New Battery - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Bryan Harter · #1 03-04-2004, 12:17 PM

I think my battery went bad...
I put a charger on it and the meter doesn't seem to respond when charging. The meter responded last week when I used
it on the same battery but now nothing.
Upon removal, one of the cells was low. I think the battery may be shorted.
Has anyone used an Interstate battery? Should I just go with the OEM MB?
I don't want to go with an optima and have to rig up something to hold an undersized battery in the tray.

Thanks,

placo1 · #2 03-04-2004, 01:41 PM

As I understand Interstate is the OE supplier for Mercedes now and they have a direct replacement for the OE Battery. The difference will probably be exterior color but I doubt anything else.

Guido suggested looking into the OE CL600 Mercedes Battery which I believe he stated will fit our cars without modification. The reason for his recommendation is higher CCA and it's a deep cycle battery like the Optima Yellow Top. Worth checking IMO especially if your considering a high end stereo.

Let us know what you end up doing and if you choose the CL or Interstate can you post a pic? Want to see how they compare.

Bryan Harter · #3 03-04-2004, 01:51 PM

Thanks Afshin !

I stopped at Sam's club yesterday to pick up some things and they had the Optima (red & yellow) but they don't look like a good fit. Wrong post orientation, smaller etc...
They also carried the Interstate. The model for the 500E was a HD93? or something like that. It appeared to be very close in looks to the MB battery. It was 850CCA and 155 reserve cap.
Same size but black....I don't recall it had the nice MB handles.
I think the MB battery I have is 450CCA, so the interstate may be a better battery for the money. Mine didn't last very long....
The price was approx. $90 for the interstate and same for the MB battery at wholesale from the dealer. I will price a CL600 unit at the dealer today.

shanta · #4 03-05-2004, 12:45 AM

I use a Interstate battery in my E500 and my car is happy.

The model is MB88-60, fits with no problems.

Bryan Harter · #5 03-05-2004, 07:41 AM

Afshin,

I noticed your trunk is quite pristine (as is the rest of your car from what I hear!). Is that sound insulation I see along the battery ? My 92 doesn't have any additional insulation.

I noticed my trunk lining has a black back on two pieces but the piece on the battery side is just gray and is much more pliable.
Is this standard?

I am going to dynamat the truck at some point during the stereo install. I need to decide what to do with the underside of the rear shelf. I think it would look much better if upholstered in a matching carpet, but I don't know if I should glue it up or mount some boards with the carpet attached to them.

Anyone have pix of how their stereo is wired up to the battery?
I find I have limited room for any new cables (much less 0/1) with the current battery. I can't even get a jumper cable on my (+) terminal. For that reason, the Optima battery with dual side/top posts was intriguing.

Bryan Harter · #6 03-05-2004, 10:45 AM

Thanks Shanta,
Interstate makes a great product.

I just heard back from my parts guy. The CL600 battery is black and about the same size as the 500E battery. Price is over $300 retail, my cost is still $220...
I think I will go with something more reasonable.

Xstatic has a nice battery BatCap800, but I don't have dimensions on it. The Optima yellow is $132, but the size / fit and wiring are still an issue.

I ordered a new tray and bracket and should have them here on Monday.

placo1 · #7 03-05-2004, 10:50 AM

Bryan,

Good eye! Yes one of the previous owners installed insulation and dynamat on the sides of the trunk. Not sure if it was because of a previous stereo install or if the guy just wanted a super quiet car, my guess would be the first one though. Anyways the only way to discover the side padding is it peeks through in the battery well and there's a hint of dynamat near the rear tail lights . I thought about removing it but it's well hidden and I figure it can't hurt to have it.

Can't believe how expensive the CL600 Battery is, that is rediculous! Are all new MB Batteries Black or is it just the CL's battery?

BTW the black cover on the back of the carpeting is correct, it doesn't cover the battery well I assume to make it easier to lift the flap.

Bryan Harter · #8 03-05-2004, 11:08 AM

And I thought you were the original owner...!

The 500E battery and my CLK55 battery are still white. Some MB batteries are made by interstate and others by a supplier that name starts with a V....

I put dynamat thru the whole cabin, roof included. Made a noticable difference, I imagine the trunk needs it as well if there is any kind of stereo.

As for the carpet, I wonder if mine was replaced at one time. I don't understand why it wouldn't have a black backing. Although the interior carpets from MB that I just ordered were not identical in the way the heel pad and snaps were done.

placo1 · #9 03-05-2004, 11:20 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Bryan Harter
And I thought you were the original owner...!

Try Fourth

The previous owner was actually a member of this site (discovered this after the fact) and he knew the two previous owners so I felt good about the car. It was also one of the few cars that had all previous maintenance history. But I will say the car would probably be in better shape if I was the original owner.

But now we're getting of topic.

Thanks for the info on the battery colors, still in shock about the CL's battery price.

I thought your carpeting did have black backing on the portion covering the tire and going to the left edge where the cellular receiver sits? You mentioned that the new front carpeting doesn't have the same foam? Is it possible you received the standard W124 pieces instead?

Bryan Harter · #10 03-05-2004, 11:49 AM

Let me clarify.
First, my new front drivers side carpet does not have the snaps where they should be and the vinyl pad is different.

Second, the trunk lining on the drivers side and the forward wall (gas tank) has a black backing (almost like painted) and is very stiff. The battery side piece is gray on the back and is much more flexible.

placo1 · #11 03-05-2004, 12:20 PM

Sorry about the misunderstanding. I just checked my carpeting and noted all have a hard backing to them including the carpeting near the battery.

More and more I'm starting to realize the importance of maintaining what we have as new correct parts don't seem to be available.

Bryan Harter · #12 03-05-2004, 12:45 PM

Sad but true....

vincec · #13 03-05-2004, 08:36 PM

Quote:

I put dynamat thru the whole cabin, roof included. Made a noticable difference, I imagine the trunk needs it as well if there is any kind of stereo

Bryan, I am curious about your Dynamatted car, and would like to one day, dynamat my car too. Occasionally you hear comments about the vault / tank like built quality of our cars, and I think that it could be further enhanced by Dynamatting. I can just imagine the solid 'thud' you would hear when you close the door. How much did it cost and did you do it yourself? Thanks

Bryan Harter · #14 03-06-2004, 12:46 PM

Vince,
I had some cute help. Spent about $250 or so for 2 bulk packs of dynamat extreme.
I may need more to do the truck fully, but it was more than enough to do the cabin. Takes some time, but isn't too difficult.
Here are some pix.

Bryan Harter · #15 03-06-2004, 12:46 PM

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