$520 battery??

AudiDudi · 03-10-2020, 04:56 PM

Dropped off the MH at the Mercedes dealer for the passenger airbag recall and to get a front end alignment. The chassis battery is over 4 yrs old, sat on the dealers lot for over a year and will only charge to about 12.49v. After sitting for a week, it was down to 12.18v.

I asked how much to put in a new battery as long as it was there. The quote was $520 + tax. That ain't gonna happen.

How many have changed out the battery in their Sprinters? Any challenges?

TitanMike · 03-10-2020, 05:06 PM

Just remember that around $120 of that quote and possibly more is just for the shop labor to take out and replace. If the battery is a larger AGM, it may be pretty much a standard price for just the battery alone.

Dealership labor rates are high. Some might say outrageously high.

AudiDudi · 03-10-2020, 05:10 PM

I should have asked how much just for the battery, but didn't.

An H8, AGM battery is pretty easy to find under $200. (outside of MBS dealerships)

TitanMike · 03-10-2020, 05:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AudiDudi

I should have asked how much just for the battery, but didn't.

An H8, AGM battery is pretty easy to find under $200. (outside of MBS dealerships)

Dealership markups can be 100%, especially if sourced through their regular system and not from local distributors.

Mikegjax · 03-11-2020, 07:30 AM

Replaced mine with AGM battery 2 months back. Easy! Battery was $194.00 . Changed it myself. Battery must be same size as original for hold downs to work.

Quote:

Originally Posted by AudiDudi

Dropped off the MH at the Mercedes dealer for the passenger airbag recall and to get a front end alignment. The chassis battery is over 4 yrs old, sat on the dealers lot for over a year and will only charge to about 12.49v. After sitting for a week, it was down to 12.18v.

I asked how much to put in a new battery as long as it was there. The quote was $520 + tax. That ain't gonna happen.

How many have changed out the battery in their Sprinters? Any challenges?

AudiDudi · 03-11-2020, 09:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mikegjax

Replaced mine with AGM battery 2 months back. Easy! Battery was $194.00 . Changed it myself. Battery must be same size as original for hold downs to work.

Good to know, Mike! Thanks. Where did you buy it and which battery did you buy?

Mikegjax · 03-11-2020, 11:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AudiDudi

Good to know, Mike! Thanks. Where did you buy it and which battery did you buy?

Bought mine at Advance Auto. Got their Platinum series made for
Florida that have a little thicker plates, because of the heat. 3 year warranty.

Took mine in to match the size. A battery shop tried to sell me a slightly shorter one, but there are only one set of hold-down holes, so it must be the correct length.

BTW, I do my own fuel filter changes as well. Can't see paying MB as much as they won't for a simple job. I get the filters on line for almost a third of the price. This link is for the five pin filter.

https://www.dieselfiltersonline.com/...d-wk820-6.html

AudiDudi · 03-11-2020, 12:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mikegjax

Bought mine at Advance Auto. Got their Platinum series made for
Florida that have a little thicker plates, because of the heat. 3 year warranty.

Took mine in to match the size. A battery shop tried to sell me a slightly shorter one, but there are only one set of hold-down holes, so it must be the correct length.

BTW, I do my own fuel filter changes as well. Can't see paying MB as much as they won't for a simple job. I get the filters on line for almost a third of the price. This link is for the five pin filter.

https://www.dieselfiltersonline.com/...d-wk820-6.html

Thanks!! With 18k miles, I haven't chagned the fuel filter yet. Did the A service a little early and will likely do the B at around 25k. I changed the oil at 5500 and again at 14,500. Easy to do.

woo10-210 · 03-11-2020, 02:58 PM

Pep Boys has both Bosch and Champion H8 AGM batteries on sale for under $150. They're normally around $195.
You'll need to order it online and pick it up in the store to get the discount. On top of that, both have an additional $40 in rebates through 3/28. Can't beat that!

Desertsquid · 03-11-2020, 03:05 PM

We took our rig to our local Autozone. They tested the battery. It was bad. New one was $159 plus tax. Best thing about it is they removed the old one and installed the new one foe nothing. Its a tight fit and a heavy battery. You have little room to work. 3 year warranty. Cant complain.

Mikegjax · 03-11-2020, 03:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by woo10-210

Pep Boys has both Bosch and Champion H8 AGM batteries on sale for under $150. They're normally around $195.
You'll need to order it online and pick it up in the store to get the discount. On top of that, both have an additional $40 in rebates through 3/28. Can't beat that!

That's a good deal on either battery. Champion has the higher CCA.

Rich.M · 03-22-2020, 10:15 AM

Just replaced my 6 year old battery this week. No trouble starting yet but wouldn’t hold a charge above 12.3. Battery was a wet cell varta not agm. Could see the fluid levels thru case. Still high , no boil off, even level in all cells. Replaced with an interstate H8 agm from Costco for $177. Wet cell was less but don’t recall price. Charges to 12.8 now. Heavy to lift. Have a long extension ready to reach the retaining bolts on the hold down otherwise no problems. Still haven’t decided if we will be able to take our southwest trip at the last week of May into June.

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