I have a 2003 E320 (which I love) and I get this warning lite on the dash when I start it and says "Visit Workshop" with a picture of a car battery. Does this mean my battery is dead? The car starts and runs fine but I"m concerned.

Thanks!

 

have a 2003 E320... Is there aftermarket options for the backup battery?

 

Did you ever get help with this question? I am having the same issue....

 

Hi MBTECH INFO. Can you tell me if the SBC Battery failure might trigger the battery indicator light - take to workshop? Or would that message correspond to the main battery? Trying to figure out if I really have a battery issue or if it is related to something else. Thanks!

 

I have a 2002 E320, 160K miles, Great car, never any real problems. I noticed a smell in the car and traced it back to the battery under the rear seat. When I took the seat off, I noticed there was smoke coming from the battery area. Nothing seemed melted, but the metal casing was very hot. I also heard a hissing, as though the battery was leaking. At first thought, it seems as though I could just replace the battery? Is that correct? Or is there something bigger I need to be concerend about. Also, can I just replace the battery as I would in an older car, or is it more complicated being a Mercedes...? Please help!! I really can't afford to take this to the dealer at this point!!

 

Sounds to me like you need to act fast:

Take the backseat out....
Set up a fan or ensure that the wind is REALLY blowing because that Hydrogen Sulfide gas that you "smell" or see as "smoke" is a sign that your battery may blow up if ignited with a spark. You need to get that gas out of there... now.
Once you have great ventilation.... carefully take off the individual battery cell caps.... add distilled water using a funnel (wearing safety goggles!!!) until the water covers the lead cells and comes up to the bottom of the plastic well that you can see on each cell.
That should get you back in business. For some reason it appears that your battery was low on water. When did you last check it?
Concerning aftermarket batteries.... there are scores of posts out there on this subject. My 2 cents... call 1-800-FOR-MERCEDES and a tech will ride out to you and install your new MB battery.... and reprogram all of the things that need reprogramming. It's a small amount of money to spend up front and it saves a great deal of time. Good luck and be safe!!!!

 

yes you do have 2 batteries, unless you have a 2003 wagon bacause the 2003 E class wagon was still a 210 chassis unlike the 2003 Eclass sedan is a 211 chassis.