on a '97 C280? the reason i ask is because i took a quick look and saw some wires or coils coming out of the side of it and wondered where the were coming from? just wondered if it took a lot of know how to replace? it doesn't look as easy as my '89 corolla, where the battery replacement is just "plug and play".

It's just the same... only about 3x as heavy!! The clear tube you may see coming out from the battery (simply pulls out?) is for drainage of some sort.

It's just as simple as changing a battery. Good luck!

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2006 E350 w/ 155k miles (Daily Driver)

Previous:
1993 300E 3.2L Sedan w/ close to about 300k miles
2003 E500 Brilliant Silver (Had 217k miles when totalled!)
1989 300E with 289,000 miles (had for <1 yr while in HI)
03 CLK 500 cabrio (Mom's)
2006 C230k (Dad's)
1999 S420 (Mom's/Dad's)
2000 C230k Sport sedans
2001 CLK320 Cabrio (Mom's)
1995 C280 My First Mercedes-Benz... (155k miles. EXCEPTIONAL AUTOMOBILE. Was Very hard to let go of!)

Don't know if you practiced "safe" battery procedures with the Corolla, but with the sophisticated (and expensive) electronics in your '97, make sure you disconnect the positive lead FIRST, then ground (or negative). Do the opposite when installing.

If you have the OEM stereo in your car, check your operation manual for the security code first. Your radio will prompt you for the code when you power it up after changing the battery...would be sad if you didn't have the code...

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2009 ML350 (106K) - Family vehicle
2001 CLK430 Cabriolet (80K) - Wife's car
2005 BMW 645CI (138K) - My daily driver
2016 Mustang (32K) - Daughter's car

Hi jamesp The clear tube attached to the side of your battery is a vent line! Make sure it's re-installed properly following installation of your new battery. There's a grommet that the tube passes thru to vent the gasses to the outside of the vehicle. This could be easily overlooked. Just pull the white plastic elbow fitting out of the side of the battery and lay it aside. Re-insert it into the new battery and make sure the tube goes thru the grommet so that all gasses are vented to the outside of the vehicle. You may lose the memory settings for the power seats in addition to having to re-code the radio.

Just dont put it in backwards. One of my friends clients put her battery in backwards in her E420 and it fried 3k of electronics.

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Current Stable:
1994 S500 v140, 210k miles, white with grey.

Former Mercedes in the Stable:
1983 300CD Turbo diesel 515k mi sold (rumor has it, that it has 750k miles on it now)
1984 300CD Turbo Diesel 150 k mi sold
1982 300D Turbo Diesel 225 sold
1987 300D Turbo Diesel 255k mi sold
1988 300 CE AMG Hammer 15k mi sold
1986 "300E" Amg Hammer 88k mi sold (it was really a 200, not even an E (124.020)
1992 500E 156k mi sold
etc.

BTW, that clear plastic tube vent line is for any hydrogen gas given off by the battery. Hydrogen gas can apparently be given off by an overcharging battery or one that gets too hot. The tube MUST be installed correctly, or there is a fire/explosion hazard. MB has a recall campaign for 1998 C class (w202) cars because some came from the factory with the line improperly installed. Hydrogen gas built up on several cars, apparently, and there were fires. So check the tube position carefully and reinstall the same way.

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John

2003 Firemist Red/grey leather SL 500
2015 Palladium Silver/black mbtex GLK 350
1987 Smoke Silver/burgundy mbtex 300E Sportline (SOLD)

Click to see 87 300E

my car battery died last week. i called the part department and asked for the price of a replacement. They told me that mercedes roadside service can come out and install the new battery without charging any labor cost. I only paid the price of the battery. I called 1800 FORMERC. Got my new battery installed on that same day.

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96 E320

thank you very much.

I'll vouch for that!!!

I don't have a vent line on the W124, but about a year ago, a failed voltage regulator caused my alternator to overcharge (measured 17.5 volts at the terminals!!), and I could see (and smell) the vapors being emitted from the battery!!! Pretty noxious too!

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2009 ML350 (106K) - Family vehicle
2001 CLK430 Cabriolet (80K) - Wife's car
2005 BMW 645CI (138K) - My daily driver
2016 Mustang (32K) - Daughter's car

disconnect negative lead first. doing as suggested above may result in your making contact with wrench to something grounded. positive terminal to ground -- you do not want that.

Mea culpa! I knew that for the reason you stated! Sometimes I don't even take my own advice!

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2009 ML350 (106K) - Family vehicle
2001 CLK430 Cabriolet (80K) - Wife's car
2005 BMW 645CI (138K) - My daily driver
2016 Mustang (32K) - Daughter's car

Question, How much does a replacement battery cost from Mercedes?