, and it is plugged in to the cigarette lighter socket while the battery is being changed.

But I still like Greg's DIY solution

[gregs210]

Originally Posted by texholdem

Hi Greg,

thanks for the great write-up. Many repair jobs require that the battery be disconnected. Is there some location under the hood for that? or the rear seat bench has to be removed (and re-inserted) every time?

Hi, tex.

There is a little access panel that is about 2" x 2" in front of the right rear passenger seat. Pop the cover and that is the disconnect for the negative connection, 10mm if I recall correctly. Easier and safer to do it from this location, and that's what it is designed for.


Keyhole, that's a great device, but the MBs in the US (at least) are designed so that our cigarette lighters lose connection when the key is switched off, so it's a wasted effort and expense.


Take care and enjoy the ride,
Greg

[Matt L]

On my '96, it's an 8mm nut requiring a 13mm wrench.

[gregs210]

Originally Posted by Matt L

On my '96, it's an 8mm nut requiring a 13mm wrench.

It probably is on mine as well, can't imagine that's something they would have changed mid-model run. I just couldn't remember off the top of my head.

In any event he's got a 96 as well, so 13 it is.

Thanks for the clarification...

[keyhole]

Originally Posted by gregs210

.


Keyhole, that's a great device, but the MBs in the US (at least) are designed so that our cigarette lighters lose connection when the key is switched off, so it's a wasted effort and expense.

Hope this isn't a dumb question, gregs - but why can't I just turn the ignition switch to pos 1 ?

[texholdem]

Hi Greg,

it may sound trivial but I suppose it would also work for saving the settings if using an AC-DC converter with 12V output instead of the 9V-Monoblock too, right?