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My guess as to the varied information is that some dealers are greedier than others. Actually, I haven't researched it, but my understanding is that there is a newer battery that is truly sealed (probably gel technology a la Optima) and that is probably the more expensive one. The cheaper one meets your vehicle requirements, but there is probably more profit on the bigger-buck battery.

If you do a search you will find lots of information. Personally, I purchased an Interstate Battery (MTP-93) which meets the Hi-Cap specs anyway (850 CCA). It has been happily sitting under my rear seat for a few years now without any issues, not that I expected any. Sam's Club sells what I am sure is the same battery with a different brand label on it for about $93. A quick look in the stickies will reveal my basic DIY on swapping the factory battery for the Interstate and hooking up the vent kit.

If you still qualify for roadside assist and really want a dealer battery, just call roadside assist and tell them yours is dead. They'll bring it to you and install it as well, with no labor charge, just the cost of the battery. And the cheaper one is just fine.

Good luck.

 

Even if you qualify for free RSA, the dealers charge almost double for batteries what Costco or Sam's do.
You might evaluate what exactly you need with what is recommended. When I was at Costco trying to buy a battery for my diesel, the bigger one for diesels and V8 were not available. I bought the smaller one for V6 knowing that in CA extreme cold morning starts don't happen and I don't have 3000w stereo. The battery works perfect for the 4th year.

 

Looks like the Bosch battery at Pep Boys may be a quality option, too, per this recent thread:

http://www.benzworld.org/forums/w202-c-class/1612828-oem-mercedes-battery-pep-boys.html

(Though for the C class it's the same battery in our 210.)

This is the link to the specific battery at Pep Boys: Bosch 49-850B

Good luck.

 

That might be misleading perception.
Bosch is good manufacturer but not in batteries. Looks like this is relabeled Bosch anyway.
The price seems high to me since I bought my battery for about $80 with 100 months warranty. Why complicate the life, when you have Costco or Sam's just around the corner?

 

Who knows what he has around the corner (or she, for that matter). Absent a complete profile, they may not have any of these outlets nearby.

The Pep Boys battery, according to the thread linked above, is rebranded but made by Johnson Controls, which is all good.

I've been in most of the Costcos in the bay area and have yet to come across a Group 49 battery. I found one that had a vent and the posts in the right place, but I can't recall the group size and it was only 650 CCA or something like that. Probably okay for a golf cart, but given the electrified computers you and I drive, I wouldn't chance it.

 

Some dealers are greedy, and will charge labor if you cme in to the delership. Mercedes roadside asitance will come out and replace the battery wherever you are, will not charge for labor and recode everything. The lastime I used them the battery was $135 and with my mercedes club discount including tax was $131, when you call and the tech calls you back ask the price, I have heard some dealers are inflating the over the counter price!

 

Let your fingers do the walking!

Call 1-800-FOR-MERCEDES
They will come out and replace the battery with an OEM battery & reprogram your windows in a flash. $135 is what I paid. Well worth it.

 

Call 1-800-FOR-MERCEDES
They will come out and replace the battery with an OEM battery & reprogram your windows in a flash. $135 is what I paid. Well worth it.

IF he is in the US...that's still an open question.


And IF he still qualifies for roadside assistance; remember they changed that. Of course if you're actually buying a battery, maybe that's qualification enough?

 

Tire change, fuel, or a jump are still comlementary. You also get free towing to the closest dealership if you spend $150 or so once a year (a oil change usually covers that), or belong to the MB club. The will also do minor work for a fee, like fan belt after your warranty expires.
http://www.mercedesroadside.com/roadside-assistance/side-nav/service-restrictions

 

Tire change, fuel, or a jump are still comlementary. You also get free towing to the closest dealership if you spend $150 or so once a year (a oil change usually covers that), or belong to the MB club. The will also do minor work for a fee, like fan belt after your warranty expires.

If you spend $150 or more a year at a dealership near your home and qualifies for the free towing...so what happens if you travel far from home.... let's say in another state...will you still qualify for free towing to the nearest dealership?

 

IF in the US, and IF re-regsitered into Roadside program by spending $150 or more in the past 18 months in dealer service..

AND I have not seen any recent reports of the cost of Roadside Battery Replacement AND the cost of Roadside Battery Replacement changes depending on area..

So what's so unclear in Florida about the IF's and the AND's ?

The battery replacement is Group 49 - and you are free to search for your best low cost option in your area for a replacement battery.

AND have your ignition key out of the ignition for the pull and replacement, AND reset the auxililary systems after the battery installation per the instructions in the owners manual WITH radio code in hand.

 

IF in the US, and IF re-regsitered into Roadside program by spending $150 or more in the past 18 months in dealer service..

AND I have not seen any recent reports of the cost of Roadside Battery Replacement AND the cost of Roadside Battery Replacement changes depending on area..

So what's so unclear in Florida about the IF's and the AND's ?

Ummm...if you read the entire thread, you'll see that the OP hasn't completed his profile, so Florida -- or any other place on the planet -- is irrelevant. (That's what created the IFs as I tried to steer the thread back to the OP, rather than generic information.)

That's what's clear. The rest is mud.

And unless things have changed dramatically since the time I worked in the parts biz, group size is only physical dimensions; actual capacity and other specs can vary widely. So just looking for the best price on a Group 49 battery won't do you much good if you end up with an under-capacity battery.

 

MB assistance does not include towing. They can arrange towing, but you will have to pay normal price for it.
I think what Peter was referring to is that when you decide to spend few thousands for the repair at the dealer, they MIGHT add 10 miles towing for free.

 

Thanks for all the input.

