Has anyone had first-hand experience with the different grades of Bosch batteries? Apparently, to get a top quality Bosch you have to get it through a Bosch service center. You can buy Bosch batteries elsewhere (e.g. Pep Boys), but what they're doing is Bosch branding a lower quality battery. All this according to a Bosch rep I spoke with. For my car, the Pep Boys version would be $110, the Bosch service center version $165.

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14 E250 Bluetec 4Matic "Sinclair", Palladium Silver on Black, 154k miles
06 E320 CDI "Rutherford", Black on Tan, 172k mi, Stage 1 tune, tuned TCU
91 300D "Otis", Smoke Silver, 142k mi, wastegate conversion

19 Honda CR-V EX 61k mi
Fourteen other MB's owned and sold
1961 Very Tolerant Wife

I've always used Interstate batteries, at least in the 126's.

My parent's van had an Interstate that lasted 8 years! That's pretty good for a battery!

The 190 has AutoCraft battery and the 300D has a DieHard I think..

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Cruise Control not working? Send me PM or email (jamesdean59@gmail.com). I might be able to help out.
Check here for compatibility, diagnostics, and availability!

(4/11/2020: Hi Everyone! I am still taking orders and replying to emails/PMs/etc, I appreciate your patience in these crazy times. Stay safe and healthy!)


82 300SD 145k
89 420SEL 210k
89 560SEL 118k
90 300SE 262k RIP 5/25/2010
90 560SEL 154k
91 300D 2.5 Turbo. 241k
93 190E 3.0 235k
93 300E 195k

Yup, interstates take a ridiculous amount of abuse.

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$60 OM617 Blank Exhaust Flanges
$110 OM606 Blank Exhaust Flanges
No merc at the moment

Interstates are undoubtedly first rate. $187 for the OEM for my car, though. Might be worth it. Although at that point I might rather go to MB and get one for $165.

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14 E250 Bluetec 4Matic "Sinclair", Palladium Silver on Black, 154k miles
06 E320 CDI "Rutherford", Black on Tan, 172k mi, Stage 1 tune, tuned TCU
91 300D "Otis", Smoke Silver, 142k mi, wastegate conversion

19 Honda CR-V EX 61k mi
Fourteen other MB's owned and sold
1961 Very Tolerant Wife

Interstate Batteries Results Page - Automotive / Truck 1991 Mercedes-Benz 300D 2.5

Thats what they said for my 300D 2.5..

The "Alternate" battery has a more cold cranking amp and is actually cheaper (msrp wise)

__________________
Cruise Control not working? Send me PM or email (jamesdean59@gmail.com). I might be able to help out.
Check here for compatibility, diagnostics, and availability!

(4/11/2020: Hi Everyone! I am still taking orders and replying to emails/PMs/etc, I appreciate your patience in these crazy times. Stay safe and healthy!)


82 300SD 145k
89 420SEL 210k
89 560SEL 118k
90 300SE 262k RIP 5/25/2010
90 560SEL 154k
91 300D 2.5 Turbo. 241k
93 190E 3.0 235k
93 300E 195k

Check prices with your local distributor. I bought one yesterday for $135.00 at my go-to parts store. Same price that I was quoted at the nearest Autozone for the "gold" level in their line.

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'79 240D

That's their Group 93 battery....OEM is Group 49. Although I'm sure both are great batteries.

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14 E250 Bluetec 4Matic "Sinclair", Palladium Silver on Black, 154k miles
06 E320 CDI "Rutherford", Black on Tan, 172k mi, Stage 1 tune, tuned TCU
91 300D "Otis", Smoke Silver, 142k mi, wastegate conversion

19 Honda CR-V EX 61k mi
Fourteen other MB's owned and sold
1961 Very Tolerant Wife

Interestingly, Kent Bergsma regards the Bosch as a step up from the Interstate.

mercedes source dot com/node/9623

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14 E250 Bluetec 4Matic "Sinclair", Palladium Silver on Black, 154k miles
06 E320 CDI "Rutherford", Black on Tan, 172k mi, Stage 1 tune, tuned TCU
91 300D "Otis", Smoke Silver, 142k mi, wastegate conversion

19 Honda CR-V EX 61k mi
Fourteen other MB's owned and sold
1961 Very Tolerant Wife

I've always gone with the battery that has not only high CCA but the best reserve, as well. They seem to handle the glow plug and crank cycle the best. The battery stores tell me that they have much heavier plates.

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Sam

84 300SD 350K+ miles ( Blue Belle )

Specs exceed OEM on that particular unit, and it fits fine. Higher cranking capacity was chosen, in this case, to compensate for an old engine (350K on the '83) thats getting a bit tired and more difficult to start below 40F. The point that can be inferred, though, is that the dealers can and do sell the Interstate brand at decent discounts. So if you want OEM, price it locally to get a true comparison.

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'79 240D

The opposite is true. Higher CCA is achieved with thiner plates. There is frequently an inverse correlation between CCA and warranty period, for that very reason.

We're currently battery shopping for my GF's W215 AMG; the suggested battery at Interstate has a lower CCA and reserve capacity than the alternate, and is also more expensive as has been described above for the oiler. Curiously, though, it also has a larger case, so perhaps it might last longer. Still, the warranty is the same on them, and I'll always pick power and reserve, particularly when it's also cheaper.

The interstate 93 battery is lighter in weight (read as less lead mass).

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2012 BMW X5 (Beef + Granite suspension model)

1995 E300D - The original humming machine (consumed by Flood 2017)
2000 E320 - The evolution (consumed by flood 2017)