Battery Replacement Tip
 

After 6+ years and 77K miles of fine service the original battery in my W210 quit this morning. I want to give everyone a tip regarding replacing your Mercedes battery.

After first speaking with my dealer about the problem, they were kind enough to tell me that I could call the 800 Mercedes number and have them come out to jump start the battery or replace it. If replacement was needed, they would only charge for the battery and not for labor. I was amazed Mercedes would do this for my old '98 without a warranty. I verifyed this with the person at the 800 number and he agreed, but said it was up to each dealership whether labor would be charged.

Sure enough, the M class service SUV arrived 1-1/2 hours later and the tech replaced the battery. I was charged only for the battery, and nothing for labor.

As a person that's not normally impressed with Mercedes service, this time I was extremely happy and surprised that Mercedes took care of the problem promptly and at no labor cost.

Do you otherwise have your car serviced at this (or any other) dealership? I doubt I would get this same service as I never take my car to dealerships for work.

I never take the car to the dealership for service. I've used an independent since my car dropped out of warranty at 50K miles. I don't think they were doing something special for me. This is their policy.

My 86 560sel quit somewhere 100mi. east of San Diego (middle of nowhere). I found the 800#, and called, and was quite surprised at the level of service they offered, especially considering that my car was almost 20 years old and long out of warranty (it had over 150k miles...)

A very knowledgeable tech spoke to me for at least 30 minutes (this was at 1am!), and offered to have the nearest dealer come and get the car - AND there were be NO CHARGE for towing (if I had the vehicle fixed at the dealer who picked it up...)

While I ended up using the tech info to fix the car (after getting some clarification from SteveB the next morning), I was VERY impressed with the level of customer service that I received (even though I have never really been a MB customer - I buy NOTHING at the dealer).

-David
92 500sel (so cool)
86 560sel (so dead)
85 535is (for sale, nice, $2900)
92 ZX11 (no place for the dog...)

Mercedes road side assistance lasts for the life of your Mercedes regardless who is the original owner or how old the vehicle is. Road side assistance typically includes jump starts, towing to the nearst Mercedes dealer and a few gallons of gas (enough to make it to the nearest gas station).

Most other car manufactures road side assistance lasts until the warranty is over.

mb #800
 

What is the 800 number?

1-800-FOR-MERC(EDES)

Len

Our local MB dealer provides the battery replacement service with no labor charge. When I recently called the Parts Department about purchasing a new battery for a 1992 300CE I got the impression that they prefer you call Roadside Assistance and have them bring a battery to your house and the tech install it.

Before my dealer recommended I call the 800 number, he quoted me a labor charge of $65 to install the new battery. Then he told me to call Roadside Assistance and they'll replace it for free.