possible floating short in battery

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1999 w140, quit voting to old, and to old to fight, a god damned veteran

Before you condemn the battery, which I dont think is the problem, you should consider other things:

Age of the current starter?

Is the ignition timing correct?

Have you tested the amp draw of the starter when it is running? When it won't start?

Does the solenoid click and then nothing when the motor is hot?

If theres no click or anything, and the lights dont dim when you turn the key to START, theres something going on in the lnterlock, or the ignition switch, or associated wiring/fuses, etc.

Could even be dirty battery posts.

I've tested alot of batteries in my lifetime, and I've never seen one that would die when the car was warm or hot. Worked for service stations for several years after high school.

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My first Mercedes Benz. 4/6/07.

1984 190E (201 024) 2.3L four.