My car needs a new battery. It currently has a 12000 pound MB battery in it and it no longer holds a charge for more than a couple of weeks. Alt tested OK. Anyone know of a decent, reliable off-the-shelf battery that works well for this car? It is not a hard to start car with a full charge even in winter. The MB battery is a bit high priced but if it's the best one I'll spring for it.

Thanks Much.

__________________
1985 300D 197K - Semi-Daily Driver Diesel
1998 Volvo V70 AWD 226K - Daily Driver 2
1998 Volvo S70 140K - Wife's DD
2003 GMC Sonoma ZR2 Option - Rusty Truck
THE BABY 1958 220S Sedan 66K All original, never restored and never will be.

many have had great succes with autozones DURALAST battery. And its cheap too. I just have what the P.O.'s put in my cars, and they get the job done.

__________________
Current:
05 E320 CDI
07 GL320 CDI
08 Sprinter
05 Dodge Cummins
01 Dodge Cummins

Previous
2004 E55 AMG
2002 C32 AMG (#2)
1995 E300
1978 300D
1987 300D
2002 C32 AMG(blown motor :[
1981 300SD
1983 300SD
1987 300SDL
2002 Jetta TDI
1996 S420
1995 S500
1993 190E 2.6
1992 190E 2.3
1985 190E 2.3 5-Speed

I agree.

Autozone Duralast, group 49.

84 month warranty.....no receipt required.....good anywhere......just need your telephone number.

I've gotten my money's worth of Autozone brand (Duralast?) batteries.

Lots of folks swear by Optima batteries which are available with the terminals reversed to fit MBs.

Sixto
93 300SD

Interstate MTP-93 or Optima would be my choice..

Len

rmmagow,

Man that's a heavy battery. What do U use for springs? LOL

I have 3 DuraLast batteries in service with no problems so far. They are relatively low cost and have a long nationwide warranty with no paperwork necessary.

So that's what I would recommend.

P E H

i have a delco and it has been in the car for 7 yrs and never had to charge it i really like my delco,s

I've been using PepBoys batteries and they've been good with the warranties. Only a phone number needed. Definitely get a group 49.

__________________
1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

have the duralast49 (850cca) batt now. came new with the car this year,
but getting rid of it for an optima.. cut you a deal if your intersted, in mass.

Another vote for the Duralast.

Chris
'85 300SD

I would definitely go for the Optima or the Interstate myself! My Mercedes Benz's must be dependable and I've found these two Batteries run circles around everything else including Duralast! wait until you have to start one of these in cold temperatures and then post your reply about a Duralast versus an Optima or Interstate! You get what you pay for is still very true! Being a truck driver, I often have to be up and running at times like 3:30 AM and it's not much fun to find out the CCA are not what the claims are and you are going RRt- RRRt- RRRRt- RRRRRRRt- clunk, clunk, clunk, clunk at 30 degrees farenheit at 3:30 AM after your glow plugs have sucked up a lot of juice!!!! I've never been dissapointed in an Optima or an Interstate!!!! Cheap batteries fit here

I just put a 34R in my S600 (had to fab a bracket because it's smaller).

Sam's Club can special order the Optima (sometimes you can get lucky and find one at Sears, but call before driving not all carry it!). Sam's got the battery in 3 days.

I also have a 34R in my 84 300SD - gotta love 800 cold cranking amps on a high compression diesel!!!

Just found the sams reciept - 97.07, after all the fees and tax - 115.66 total - their part # 106403 - hope that helps!

__________________
~shell
As of 2/2010:
2001 CLK55 0o\=*=/o0
13.6 @ 106mph
10K mi
1984 300SD
260K mi and going and going...
97 S600
46K miles
1991 Sentra SE-R (extremely dorked with)
www.se-r.net

There is a lot of good talk about the Optima battery. However, the owner of Alternator & Starter of Wichita, Kansas does not have anything good to say about them. He says that they have problem holding charge after sitting for a couple of weeks. Suggests diesel owners go with the Interstate battery. As for me, I am picking up a thousand-amp battery from Sam's Club. If anything goes wrong with it, they take it back with a smile. Also, if you want a two-hundred amp alternator, contact Alternator & Starter at (316) 265-8990. The owner's name is Nenad Dakovic. To keep it simple, just call him Ned. Tell him that alfred odom (the fellow with the black mercedes) told him about you.

Peace

group 49 batteries are heavy.. and lugging them into their spot is fun. also make sure your battery tray is solid so you dont drop it through

Don't forget the hold down clamp. I've seen quite a few with it missing.