The battery of my recently acquired '96 C280 Sport does not seem to hold charge even I drive it for thirty minutes or morer at a time. If the car sits in the garage for a couple of days, the battery will start to weaken to the point that I need a jump. How can I tell if the battery is at its last leg? I don't mind getting a new one but I just want to make sure it is not caused by other problem. Can an autmotive shop such as Sears or the dealer do some checking on the battery before I pay for a new one? It is now on a trickle charger. Any help will be appreciated.

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95 R129
04 Infiniti G35.5 BS
10 X204

Your battery is already dead, no need for further checks. If it is a Mercedes battery, it could still be original, they last well. I replaced mine with an Optima battery, a little more maybe $120 to $150 -- but they are the very best.

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2008 S550
2010 GLK350
1997 E420 (retired)
2005 CLK500 (retired)

I recently got a new interstate battery for my 190e. go to the interstate website and get a battery from one of the stores listed on their site. print out the $10 rebate!

The original battery will have a year of manufacture stamped on one of the battery posts. If it is the original battery, it has done its duty and should be given a respectful retirement, IMHO.
Dan

I replace mine with an AC Delco 5yr warranty battery and it was build to fit my battery compartment in my R 129.$65.00 US. I had always gotten my monies worth with this brand ,they come standard from factory on Chrysler and other vehicles and the last one last me 6 1/2 years in my Jeep and it came from the factory. This is just a suggestion base on experience.

I called the dealer just to check how much it will cost for a new battery, and they quoted me $278.00, battery plus labor

Last time I bought one from them for my SL was $166.00 without charging me installation. But the Service Advisor told me not to come to the dealer. He advised me to call the Road Side Service and they won't charge for the labor, plus they will even re-code my radio and re-sync the windows for free.

So if you buy one from other places, how do you guys re-code the radio and sync the windows?

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95 R129
04 Infiniti G35.5 BS
10 X204

Elau, if its the original battery, I concur with the aforementioned posters.

However, if the battery has been replaced, I fail to see how you can condemn the battery without further testing.

The vehicle may have a slight electrical discharge that will weaken the battery if it sits for several days.

The first thing to do, IMHO, is to fully charge the battery and take it to a shop and have them put it under a load test. This will show the available CCA for the battery and will tell you, immediately, if the battery is the culprit.

I'm not at all familiar with the issues on the C class vehicles, however, a very good battery for the diesels can be obtained at AutoZone for $70.00. I'd hate to shell out over $200. for a dealer to do it.

My dealer in Seattle charges 127.00 for the Mercedes 100A battery. Seems reasonable considering it has the star on it which doubles the price.

MP

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1998 C230 330,000 miles (currently dead of second failed EIS, yours will fail too, turning you into the dealer's personal human cash machine)
1988 F150 144,000 miles (leaks all the colors of the rainbow)
Previous stars: 1981 Brava 210,000 miles, 1978 128 150,000 miles, 1977 B200 Van 175,000 miles, 1972 Vega (great, if rusty, car), 1972 Celica, 1986.5 Supra

The radio code no. are in your owners manual kit,to resync in a your windows in SL model with hard and soft top just hold the window buttons on the up position for a few seconds after the window is all the way up