Whats the best replacement battery for my 85 300SD??

I've had seller luck with my group93 interstate.

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'83 300D Turbo
Current: ???K mi - 19.2mpg -> 17.4mpg -> 22.9mpg ---> ODO Died
bought at: 233.8K mi - 10MPG For $1.00
3.5 cylinders work: 320 320 100 340 280
Got insurance? FarmersReallySucks.Com

I'm still running regular batteries in my own fleet, but in the military I was exposed to Optimas and will strongly consider a Red Top for the nice car (300D) when replacement time comes.

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Whoever said there's nothing more expensive than a cheap Mercedes never had a cheap Jaguar.

83 300D Turbo with manual conversion, early W126 vented front rotors and H4 headlights 400,xxx miles
08 Suzuki GSX-R600 M4 Slip-on 22,xxx miles
88 Jaguar XJS V12 94,xxx miles. Work in progress.

I second Interstate. The one in my truck (gasser) is a five year, still working fine well into it's sixth year. There is an Interstate in my MB also, installed by the PO. I don't know how old it is, but it works great.

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Sonny


86 190D N/A 2.5L Auto 265k "Ruby" -Sold-
79 300D 242k "Condi" my first -sold- RIP
2013 chevy sonic hatchback - had to for work

Consumer Reports like the Pep Boys best, then Duralast.

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83 SD

84 CD

How much more "cranking time" would you get out of one of those vs. a good battery such as a MB OEM battery? They are pretty super expensive......they'd have to last over 2x as long as a normal battery to be worth it....

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-diesel is not just a fuel, its a way of life-
'15 GLK250 Bluetec 118k - mine - (OC-123,800)
'17 Metris(VITO!) - 37k - wifes (OC-41k)
'09 Sprinter 3500 Winnebago View - 62k (OC - 67k)
'13 ML350 Bluetec - 95k - dad's (OC-98k)
'01 SL500 - 103k(km) - dad's (OC-110,000km)
'16 E400 4matic Sedan - 148k - Brothers (OC-155k)

I bought a Bosch battery at pep-boys for my 300SD and it was under $100 with 1000 CCA. It fit perfectly in the holder and seems to do fine and the car sprang to life fine the other day when it was well below freezing. Also, the nice big red Bosch label on it seems more appropriate than some of the other aftermarket brands when looking under the hood too, but that is probably not the best reason to choose it.

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Marty D.

2013 C300 4Matic
1984 BMW 733i
2013 Lincoln MKz

The primary advantage of the Optimas is that they are a gell battery and won't spill over when tipped at angles. Great for offroad (I run one in my Jeep) but not really neccessary in a MBZ. They are great batteries, but you do pay extra for it.

I run Optima group 31 batteries in my 300SD and Escort diesel. No rust, lways start, plus years life! At the Fire Derpartment where I am the Fleet Supervisor we only use Optimas in everything. They are part of Interstate Batteries, by the way. A great company.

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Retired
ASE Master Car / Light Truck
ASE Master Medium Heavy Truck
EVT Master Technician Ambulance
EVT Master Technician Fire Apparatus

"Without Fleet The Pride Doesn't Ride"

1983 300SD 609K + still going strong!
1970 Monte Carlo
1994 Ford F150

I've always used Sears Die Hard Batteries. Anyone have anything bad to say about them?

I used to us Die Hards also, still have one in my TR6, but they stopped making the big 850CCA battery and the replacement is only 750CCA - so I've moved on the the big Interstate, Grp 93 Megatron in both the CD and the SD. All the MB Gurus I've talked put the Interstate at the top of their list.

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Houston, Texas
1984 300CD 235K miles, Elvira, one owner
1987 300TD 180K miles
1974 TR6 78K miles Sarah Jane, one owner
OBK #27

optima red top by far. when i was having alternator problems i ran that battery to the ground countless times and each time it would take a charge and keep going. it's about 4yrs old now and starts great everytime. and since it's sealed you can run it upside down if you want.

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83 300d euro
85 944

I run the OE MB white batteries because I like they way they look, and they have the star on them.

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1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

How much are they Hattie? I like the clean look of them also!

I went to the Optima website and they don't even have Mercedes as a manufacturer choice.....

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Jimmy L.
'05 Acura TL 6MT
2001 ML430 My Spare

Gone:
'95 E300 188K "Batmobile" Texas Unfriendly Black
'85 300TD 235K "The Wagon" Texas Friendly White
'80 240D 154K "China" Scar engine installed
'81 300TD 240K "Smash"
'80 240D 230K "The Squash"
'81 240D 293K"Scar" Rear ended harder than Elton John

I bought the same battery for my wagon. $80 from PepBoys after the $10 core charge was refunded. I even left my headlights on the other day for about 3 hours and the car started right up.

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Chad
2006 Nissan Pathfinder LE
1998 Acura 3.0 CL
OBK#44
"Pleasure in the job puts perfection in the work." - Aristotle (384-322 B.C.)

SOLD
1985 300TD - Red Dragon
1986 300SDL - Coda
1991 - 300TE
1995 - E320
1985 300CD - Gladys