I just obtained a 2002 E320 4matic. Beautiful car, but it sometimes cranks slowly, then stops, without starting, as if the battery was dead. After several tries it cranks fine, then fires up. Interior lights are bright and don't dim, as I might expect if it was a battery problem, and as I mentioned, this problem is intermittent. No malfunction lights are displayed, so I guess the alternator is charging the battery. Any ideas? Do I need a new battery? Thank you for any information, this is a great resource for us that are new to German engineering.

 

I had a similar problem with my E320 1996 model
But then i looked in manual and it said..once you stop.... take the foot off the brake before you take the key out.
The day i started doing this.. my car never would bother me.
I dunno if still they have these silly computer in the E320..
If not..then I am not of much help...

 

"But then i looked in manual and it said..once you stop.... take the foot off the brake before you take the key out."

Do you have the exact words please? Anybody got ideas why this might be the case?

Stuart

 

"Do I need a new battery?"

Difficult to tell. Possibly not.

First step should be to get the battery checked out at your local battery shop. They need to put a meter across the battery which measure voltage when the battery is under load (simulated START). Only takes a few moments. Once you know the answer to this test then you can start looking for less obvious problems.

If they say it needs a new battery suggest you get a second opion before spending the cash.

Are the connections at the battery clean and corrosion free? Are the clamps tight?

4 years is about the life you should expect from a good original equipment battery.

Stuart.

 

whatever the words were..more or less the same..atleast this was wat they meant...-- before you switch off the engine..put into 'P' mode and take your foot off the brake pedal..then turn it off and take the key out...
Even I could not figure out wat the possible reason cud be...
But it worked fine for me....
Probably some computer thingi..... wild guess !!