I've had a sneaking suspicion that my battery was getting ready to fail. I should have replaced it before it got cold. Sure enough this morning it's 18 degrees outside. I glowed 2 cycles and tried started the car midway of the third glow cycle. It just groaned and would not turn over.

Anyway, this was my first time installing a battery in a w123. Wow was it tight. I initially thought I was going to have to remove the air cleaner. I then carefully removed the weather stripping above the battery part of the way. New battery slid right in after that.

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You should have discharged the battery. Flat batteries are lighter and smaller

That is so wrong!! Thanks for the laugh.

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92 300D 2.5L OM602 OBK #59

I work in television, camera batteries weigh quite a lot. We tell the newbies that the discharged ones weigh less, surprising how many believe it

I do not know about the 123's but on my 126 you need to tilt the hood back to the service position otherwise it is a pain in the a$$.
Alan

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92 500E Silver 66k
82 Porsche 911SC 84K
68 Cadillac ( Gone Now )
03 Suburban Z71 200K
85 300SD 217k From Original Owner ( Dad )

My 123 wagon's battery was a real bear to get in and out.

I'll have to remember to drain the battery so it's lighter next time!

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If your 123 does it take a look at the hinges if there is a large tab on it you start at the driver side and and gently push the hood toward the close position
( from open )about 1/2 inch then push the tab down and bring hood back open position. Walk around to the passenger side hinge and do the same thing but
then move the hood fully open. It should go back and be vertical. Make certain that you have enough ceiling clearance so it does not hit. When you close it if memory serves me right you simply do the driver side ? and it goes all the way down. It makes working on things under the hood much better.

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92 500E Silver 66k
82 Porsche 911SC 84K
68 Cadillac ( Gone Now )
03 Suburban Z71 200K
85 300SD 217k From Original Owner ( Dad )

the battery is just like the fuse box cover on the 123. Every way except the perfect way, it does not fit or seem to go in properly. Of course, the perfect way, it fits perfectly and goes right in, which you find after a few moments of struggle.

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Fuse box cover is a PIA. I thought it was me that was being retarded.

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I had mine replaced by the fella at the local AutoZoo. I did have to explain, numerous times, the battery needs to be slid out a bit before it can be removed. The new one set down and slid back before it's bolted in.

Nothing else was removed.

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83 SD

84 CD

You just have to be German to understand the simplicity of it.

Charlie

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there were three HP ratings on the OM616...

1) Not much power
2) Even less power
3) Not nearly enough power!! 240D w/auto

Anyone that thinks a 240D is slow drives too fast.

80 240D Naturally Exasperated, 4-Spd 388k DD 150mph spedo 3:58 Diff

We are advised to NOT judge ALL Muslims by the actions of a few lunatics, but we are encouraged to judge ALL gun owners by the actions of a few lunatics. Funny how that works

changing the battery in a 123:
employ TARDIS field around the battery. slide it in from the passenger's side through the glove compartment.
you lesser mortals must tilt the battery in negative side first, then it drops into place.
the fuse cover is a similar arrangement.
slide the lower corner past the booster, and rotate the cover into position.
note:
you must be standing on left foot with right foot high in the air, and your tounge must be resting on your nose with your right eye closed, and the left eye squinting tightly!

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John HAUL AWAY, OR CRUSHED CARS!!! HELP ME keep the cars out of the crusher! A/C Thread
"as I ride with my a/c on... I have fond memories of sweaty oily saturdays and spewing R12 into the air. THANKS for all you do!

My drivers:
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5-5SPEED!!!

1987 300TD
1987 300TD
1994GMC 2500 6.5Turbo truck... I had to put the ladder somewhere!

it boggles the mind of my customers when I pull the fuse cover, and drop it right back into place after changing the fuses... they just look at me and swear I used magic!

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John HAUL AWAY, OR CRUSHED CARS!!! HELP ME keep the cars out of the crusher! A/C Thread
"as I ride with my a/c on... I have fond memories of sweaty oily saturdays and spewing R12 into the air. THANKS for all you do!

My drivers:
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5-5SPEED!!!

1987 300TD
1987 300TD
1994GMC 2500 6.5Turbo truck... I had to put the ladder somewhere!

I love how they go beyond typical engineering to make it work this way, it's simple enough to not require anything else to be removed. I also absolutely hate it when I'm in a rush and I need to get it in NOW and considering it's VERY heavy...

I used to remove the air cleaner just to remove the battery. If you accidentally touch the air cleaner while removing the positive terminal...

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