Normally I would do my own maintenance.....including replacing the battery. Age is having it's way with me lately...in particular my lower back and as a result I will not be able to remove the rear seat. I will be calling Roadside Assistance (which I qualify for...yipee!) and I will let them do it. The price quoted to me from 2 dealers is $154.00 and that is not too bad all things considered. I will remember the dealer who wants $254 for the "heavy duty" battery and I won't be dealing with them anymore.

Thanks again for all your input and advice

 

Popping the rear seat out is very easy and it's light, too.

Muscling the *very* heavy battery out after that is an entirely different vertebrae, though...and I can definitely sympathize about the back. Wise choice.

Thanks for punching up the profile, too, I know right where that is.

Take care and enjoy the ride,
Greg

 

$154.00 is good price for included convenience that you don't have to drive anywhere to buy the battery and than haul away the old one.
the only thing I don't like in this way is only 24 months warranty on MB batteries, when Costco gives 100. Good thing the MB batteries last way past the warranty and the one in our ML320 lasted 12 years.

 

I know the price is really good at Costco but I could never find the proper size/group even for my Honda Accord. I have tried multiple times.
Is it more readily available for the e320?

 

They have recently added towing to the nearest MB dealership as part of the Road Aid program, but you must visit the dealer and spend $150 once a year, or belong to MB Club. The rules are, to the closest dealer within 30 miles, I dont know what the rules are if you are farther or outside the US. I just used it with a broken fuel line, they gave me a choice of dealerships.
When driving a MB you are paying for this service somewhere!
http://www.mercedesroadside.com/roadside-assistance/side-nav/service-restrictions

 

The first question you should have asked yourself when you got the info from your decoder "Did I buy the decoder from the same dealer that was $200. higher than everyone else?" If so, check the price of the decoder against the other dealers, and check the decoder against one that really works correctly.

 

My car battery just die this morning, spent $139.99 with AAA. From the moment I called them arriving my house and changing the battery total time 1 hour. And I am happy that i don't have to drive around to search for battery. I don't think Mercedes battery is better, they are all the same..... they just let other battery factory OEM for them. It has 3 years new replacement warranty + 3 years prorated. And I only spend $45 a year with AAA ! much better than Mercedes roadside assistant. Plus, its much faster since AAA is in every city.

 

I have 2 MB dealers in 7 miles radius and bout 8 dealers in 15 miles radius. Don't think AAA could beat the response time unless they have truck standing by next exit.
I've been to Costco in Concord, CA today and check the batteries. Those for E class are no longer there nor is the Mobil1 0-40 or ESP
Too bad as Kirkland batteries come with the best price and 100 months warranty. I've been using their batteries for over 20 years and only lately one of the pair in my truck did show slightly lower voltage than the other. I replaced over 1 year old pair with no question asked.
Actually I refunded the old pair and bought the new one, so the warranty starts again.

 

Use OEM Mercedes (Varta) battery. Well worth the money. I have seen these last as long as 6+ years !!! besides the nice white battery looks nicer.

regards

 

Use OEM Mercedes (Varta) battery. Well worth the money. I have seen these last as long as 6+ years !!! besides the nice white battery looks nicer.

regards

LOL, who is ever going to see the battery under the seat?

 

oh, boy, my black battery looks bad
Now I will have to put the rear seat back to cover the ugly thing. At least I won't have to lift it again for 100 months.

 

Just a quick follow up:

Roadside assistance came to my house yesterday and installed a new battery. Total cost for battery and tax was $152.71. I feel like I got a really good deal and I was very pleased with the service. He did wrestle a bit with the battery but all things considered it was a pretty easy job.

I also asked about the dealer quoted price for the "high capacity" battery one dealer said I needed at a cost of $254.00. He basically replied that some dealers are padding the price to make a few extra bucks. By the way, the gel cell battery is really overkill for this car as the OEM battery is installed under the rear seat and this is a very battery friendly environment. The one he took out was installed in October, 2000 which makes the battery 11 years old. I'd say that would be pretty hard to beat.

Thanks to everyone who had advice for me. I am glad I joined this forum!

 

I have AAA and they came to my house in 40 mins replaced the battery in 15 minutes, total cost $139.99 and I don't even have to go out shop around.
AAA battery comes with 3 years exchange new battery warranty + 3 more other years warranty with prorated. I am happy with the service, plus, i only pay $45 a year !

 

Update on the Costco battery I mentioned before.
The battery come with 100 months warranty, yet on month 51 it failed to start the car. That was situation when we moved the car on the driveway with engine running just for seconds before shutting down, but I hear the starter running slower for few days, so decided to replace the battery. Having a battery from Audi, that got totaled 2 years ago just sitting in garage made it for easy job.
Costco promptly refunded the prorated cost what was about $70 originally.

 

Hello--

I'm afraid that anyone looking for Mercedes advice from me is in for trouble...! This is my first Mercedes and I'm no mechanic, though I'll be happy to post my findings in the future as I learn more.

 

if you want to spar over individual style, take it private. you're otherwise ruining
a good thread on battery selection.

 

I believe MB battery is now sealed maintenance free battery.

I think Bosch battery (Pepboys 49-850) has acid leaking issue.

Costco battery is the best deal, 100 month warranty, with the best return policy. Acura OEM battery from the dealership is identical battery as the one from Costco (group 35), except the label and the cost. I believe they both are sealed and maintenance free batteries.

Too bad that Costco does not carry a battery for the E class.

 

Deka/East Penn makes a group 49 AGM battery. That will be the one I purchase should I need to replace the unit in my e300.

 

One more bat ??

I saw several on this thread said recode. Can a 9v battery be hooked to 12v socket or a jumper hooked to the car while the battery is changed so the car and radio does not need to recoded? If the battery is DEAD than the car will need to be recoded.

Fred P........