[W126 Coupe] Battery for 560

[Day . Ralph]

I am not familiar with the brands downunder, but I replaced mine with an Interstate battery about eight years ago.  I live in a climate with extremes, e.g. very warm to cold, and the battery hasn't failed yet.  I don't know if Interstate batteries are available in Oz.

Ralph D. Day
Senior Program Manager/ASQ LSS Certified Black Belt
MDA Master Black Belt
Dynamics Research Corporation
(301) 275-9030 (cell)

From: mbcoupes-bounces at mbcoupes.com [mailto:mbcoupes-bounces at mbcoupes.com] On Behalf Of Robert Karl Stonjek
Sent: Tuesday, May 03, 2011 2:05 AM
To: MB Coupes
Subject: [W126 Coupe] Battery for 560

What's the best battery for a 560SEC (euro, higher compression)?

The last two batteries in my car do not appear to have been adequate, the original (on purchase) being Bosch BDIW65I with CCA of 550 and RC of 105.  That battery was hopeless.

I had it replaced with a Century DIN 85L with CCA of 600 and RC of 135.  This is a bigger battery but it only lasted 5 years and is now gone, but it never really cranked the motor over fast enough in my opinion.

The owner's manual suggests a 91A/h battery.

Online battery selectors suggest DIN 88 or DIN 100.  The battery should be no more than 350*175mm by my measurement.  It could be taller than 175 (current battery height), but no more than around 200mm.

Batteries I've seen online include the Federal 649MF (900CCA, 100A/h, DIN95) but they are hard to get and expensive in Oz.

The Dekor 58515 (DIN88L) looks good (CCA 750, RC 165) but it is expensive ($70 more than the battery I last purchased plus I have to pay freight of $50 to get down to where I live ie it is not available locally).  This is a 'maintenance free' battery.

The main physical difference between DIN88 and DIN100 is 19 verses 21 plate construction (outside dimensions can be the same depending on manufacturer).

It looks like DIN100 is the best option, but what brand and where can you get them from (in Oz).  I suppose the low compression cars (9:1) don't have so much of a problem with cold cranking (CCA) as the higher compression (10:1) euro version.

And another problem you probably don't have ~ hitting kangaroos.  I hit one at 140kph a few days ago.  It hit on the lower right hand (driver's) side bending the bumper bar and destroying the fog lamp but doing no other significant damage.  The roo was killed outright and was in very messy condition.  Had I been going slower it would have had time to put in another hop and would have been caught right in the middle of my grill, probably leaving the car undrivable and very expensively damaged.

Not quite sure how I'm going to straighten the bumper (is bent downward, maybe a couple of cm ie an inch).

Robert
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