Battery Tray Dimensions
This is a request from members' who would be willing to measure up their battery tray dimensions, in particular the Length and Width only, please.
In providing the dimensions, would you please, mention the model type. I would like the dimensions off W460's - petrol and diesel, W461's and the same for W463's - upto the 300 series; the G500's need not reply.
Your efforts would be gratefully received, Thanking you in advance.
I assume, it is understood if a member has provided dimensions of one chassis type, it need not be repeated by another of the same spec., so do keep an eye on who has provided, what, before you go to the trouble.
Cheers,
460 petrol - 300mm square. (Ignoring the bracket to grip the front of the battery base)
463 300GE, 1991, 30x30cm also.
Here's a Pic of a 460 tray. Not too interesting ;J
240GD, 24 volt , 46cm x 32cm
Thank you all of you, who contributed.
Cheers,
1988 300GDS Max size you could get into tray = 275x275 (x210 high) mm
..and my notes on battery fitment; seems to conflict with other's 300x300mm and size of the "brick battery" below.. must have been measuring taking into account clamps fitted to tray and how they reduce the size;
1988 300GD owners book lists 88Ah battery. Motor factors list replacement as 125Ah large square brick (286x269x210mm 230OAH). This is made by Bosch? (£200 inc Vat 2006) Exide (£168 inc Vat 2006), Varta HGV Commercial 625-023-000-3100 (£147+Vat 2006) The Varta one has terminals at opposite corners which is no doubt right.
All other Mercs except ML270 (100AH) have less than 88AH eg E300TD at 72AH.
Smaller G have 66Ah batteries.
Really 125Ah is overkill unless you are winching or running fridges! 66Ah is enough and only about £70 for Bosch or £45 for cheap generic battery.
My 300D was fitted with 66Ah Bosch = 566 101 064 now replaced by 575 121 072. This is a generic “096” UK battery dims of 278x175x175mm. This has positive on right when terminals are to front of car and you are standing in front of car. It fits and works.. battery clamp could be better but works.
Brick battery is used in NATO vehicles and is a DIN 6TN
Thank you very much for a comprehensive reply, much to what I was building up on; the reason being, checking and cross checking a Battery for a W463 - 300GD and considering winter performance on a vehicle rarely used; most suppliers measurements for a 100Ah battery, the length quoted on that spec. of battery is around 325 mm or plus.
Given this size, I persumed it was correct, until, on my advice, a club member bought the battery only to find it was too large. He sorted the matter with the supplier for a lesser rated battery.
Learnig this, I have been in touch M/Benz customer services regarding the dimensions of thier own batteries, the average 60 - 70 Ah batteries and including the 100 and 125 Ah battery as per thier own part numbers, I have not had a reply as to the dimensions as yet, but I am eager to learn their dimensions. I have also noticed they quoted the same part number for a 100 Ah battery and for a 125 Ah battery. I am looking forward to their explaination of this, obviously they could have made an error, if so, I'll laugh my head off latter.
I, much appreciate your in depth reply, Thank you, again.
Regards,
Rakesh
There's a big difference between lhd and rhd in battery trays under the bonnet. LHD trays are over 14"long so can easily handle 125ah batteries. However, the rhd tray can accomodate the 12" sq battery 6TN is bigger yet again. But in normal range only the 096 type
Thank you Roly.
I was surprised how small the battery was for my G wagon, I bought one from MB direct, they are about the cheapest about! It was a good 4” shorter than the one I bought for my ML!
The terrible thing about the G is one of the bonnet drain holes is right above the battery which has caused water to leak down from the hole onto the top of the battery, which I can only guess has mixed with dried or spilt acid and ran down onto the battery tray. The result is that is has corroded right through the battery tray, bulk head and inner wing. This in turn has caused a water leak at the foot well right at the fuse box!
This has to be a design flaw, its has been a right nightmare to repair, the bulk head and inner wing had to be cut out and plated, then a new battery tray manufactured! Luckily no water had damaged the electrics as I caught this in time.
Does anyone know if the new G’s have a cover over the battery to stop this contaminated water running onto the metal work? I want to get something to put over it and would like a MB part, if worst comes to the worst I will knock something up myself! But I would seriously recommend anyone with a g like mine to have a look at the back drain hole to make sure it is covered, it looks like there is a sticky cover that goes over there and mines fell off. I have renewed it with a cut out duck tape circle that looks very like the original part, and to fit a cover on top of the battery!
Hi Johnnytheboy (sorry about my previously incorrect address!),
The battery trays on both of my Gs (1998 and 1999 respectively - both LHD by the way) are in the left hand rear wheelarch (as I stand looking through the rear door). It isn't an ideal spot as there isn't much room but having read your post, suppose that this is the solution MB found to counter your issues. Fitting double battery systems is impossible in this space: other methods must be adopted - see my other posts.
