battery of choice for the 300TD?

Wal-Mart lists the 49 group battery for the Mercedes diesels but they don't carry it. I have an almost new deep cycle marine battery. Recently put it in my Jeep but I'm swapping it out for an Optima.

The 300TD I just bought have a totally dead battery. I was thinking about using the marine battery. Most diesels have 2 batteries due to the high starter load.

Do I need a special battery for the Mercedes or will any large capacity 12V battery work fine?

I've used Marine batteries (from Sears, cause I have their credit card) in my diesels for years, they work great.

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5 speed '91 190E 2.6 320,000 mi. (new car, fast, smooth as silk six, couldn't find any more Peugeots)
5 speed '85 Peugeot 505 2.5l Turbo Diesel 266,000 mi. (old car, fast for a diesel, had 2 others)
5 speed '01 Jetta V6 (new wifes car, pretty quick)
5 speed '85 Peugeot 505 2.2l Turbo Gas 197,000 mi. (wifes car, faster, sadly gone just short of 200k )
5 speed '83 Yamaha 750 Maxim 14,000 mi. (fastest)
0 speed 4' x 8' 1800 lb Harbor Freight utility trailer (only as fast as what's pulling it)

Could you clarify "marine" battery? I know "deep cycle" style batteries are not supposed to be used for high amp draw starting applications.... If they are being used for this and they seem to last that is very interesting. If you mean marine as in a standard marine starting battery then I doubt they are very different than a auto battery. RT

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84' Mercedes Benz 300D Anthracite/black, 171K
03' Volkswagen Jetta TDI blue/black, 93K
93' Chevrolet C2500HD ExCab 6.5TD, Two-tone blue, 252K

Group 24 or 27 marine battery ought to do fine if it fits. I just bought a 49 at Autozone today, $65.00, 2 yr free exchange, 7 yr pro rate. It appears to be the same exact battery as the Diehard I removed. Both are made by Johnson Controls as are most batteries in the U.S.

Try the marine battery, I put one in my secretaries car and she used it for years.

"marine" batteries are just designed to be deeply discharged without damaging effects. But they still are used for starting the boat's motor.

I have one in my Jeep because I have a winch. Actually I recently sold my sailboat and the battrery was less than 3 months old so I kept it as I will be going to dual batteries on my Jeep. My other Jeep battery is a yellow top optima which is there deep cycle marine battery. Very popular for car stereo junkies.

Anyway, I was more concerned with the heavy starting load that diesels place on batteries.

Since I already have a huge marine battery I thought it might work. I don't know if diesel Mercs have special battery needs.

Anyway, my marine battery is too big and the terminals are backwards.

Walmart carrys a group 41 battery that will fit but is about 3 inches shorter than the group 49 that came out. I'm in small town Texas and battery selection is limited.

My advice is to go to the local Interstate distribtuor, not dealer, and get the MTP-93. Or go to MB and buy the same thing with an MB logo on it. Then make sure your charging system is in top shape. Most battery troubles are due to the charging system in my experience. (or buying REALLY cheap batteries).

Auto zone is going to have a GP 49 for me tomorrow! No if I can just get the thing started with the jumpers.

I think they are called marine batteries is cause they are used to run electric boat motors, like in trolling motors.

For jump starting a diesel try using two cables, or even two cars.