Can't say enough about reconditioned batteries from Interstate. Bought one for $50 in 2015 for the 91. Lasted 6.5 years. Still worked, car started without difficulty, but only putting out 550 CCA. So replaced it with another one for the same price....so much for inflation!

Learned that they sell reconditioned AGMs for $70....so when the time comes for the CDI that's what I'll do.

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14 E250 Bluetec "Sinclair", Palladium Silver on Black, 153k miles
06 E320 CDI "Rutherford", Black on Tan, 171k mi, Stage 1 tune, tuned TCU
91 300D "Otis", Smoke Silver, 142k mi, wastegate conversion

19 Honda CR-V EX 61k mi
Fourteen other MB's owned and sold
1961 Very Tolerant Wife

When first they came out I bought several new ones then began buying the 'reconditioned' ones, those are warranty returned that are cleaned, charged and load tested .

The first few were great but soon I began having *very* short lifespan to be aware .

The bitterness of low quality remains long after the sweetness of low price is forgotten .

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-Nate
1982 240D 408,XXX miles
Ignorance is the mother of suspicion and fear is the father

I did then what I knew how to do ~ now that I know better I do better

I have never heard of these before. Where can you buy them?

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2009 E320 Bluetec - 242k miles and a work in progress!

Interstate Battery retail locations.

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14 E250 Bluetec "Sinclair", Palladium Silver on Black, 153k miles
06 E320 CDI "Rutherford", Black on Tan, 171k mi, Stage 1 tune, tuned TCU
91 300D "Otis", Smoke Silver, 142k mi, wastegate conversion

19 Honda CR-V EX 61k mi
Fourteen other MB's owned and sold
1961 Very Tolerant Wife

Interstate factory outlets are the best source. One is only 40 miles away from us. A city I am frequently in enough.

I had only one go bad and it may have been my fault. Otherwise so far so good. My reasoning for using them is battery prices are probably much higher in Canada.

I would not use them in the newer cars. As even some manufactures recommend the battery be changed on a time basis now even before going bad.

My larger battery for the 123 model looks like a new second perhaps. Also the older Honda one as well. They were both out of stock when I went in. Said they would call when they had some. Both looked totally brand new, Warranty is six months.

Fifty American sounds a little high. Could have been purchased from a reseller. Fifty Canadian for almost all batteries. A few like the 149 type 60.00. In theory with the higher American dollar should be less. I did notice one salvage yard was buying them from interste and reselling them.

They to me are a reasonable risk. Some may be warranty returns.I feel the majority are more likely to be trade ins on new batteries.

The best thing about buying at a factory outlet. Is they also check it before handing it over. Their battery tester. Is far more complex compared to what is generally available to the public. Personally I would not want to pay what one of them costs. It is doing more than a normal load tester does.

The prices I quote here in Canada are not an outright price either. Your dud battery has to be passed in. The place I used does not seem to care if it is the same identical type battery or not. They also buy dud batteries as well. The factory outlet here also has good reasonable people working there. That to me is worth something in my mind.

Odd thing I just thought. I did not check the prices on their new batteries they also stock. They might be protecting their normal new battery retailers or not. Have to find out the next time I need a battery.