I just finished hooking it up. The CarQuest battery did not even have a provision for hooking up a vent tube! Luckily, I had a spare, new Bosch battery from Poop Boys on hand. So now I have a used Carquest as a spare instead.

Joe, glad to hear it was a clear tube, as I only had vinyl tubing laying around, so I used that. If it gets brittle later, I'll replace it with another material.

I should revise my other post regarding MBZ batteries being so good - my point of referrence is the *factory installed* ones; I have no experience with whatever MBZ is using as replacements.

Regarding filling with distilled water: You definitely do not want to fill to the top, or even close to the top. Typically, filling to the bottom of the cell access tube is sufficient if there is not a specific fill mark. As long as the plates remain submerged, you are good to go. And if you find yourself filling them at all, check your alternator/voltage regulator to see if it is overcharging the battery.

__________________
Current rolling stock:
2001 E55 183,000+ Newest member of the fleet.
2002 E320 83,000 - The "cream-puff"!
1992 500E 217,000+
1995 E300D 412,000+
1998 E300D 155,000+
2001 E320 227,000+
2001 E320 Wagon, 177,000+

Prior MBZ’s:
1952 220 Cab A
1966 300SE
1971 280SE
1973 350SLC (euro)
1980 450SLC
1980 450SLC (#2)
1978 450SLC 5.0
1984 300D ~243,000 & fondly remembered
1993 500E - sorely missed.
1975 VW Scirocco w/ slightly de-tuned Super-Vee engine - Sold after 30+ years.