I need to get a new battery for my '89 300CE. It currently has an OEM battery but I'm wondering what I should replace it with. Is it better to go OEM or is there a good aftermarket option?

Our 300E has an autolite in it thats too small....and it works fine....even when cranking extended periods.

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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 really like my OEM battery. If I had to get a new battery I would probably get another unless the cost was crazy. Lat time I quoted one they were 109.00 which I would pay. And you might even get free delivery with that but you better check the price first.

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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

They're up to about $140-145ish when I bought mine 1.7 years ago.....

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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 would probably check out Interstate if that is what the dealer quoted for the OEM. If you go to the actual Interstate location they have pretty good prices.

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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

Autozone sells the interstate for under $90, so does Advance Auto, with a good warranty (IIRC 3year replacement / 7year pro-rated). I like the OE battery, but not worth twice as much with less warranty.

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Gone to the dark side

- Jeff

The dealer wants $220 CDN for the battery, which compared to the prices others have listed is ridiculous. I'm going to go with the Interstate battery but I'm wondering about preserving the OEM look. Are they all black now or can I still get a white one to match the original? I know, I'm fussy. Out of curiosity, I'm wondering if anyone in Canada has tried the Canadian Tire branded batteries, namely the Motomaster Eliminator series.

I've had very good luck with MB batteries. They last at least as long as aftermarket brands, and the fitment is perfect. They may cost more, but spread over several years, it works out to be like $20 bucks more a year. Plus, they keep the car original looking :-)

The latest battery for my 1988 W124 from MBz was about $90, bought 2 months ago. I've also gotten good service from an Interstate battery, but the last one of those I bought was about $120 five years ago.

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1988 California version 260E (W124)
Anthracite Grey/Palomino
Owned since new and still going strong and smooth
MBCA member

Past Mercedes-Benz:
1986 190E Baby Benz
1967 230 Inherited from mom when she downsized
1959 220S Introduced me to the joys of keepin' 'em goin'

There are only 10 kinds of people in the world--those who understand binary and those who don't

Each dealer has a different price, but as of this week, our parts department's price for the large white batteries is $185. The black one is a gel battery and much more expensive and not really needed for the older cars.

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1980 500SE/AMG Euro
1981 500SEL Euro
1982 380SEL
1983 300TD
1983 500SEC/AMG Euro
1984 500SEC
1984 300TD Euro
1986 190E 2.3-16
1986 190E 2.3
1987 300D
1997 C36 AMG
2003 C320T 4matic

past: 1969 280SE 4.5 | 1978 240D | 1978 300D | 1981 300SD | 1981 300SD | 1982 300CD | 1983 300CD | 1983 300SD | 1983 380SEC | 1984 300D | 1984 300D | 1984 300TD | 1984 500SEL | 1984 300SD | 1985 300D | 1986 300E | 1986 560SEL | 1986 560SEL/Carat | 1987 560SEC | 1991 300D 2.5 | 2006 R350

Well I am not sure we are all talking about the same battery but the one I am referring to is the big white 100A one in my car. I was quoted 109.95 4 years ago and I just called the same dealer to see what they are now and he quoted me 159.95. He said he has seen them last 10 years or more and he said they do have a sale once in a while on batteries, around 20% off so that would be pretty fair I think for that battery. But I don't know if that is the one for your car.

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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

Batteries are batteries - only a handful of companies that make them. WalMart just started stocking group 49 batteries - $62. It will many, many years, if ever, that anyone would be able to tell the difference between this and what the dealer sells.

You would only have to look at them to see the difference. There are differences in battery construction both internally and externally. Externally the dealer battery has fully sealed fill holes and a fitting for a vent tube. I have never seen this feature on any other battery. Internally there COULD be differences in plate thickness. I don't know for sure but "batteries are not batteries". They can be made with thicker plates or they can be made with thinner plates. Mine is 6 years old and still looks and works like new. No corrosion. I have never heard of any store battery lasting 10 years.

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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

Appearance isn't all that important to a battery, if indeed there is any difference in appearance. I've got 8 years and counting on a non-OEM battery. But obviously everybody has a right to buy OE if it makes you feel good.

My latest AZ battery is giving up. Actually, symptoms were first noticed about a month ago, but it was already just past the 24 month free replacement age. Now it's just past 25 months out of 72 for the pro-rated warranty. That means that I would have to pay about 35% of the price for a new one. I'll probably do it this time, but that's pretty terrible performance.