M119 500E / 400E battery placement (request picture) - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

omegabenz · #1 07-19-2003, 06:29 PM

I am trying to put an optima battery in my trunk using a 500E 400E setup.

Id like a picture of the battery in the trunk. I am trying to identify the location of the positive terminal to see if I can use a regular post battery or a reverse post battery. Much appreciated.

placo1 · #2 07-20-2003, 03:11 AM

If your looking into the trunk the battery is sitting lengthwise on the passenger side. The terminals are on the right side of the battery. Both terminals are on top and the positive terminal is nearest to the cabin.

omegabenz · #3 07-20-2003, 03:45 AM

If I was to put an aftermarket optima battery would it be better to order
1) a reverse battery to match the mercedes configuration that you have in your car?

or

2) order the standard battery which would have the terminals near the center of the car next to the rear frame rail/ spare tire holder area?

placo1 · #4 07-20-2003, 03:04 PM

I think it really depends where the wires are being pulled from, can you take a pic of your well?

Here's a shot of what setup in the 500.

DuckMuck · #5 07-20-2003, 04:55 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by placo1
I think it really depends where the wires are being pulled from, can you take a pic of your well?

Here's a shot of what setup in the 500.

From your pix, it seems the battery setup for the '92 500E is much nicer than the one in the '95 E420...especially that battery cover...

placo1 · #6 07-21-2003, 01:03 AM

Duck or anyone else, can you post a pic of your E420 battery well?

DuckMuck · #7 07-21-2003, 02:28 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by placo1
Duck or anyone else, can you post a pic of your E420 battery well?

This is a picture of the battery from my 1995 E420...

placo1 · #8 07-21-2003, 11:27 AM

Duck,

Thanks for posting that. Do you have a one piece cover, and was that strap already installed or aftermarket.

Omega hopefully these two pics can provide you with some good ideas to create your own setup. By the looks of it I would go with the top mount reverse setup so the positive terminal is top right. I think the most important reason for this is to prevent any of the postive wires from making contact with the frame.

DuckMuck · #9 07-21-2003, 01:16 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by placo1
Duck,

Thanks for posting that. Do you have a one piece cover, and was that strap already installed or aftermarket.

Omega hopefully these two pics can provide you with some good ideas to create your own setup. By the looks of it I would go with the top mount reverse setup so the positive terminal is top right. I think the most important reason for this is to prevent any of the postive wires from making contact with the frame.

The strap is original on the car...there are two metal buckles on either end. The cover is one piece, and is of the same material as the rest of the trunk liner...it afixes via the velcro you see in the top of the photo I posted...is the one in your '92 500E a flip cover with hinges?

placo1 · #10 07-21-2003, 03:07 PM

Duck,

The cover on the battery is a black press/particle board painted and has hinges on either end. From the picture you can see it also has a rubber padding. The 500's rear mats are one piece as well and the only opening is on the drivers side where the phone is mounted.

After looking at your pics I think I need to buy new clamps, mine don't look that perfect

, but first I need to find the red factory paint that's used to mark the bolts/clamps.

ke6dcj · #11 07-23-2003, 07:20 PM

I don't believe there is enough slack on the positive cable to reach a regular "red top" Optima's positive terminal.

You will need to order a "reversed" "red top" Optima. They use to be called "orange tops", but Optima dropped the classification.

:-) neil
1988 360TE AMG
1993 500E

omegabenz · #12 07-23-2003, 10:08 PM

Neil, I ordered a reversed top battery today. It should be here in a few days. Thanks for the help everyone. I appreciate it. However, did you know if you take a 500E rear bumper off, and then a 300e rear bumper and put them next to each other, the 500E trunk goes down toward the ground more to clear for the battery and the big SL wheel in the trunk. I will make mine look as close as I can to the 500E trunk without cutting.

Thanks,