[CMadden]

So today my dad was talking with one of his office mates (I'm only 17, so he's not that old) and she mentioned that she took her 2003 E-class in for service the other day, and when she picked it up they mentioned that she needed a new battery soon and it was going to be $700. I wondered why it costs so much to change the battery in a new Mercedes, when the '73 450 cost $80, and the battery in my Alfa cost $70. Is the dealer trying to take this nice lady for a ride?

 

[Musikmann]

I would say so, that's ridiculous!

 

[EvoGuy]

Yep, it should not cost more than $200 installed!

 

[doug brewer]

Dealers

I would really like to keep a list going of these dealers that are scamming their clients. If we all stick together and communicate with who is the lousy dealers and the ones that are not we can support those that support us and put the scoundrels out of business.

 

[Diesel Benz]

The car has two batteries and these are AGM (VRLA) batteries, more expensive than the one you probably put to the Alfa but it cannot be $700 even if it was both batteries installed (with US parts costs).

The official dealer parts price in Europe is about 275 and 100 Euros but equivalent batteries can be found from other sources (have to know which is good).

 

[vettdvr]

So today my dad was talking with one of his office mates (I'm only 17, so he's not that old) and she mentioned that she took her 2003 E-class in for service the other day, and when she picked it up they mentioned that she needed a new battery soon and it was going to be $700. I wondered why it costs so much to change the battery in a new Mercedes, when the '73 450 cost $80, and the battery in my Alfa cost $70. Is the dealer trying to take this nice lady for a ride?

The main battery is about $210 at carquest and if you talk nice they may install it. Once it is installed the memory items as per the owners manual will need to be reset and they are easy to do.

The aux battery runs about $75 and it is also an easy replace but you might have to do it yourself. The dealer charger $150 for the battery and $100 labor so they would charge around $300 for just this one battery.

Best of luck.

 

[fortlaudsummer]

Run for the hills that is a total ripoff

 

[lkchris]

Sounds like she took the car to an independent mechanic.

 

[BlackOpalCDI]

I heard mercedes roadside will replace the battery for cost, in your driveway or wherever u may be stuck with a bad battery and charge you just the cost of the battery, no labor

can anyone verify this?

 

[doug brewer]

Dealer

It does sound like it went to a independent. I would hate to think that Mercedes would do that to a woman or anyone else that needed help. Welcome to the world.

 

[sosh]

If the OP did not see the invoice or documentation I believe that this post is misleading. She may have had other work done at the same time or she was exagerating as some people do. Why not just ask to see the invoice and confirm what has been done. Remember the OP is 17 years old and they tend not to be accurate and believe all that is said to them

 

[foolclear]

when do you changed the battery's? i have 72k on mines and no problems? is it a 7 year battery?

 

[Check Codes]

I heard mercedes roadside will replace the battery for cost, in your driveway or wherever u may be stuck with a bad battery and charge you just the cost of the battery, no labor

can anyone verify this?

That is true.

They won't do it as a preventative, though, so you get to be stuck for a bit waiting for them.

There are tales that some of them will do resets for you as well, whereas some will barely give you the time of day.

 

[fortlaudsummer]

when do you changed the battery's? i have 72k on mines and no problems? is it a 7 year battery?

Around the 60k mile mark, I started getting the red battery message on my MFD so I had both of them replaced for free with my extended warranty. This was last year right around the 5 year mark which I've heard is about average lifespan

 

[foolclear]

so i need to prepare for some new battery's soon lol

 

[shaunls1]

hmmm i was at the dealer for some wiper blades and i asked about the battery and the guy told me about 140 for the battery(main battery in the trunk)
some dealers are just plain stupid.

 

[ciaranobrien]

Just replaced battery today $170 installed at the loca mercedes dealer