Rakesh, just for the record: the biggest battery I could fit in either (G300TD or G500) is the Odessey 1500 which measures W 275.6mm x D 171.7mm x H 198.6mm and it is a tight fit. It is rated at 68Ah/1500 CCA and does the job. Although I don't have any issues starting in the mornings any more, I have found that the 300TD doesn't like a nearly-flat battery (the electrics go haywire - I have had EXACTLY the same problem on my 1999 300TD station wagon run-about: I have found the only solution is to fit the biggest battery that I could find for the space available). The 500 on the other hand has no issues/low-voltage-glitches at all on nearly-flat batteries - starts up instantly every time and no funny warning lights on the dash.
Incidently, I must add here that once the 300 TD (G- or E-class !) has started on a poorly battery (and it ALWAYS does) and been run for about 10-15 miles, all that is required is to pull over, shut off the engine and restart. After that all is perfectly well again. I have enquired about this with other G- and E- class 300TD owners and it seems to be a quirk of the vehicles. Ultimately however, the electrics are very robust and very rarely give problems (even when immersed!). Personally, I think MB perhaps sailed too closely to the wind on the battery reserve requirements that they thought were needed for these cars' electrical systems. Since changing my MB-spec battery for the higher-spec Odessey I have never had these low-voltage glitches again (especially if the car had been standing for a few weeks). Therefore, I'm afraid I must admit that I am firmly in the fitting-the-largest-battery-you-can school and ignore what the manufacturers said because they never spec'd the cars when they were over 10 years old. Things simply change with time and you can't go wrong with having a stronger battery.
Ph
Ah! makes sense its in the boot of every other merc! I think I’ll cruise the breakers and see if there is a merc part I can borrow and adapt, either that or it will end up with a tuperware tub turned upside down and painted black with a mb badge on it :-D Since its under the bonnet, I’m going to get the insulation jacket of a VW battery and stick that in there as well just for a bit cold weather protection!
I not worked on many LHD G-Wagens and my memory is straining on this point, but in general terms (my opinion only) I thought that the water drainage on the G-Wagens were well designed in, so far that the drainage were situated at either end of the drain channel runing under the bonnet edge.
I am wondering if some one has made a drilling of their own, known only to them?
If this is the case, seal the hole with some silicone sealant; this should address your issue immediately, otherwise, the concept of adapting the battery cover is a viable alternative.
To Phileas,
Thank you for your contribution to this topic.
Happy New year,
I'm fairly certain that there is no battery cover for the G, other than the positive terminal cover. I put tape over the bonnet drain hole too, I think there was a similar thing over them as standard. There are several holes and I covered them all.
The battery was moved to the rear area due to lack of space under the bonnet
Johnytheboy.
If you do decide to fit the battery in the rear a useful addition to your under-bonnet-area would be the standard positive output terminal block that MB fitted in mine (G- and E- class) on the front bulkhead. It is linked directly to the battery so that you can either jump-start someone else or your own. Maybe you could fit a large marine terminal block where your battery presently is and then run your cables along the chassis to the rear wheel arch. That way you'll still have "access" to your 'battery' (like the landy, where the battery is under your seat, if you need to attach jump leads it is a lot easier to have an easy under-the-bonnet point for 'battery access': if you're packed up to the gills in the back it is a pain to remove everything to get to the battery).
Good luck,
Phileas
I think I’ll keep the battery where it is, we have put allot of effort into rebuilding the bulkhead and battery tray, its looking quite good now, plus its lasted 20 odd years so far, maybe this new part will do the same! I did notice when i was passing a Vauxhall it had a insulation that completely covered the battery including the top, so this might be a more professional looking finish. Off to the breakers I go!!
The hole that is in the bonnet is a factory hole, it should have a wee bit tape over it but this one has either not been fitted or has fell off causing the fault, its now duck taped!!
I put the car outside in the carpark just to check if any rain water got in, only to find out there is a leak into the driver side footwell that’s being worked on just now!! Along with some paint to the rear 1/4s and body colouring the rear bumper and arch mouldings!!
I think I’ll keep the battery where it is, we have put allot of effort into rebuilding the bulkhead and battery tray, its looking quite good now, plus its lasted 20 odd years so far, maybe this new part will do the same! I did notice when i was passing a Vauxhall it had a insulation that completely covered the battery including the top, so this might be a more professional looking finish. Off to the breakers I go!!
The hole that is in the bonnet is a factory hole, it should have a wee bit tape over it but this one has either not been fitted or has fell off causing the fault, its now duck taped!!
I put the car outside in the carpark just to check if any rain water got in, only to find out there is a leak into the driver side footwell that’s being worked on just now!! Along with some paint to the rear 1/4s and body colouring the rear bumper and arch mouldings!!
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Thank you, very much, Chris.
Regards,