Correct battery for 1969 280SL

[TBaker]

What options do I have for the correct battery for my 280SL, using the OEM battery holder?  My mechanic recently installed a new Champion battery but the posts are lower than the surface of the battery and my battery top holder will not fit this battery.  Can I just use any 12 volt battery, such as Interstate, which has the compatible battery posts?

[Mpfalkowski]

I was fortunate to purchase a Mercedes Benz one from the local dealer; fit and looks nice.

[TJMart]

It's best to measure the bracket and the base tray and height if you are using a non Mercedes battery. I just bought the Mercedes battery as well and it fits perfectly.

[mdsalemi]

I do have a Mercedes-Benz correct battery, but it is some years old now and I don't use it except for shows.

My daily battery is a DieHard Group 34R (R=reverse polarity on posts to match our cables) Gold AGM; that's a sealed gel battery. The OEM top bracket and holder work fine.

[mrfatboy]

You can get a Pep boys Bosch battery that fits well.  $100-$120 depending if it's on sale.

[Bonnyboy]

Be careful to make sure the battery you get will actually fit.

I was getting ready for a rally the next day and decided that my current battery just wasn't holding a charge and I didn't want to be stranded so I called my battery place a big bridge and couple municipalities away and he said they had it.  He answered yes pretty quick but I put that down to "knowing his stuff". 

Once I got there just before closing the parts guy said that they didn't have the exact replacement for mine but they "had the correct battery for my car".  He made a comment that I should have had the correct one all along.   I compared and they looked very similar.

I bought it, took it home and getting ready for the rally the next day I realized the new battery didn't fit as it had these angular tiedown ledges along the bottom that wouldn't fit in the tray.  So I had to grind off those angular ledges  to get it to fit.  I would have taken it back but it was sunday morning 1 hour before the rally that I discovered the issue and I really wanted to go play with my car.   I figured it was worth the inconvenience to go on a rally with my daughter as copilot. 

So just make sure it fits and mine was a bit of a pig to fit in the hole needing to be tipped over where acid leaked out a bit.  So be careful. 

I can't remember the one that fit but I think it was noted to fit a later sedan as well.
   

[mrfatboy]

The pep boys battery fits fine.  Take off the new Bosch decal and use the vintage one available in the members section of this forum.

The new version of the battery has no caps and is solid black on top.

[john.mancini]

If you live in the U.S., there are antique battery companies out there that make reproduction batteries for many cars of the 50's and 60's, including all U.S. auto manufactures and some European. Unfortunately, MB has not given these companies the permission to use the MB name. Same with Bosch and Varta. They do however make Lucas batteries in the correct size and appearance. These are sealed batteries that have basically the same dimensions as the original batteries found in the 113's. They look identical to the old tar top batteries, series 24.

[JamesL]

Battery dimensions are in the tech manual

[john.mancini]

Yes, the original battery was 10 1/4" X 6 13/16" X 8 3/4" ( 260mm X 180mm X 222mm)

The Lucas reproduction series 24 Tar Top batteries are 10 1/4" X 6 3/4" X 9". Nearly a perfect fit and period correct in appearance.

[lowpad]

So what is the source of the Lucas tar-top battery?

[john.mancini]

antiqueautobattery.com       They are located in Youngstown, Ohio. I have purchased many reproduction batteries from them over the years for collectible 1960's Corvettes and Mustangs. Their batteries are excellent reproductions and pack plenty of power. Maintenance free. 

[marshall]

Could you let me know the exact numbers for this battery? Group number, etc.  thanks

[marshall]

Please let me know the Group number, etc. for this battery so it will fit well in my '71 280SL. Got a new hold down frame and it doesn't fit with the Bosch battery currently in the car.
thanks from suburban Philadelphia!

[WRe]

Hi,
the original black Bosch battery had the part no. F 026 T02 311 and size  260 x 173 x 225 mm: http://www.bosch-classic.com/en/internet/bosch_classic/produkte/serviceteile/batterie_1/batterie___mit_teaser_1.html.
...WRe