Are OE MB supplied batteries different from the retail versions?

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DSM10000

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I have noticed that the W211 320CDi has sometimes taken longer to start, especially when not used for a number of days.

Sometimes it is almost instant, other times it may take 2 seconds or so before it fires up.

The glow plug light extinguishes quickly, the fuel pump can be heard to prime the fuel system so I am leaning towards a battery that needs replacing, and having just checked the battery voltage I saw 12.14V.

The car has however not been used since Friday when it covered around 15 miles and has not been used much for the last 10 days.

I tried to look at the date stamp on the negative post but it is unreadable, there is a label on the battery which is an MB-supplied part but am unsure if this number also relates to any manufacturing date?

The label reads A 005 541 10 01 as per the attached picture.

The battery is a fairly standard 019 type of 95AH and 850CCA, I am unsure if it is an AGM or not but the car does not have Stop/Start but I think AGM or conventional Lead plate type are both suitable. I have found several retailers online selling what seems to be the identical Varta battery (AGM ) for £175 which is reasonable.

My question is are OE MB batteries any different from the retail versions apart from the MB Logo? I intend to give the car a run tomorrow and see what the voltage is overnight but I feel a replacement is due anyway.
 

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I fitted an Exide EA1000 to my previous 211 280CDi, 100Ah 900CCA, 4 year warranty and (still) under £100 delivered from clickcarparts on eBay - they're a well-established motor factor just round the corner from me.

I suspect Mercedes-logo'd batteries are exactly the same as non-logo'd ones.

Pete
 
Trickle charge it. Those cars are notorious amp eaters whilst locked up.
 
What about the glow plug relay ?
I bought a battery for my E320cdi from MB Grangemouth with their forum discount for about £130 delivered a couple of years ago . It is an AGM battery
 
What about the glow plug relay ?
I bought a battery for my E320cdi from MB Grangemouth with their forum discount for about £130 delivered a couple of years ago . It is an AGM battery
Relay seems OK, these engines do not really need the glow plugs to run at normal UK temperatures according to my specialist, He has a customer with the same engine in an ML that only has two working Glow plugs because the owner refuses to have them changed!
 
Yes if you do a quick scan and get the P0670 code then it will be a faulty glow plug relay.. I've ordered a new one for my w211 which always takes a good few seconds to start on the daily first start!
 
Relay seems OK, these engines do not really need the glow plugs to run at normal UK temperatures according to my specialist, He has a customer with the same engine in an ML that only has two working Glow plugs because the owner refuses to have them changed!
So does the e320 need warming up before setting off each day?
 
Relay seems OK, these engines do not really need the glow plugs to run at normal UK temperatures according to my specialist, He has a customer with the same engine in an ML that only has two working Glow plugs because the owner refuses to have them changed!
I was suffering a slower start like you a couple of years ago , I changed the gp’s and relay and new battery and it’s started on the button since . If it’s the original relay there is a newer version available .
Although the cdi engines can start and run without gp’s , they are used when the car is running as well (according to what an Indy told me a few years ago ) , make of that what you will . I’m guessing they run better when everything works as it should ?
 
I'd give it a proper charge first just to see how well a decent modern charger can do on it.

I use one of these as an example as it is way more intelligent than chargers of old.

MP7428 8A 12V Electronic Smart Charger - Maypole

Then see how it is.

I use trickle charging for on-going maintenance on my Merc using a 7423 unit and charge Mrs John's and my aux batteries with the 7428 periodically.
 
I was suffering a slower start like you a couple of years ago , I changed the gp’s and relay and new battery and it’s started on the button since . If it’s the original relay there is a newer version available .
Although the cdi engines can start and run without gp’s , they are used when the car is running as well (according to what an Indy told me a few years ago ) , make of that what you will . I’m guessing they run better when everything works as it should ?
Absolutely, I also heard that the plugs run for a time after starting. I intend to get the plugs and relay changed anyway and certainly before winter. I have a record of 4 plugs being changed about 4 years ago by the previous owner but no record of the relay and as you say it has been redesigned.

I like all things on the car to work as intended :)
 
I'd give it a proper charge first just to see how well a decent modern charger can do on it.

I use one of these as an example as it is way more intelligent than chargers of old.

MP7428 8A 12V Electronic Smart Charger - Maypole

Then see how it is.

I use trickle charging for on-going maintenance on my Merc using a 7423 unit and charge Mrs John's and my aux batteries with the 7428 periodically.
Thank you for that, it looks like a good piece of kit. I had a CTEK but it failed quite quickly.

Do you leave the car battery connected in the car when trickle charging with this unit?
 
I was suffering a slower start like you a couple of years ago , I changed the gp’s and relay and new battery and it’s started on the button since . If it’s the original relay there is a newer version available .
Although the cdi engines can start and run without gp’s , they are used when the car is running as well (according to what an Indy told me a few years ago ) , make of that what you will . I’m guessing they run better when everything works as it should ?
Did you order the relay from Autodoc in Germany?

Would you by any chance have the MB part number?
 
Wrighty did you ever have one of the wing mirrors fail to respond to the auto fold function/fold button? Heard its a common problem on the w211?
 
Wrighty did you ever have one of the wing mirrors fail to respond to the auto fold function/fold button? Heard its a common problem on the w211?
The supply wires often break.

There are quite a few of them and to make life easier they are all black!
 
Don't use the autofold. It WILL lead to mirrors failing - can be folding, can be power up/down etc - sooner than they would otherwise. When I got it, my second E500 had problems on both sides; and the wiring was a real rat's nest behind the covers.

Apropos the batteries, I bought a new one from MB for not much more than the online price of that Varta - about £20 or so. I was in a hurry, and they had one in stock.
 
Wrighty did you ever have one of the wing mirrors fail to respond to the auto fold function/fold button? Heard its a common problem on the w211?

I had indicator failures on my W203 (twice), before I disabled the 'fold/unfold with lock/unlock' feature. Repairing the broken wire behind the mirror glass fixed it.
 
Mb-branded Varta batteries are made to MB's spec and you can't buy the exact same model directly from Varta. But this is of academic interest only, because there's nothing wrong with the Varta retail batteries, even if it isn't an 'identical' model.

Personally, I would just buy a genuine MB battery, they seem to last long (I sold my W203 at 11 years old with the original battery still going strong), and it will 100% fit. But this is just personal preference - you won't go wrong with Varta, Bosch, Yuasa (or Halford-branded Yuasa), Exide, etc. And you can even get Duracell-branded car batteries these days....

That said, you might want to invest first in a CTEK (as others suggested), and a basic battery tester, e.g.:

 
Wrighty did you ever have one of the wing mirrors fail to respond to the auto fold function/fold button? Heard its a common problem on the w211?
Mine were both replaced when I bought the car at 2 years old under Tier 1 warranty . I only fold when I have to now
 

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