ideas on Longevity ??

I recently changed the original battery in my E430. Lasted 12 years.

Totally unpredictable. Sometimes it varies car to car, and battery to battery.

Your case (battery in your 1999 E320) sounds like a very long time. My 99 E300TD is on it's 3rd MB brand battery, and the car is only 14 years old.

I must be doing something wrong, for my E300TD's batteries to individually last only 5 years each? The one in there now has evidenced a little bit of slow-cranking, a month ago, so it is signalling it is on it's way out to me. It's just short of 4 years old, +/-.

Im with you Skid. I do know the older original ones in my older cars always lasted longer. I had one in a Subaru last 15 years. Most of them I buy now last 5 years max, and the reason I asked

It's just a run of the mill group 49 lead acid wet cell battery. Can be purchased anywhere at a variety of price points, quality levels, and warranty levels.

It's not a sealed battery, so you need to top the cells up with distilled water once a year or so. Assuming it is original, that's likely why it has lasted so long. MB is now using AGM sealed batteries in the same group 49 size, so you could replace it with one of those as well when it goes out. Bit more money, but no maintenance, and AGM has a reputation for long life.

I 'nursed' the second MB brand battery my '99 E300TD needed toward it's end. I would charge it and be certain the wet cells were catered to, and the damm thing still didn't last 5 years! This, the third MB brand battery, I'm letting it go to fail, and then replace it - if I still own the car.

I may be selling it (the '99 E300TD) if I replace it with a 2008 E320 Bluetec I'm pending on purchasing right now.

The 99's second battery went out around 190,000 miles and 6 years. I bought a "used" battery from the interstate battery store down the road. Yes. Used battery. Apparently they get returns when a customer buys the wrong one by mistake and exchanges it. $60 and came with a 90 day warranty. Compared to $240 for a "new" one - I thought I could take a chance. So far after 6 months or so, so good.

tires are near wear bars. Suggestions for a nice QUIET ride tire for this car?

Michelin Primacy MXV4.

here is Queen Mary
 

http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/g...ps051146b8.jpg
http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/g...ps16eb63ea.jpg
http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/g...psb0c993ba.jpg
http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/g...ps4dc9af07.jpg

beautiful car, love the color combo

thanks , I think she is stunning

34 years ago I bought a new Lincoln Town Car nearly that exterior color, deep metallic navy blue. I liked it very much.

Knowing the history on your new car is icing on the cake. :cool2:

What a beautiful car. Looks brand new. I really like these W210 cars. Virtually trouble free.