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Originally Posted by torsionbar
Batteries last exceptionally long in the W210 due to its location. Getting 10 years out of a w210 battery is not rare or unusual at all.
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Funnily, that has not been my experience with our 98 E320 which has not been driven much in winter. It has had more batteries in the 17 years we have had it than any of our old cars. Even my winter driven 85 300D that has 430k km on it. It will at least "try" to start
Reason for the E320 battery problem is that if the starter pulls the system voltage much below 10V, the computer prevents the car from even trying to start. Car become completely dead. You can check the voltage during normal starting using the Climate Control display.
Sometimes recharging the battery will allow the battery life to be extended for a while. But before long, it will happen again. Turn key and nothing happens
- and this not even in winter!
CCA (SAE method) is not the greatest measure given the above low voltage problem. 7.2 volts - not good enough on the gas W210!
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Fully charge battery according to SAE J537 and cool to -18°C (0°F) for 24 hours. While at subfreezing temperature, apply a discharge current equal to the specified CCA. (500 CCA battery discharges at 500A.) To pass, the voltage must stay above 7.2V (1.2V/cell) for 30 seconds.
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CCA using DIN method seems more useful for computer controlled cars.
Quote:
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Fully charge battery according to SAE J537 and cool to -18°C (0°F) for 24 hours. While at subfreezing temperature, apply a discharge current equal to the specified CCA. (500 CCA battery discharges at 500A.) To pass, the voltage must stay above 9V for 30s and 6V for 150s.
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Hand held CCA testers are apparently not too accurate. More here
BU-902a: How to Measure CCA – Battery University
Don't know if this is true on the W210 diesels. Maybe the electronics are different?