Couldn't even get in without using the mechanical key, guages didn't light up, car wouldn't start, and even when I tried to shut the door it wouldn't close because there wasn't enough power in the battery to move the window down to allow the closing action.
In other words, the battery was completely dead. After some investigation, I discovered that the headlights were switched to the "ON" position (the valet from dinner last night must have done it) and since I was accustomed to leaving the switch on "AUTO" all the time, I never bothered to switch it off when I parked it in the garage once I got home because I assumed the headlamps were still in auto mode. Apparently, the xenons remained on and eventually drained the battery. I would've thought that MB cars have an auto-shut off feature to prevent this from ever happening but I guess not. Some cars have a fail-safe auto-headlamp shutdown when excessive battery drainage is imminent... my acura has this. My SLK just let it discharge completely. Are other MB's like this too?
Oh well. A minor inconvenience and lesson learned next time I valet the car. Or perhaps this is a lesson to me that I shouldn't be entrusting this car to valet to begin with? But sometimes, that is the only sensible parking option in my city.
In other words, the battery was completely dead. After some investigation, I discovered that the headlights were switched to the "ON" position (the valet from dinner last night must have done it) and since I was accustomed to leaving the switch on "AUTO" all the time, I never bothered to switch it off when I parked it in the garage once I got home because I assumed the headlamps were still in auto mode. Apparently, the xenons remained on and eventually drained the battery. I would've thought that MB cars have an auto-shut off feature to prevent this from ever happening but I guess not. Some cars have a fail-safe auto-headlamp shutdown when excessive battery drainage is imminent... my acura has this. My SLK just let it discharge completely. Are other MB's like this too?
Oh well. A minor inconvenience and lesson learned next time I valet the car. Or perhaps this is a lesson to me that I shouldn't be entrusting this car to valet to begin with? But sometimes, that is the only sensible parking option in my city.
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