i also have a '95 c280 and i'm also from the bay area....i just replaced my battery about a month ago...so i guess the 5yr lifetime of the oem battery is normal....same car, same area and replaced the battery at about the same time......what a koinky dinky...=)

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RICKY PANELO
1995 C280 [AMG]
1993 190E 2.6 [CARLSSON]
1991 VW GTI