I have a 2014 SL 550... and can confirm, no need to cut the plastic tabs. On the front, lower passenger side, there is an interior trim piece. If you bend it 90 degrees, it will not break and will allow you to lift the passenger side of the cover and slide out away from center console. Not a cake walk, but no need to cut/break parts off. After that, pretty straight forward. Godspeed.
I have th 2016 SL and yes, i was able to bend the lower passenger side tab forward as well. I did also cut off front right tab along top for ease of removal and insertion. I left the rear tab on by raising front of cover up and simply pushing down on the rear. I definitely agree to changing title to 2014 and newer.
My husband loved your video. We have a 2014 model SL550 and the battery is the same. He hated those tabs, especially the vertical one going down behind the battery. Too late he found your video after removing the battery. Suggest you rename the video as 2014 model and newer it will be easier to find for all who need it. Thanks again
Agree, you DO NOT need to snip any plastic to remove the cover. Just remove the rear center armrest/cupholder (easy to do) and that makes enough room to pull the cover out. There is a video on how to remove this on RUclips by a guy named NorseVikiing. Just search center console Mercedes SL and it should pop up. Another note on the battery, make sure you get a battery that has the correct type/placement of the terminals. I bought a Super Start replacement battery from O'Reilly and the terminals didn't line up so the little pivoting cover would not close over the battery. Off to the MB dealer to get an original, at least it was only $10 more. Hope that helps!
Mike, I tried pushing the tabs as Fading Theory suggests; and it didn't work for me on our 2018 SL550 so I used your approach with the tin snips, ... and THANKS!! Your vid is excellent; I'd have never gotten that *^!!% cover off if I hadn't watched it. The dealer quoted me $230 labor to change the aux battery; my wife & I did it in less than 30 minutes - your way and with your help. With those 7 long bolts it's on very securely; without the tabs. BTW, we bought the MB battery ($176 + tax) because the dealer repeatedly claimed the factory MB battery is lithium ion. It's not; it's a AGM acid-filled battery. So, the ones from Autozone, ebay, etc for $50-75 less are the same.
Just fyi, the 2013-2016 SL’s are the same (all R231’s). The battery is BCI group size 400, also referred to as Aux14. Most auto parts stores have a compatible battery (same aize and specs), although they may not show it fitting an SL.
I can confirm that you DO NOT need to snip any plastic tabs to remove this cover. The tabs on the right can be pushed in (away from you) towards the center console allowing you to pull the cover free, after doing similar to the other side. I am replacing my aux battery as I type this and then doing the main battery in the trunk. I went all the way to Home Depot to buy snips. When I returned home I looked at the cover closely and saw that it can be removed without cutting. If YT allowed pics I would post. Once again to any R231 owners do not cut anything. Look carefully and you will see you do not have to do that. It literally just pulled free. You think Mercedes would cut that each time and keep putting on a new cover? Do not cut those tabs!
Thanks for the info. It would be great to see a video of how to do that. I fought with those suckers forever! The clippers seemed like the easiest option after 20 minutes of frustration.
@@mikeh7256 Yeah, I wish YT allowed pic posting. I completed both battery swaps at the time I originally posted earlier today. They both took about the same amount of time. 10 minutes. I would have completed the Aux battery faster, but it took me a few minutes to figure out how that big cover pops off.
Very helpful! I have a 2019 450 SL. Do have suggestion for best way to do a battery tender for storage over the winter? Is there a central point to trickle charge to maintain both batteries?
The best you can do is connect a trickle charger to the jumper points under the hood. This will maintain the main battery only. There are sources on youtube that show you how to hook up a pigtail the auxiliary battery through the trunk if you want to go to the trouble. Putting a trickle on the main has worked for me for 5 years, and I'm still on an original 2016 main battery. Had to replace the auxiliary this year. On a previous vehicle (2006 E series) the auxiliary went after about 5 years. Original main battery was still good when I traded it in in 2014, and that was after sitting in winters in North Dakota and summers in AZ. Wish they still made them like that. PS: I found I was able to avoid cutting the third tab as shown in the video by wiggling it around for 15 or so minutes. Went back in easily. Had to cut the first two.
There's really no central point to get both batteries at once. The best idea is a pigtail as suggested - to the trunk or even in the rear interior where you can tuck it in.
No. You only lose a few items, but they are big time convenience items that are just irritating. There's another comment below that talks about hooking up a pigtail to the backup battery, but that would also require a second trickle charger.
My 2009 SL550 has it in the trunk. Car has 17k miles. Has the AMG package. I start my car everyday for 30min then roll it back in the garage. It's the OEM battery. Thinking of buying trickle charger as well (C-Tech???).
Хобби
I have a 2014 SL 550... and can confirm, no need to cut the plastic tabs. On the front, lower passenger side, there is an interior trim piece. If you bend it 90 degrees, it will not break and will allow you to lift the passenger side of the cover and slide out away from center console. Not a cake walk, but no need to cut/break parts off. After that, pretty straight forward. Godspeed.
I have th 2016 SL and yes, i was able to bend the lower passenger side tab forward as well. I did also cut off front right tab along top for ease of removal and insertion. I left the rear tab on by raising front of cover up and simply pushing down on the rear. I definitely agree to changing title to 2014 and newer.
My husband loved your video. We have a 2014 model SL550 and the battery is the same. He hated those tabs, especially the vertical one going down behind the battery. Too late he found your video after removing the battery. Suggest you rename the video as 2014 model and newer it will be easier to find for all who need it. Thanks again
Thanks for sharing. I have a 2017 SL450 as well and knew Mercedes was pretty proud of their batteries. Ridiculous!
Agree, you DO NOT need to snip any plastic to remove the cover. Just remove the rear center armrest/cupholder (easy to do) and that makes enough room to pull the cover out. There is a video on how to remove this on RUclips by a guy named NorseVikiing. Just search center console Mercedes SL and it should pop up. Another note on the battery, make sure you get a battery that has the correct type/placement of the terminals. I bought a Super Start replacement battery from O'Reilly and the terminals didn't line up so the little pivoting cover would not close over the battery. Off to the MB dealer to get an original, at least it was only $10 more. Hope that helps!
Thanks, for impute on removal of battery, my 2013 sl65 just died.
Your car looks FANTASTIC! 🇬🇧❤️
Mike, I tried pushing the tabs as Fading Theory suggests; and it didn't work for me on our 2018 SL550 so I used your approach with the tin snips, ... and THANKS!! Your vid is excellent; I'd have never gotten that *^!!% cover off if I hadn't watched it. The dealer quoted me $230 labor to change the aux battery; my wife & I did it in less than 30 minutes - your way and with your help. With those 7 long bolts it's on very securely; without the tabs. BTW, we bought the MB battery ($176 + tax) because the dealer repeatedly claimed the factory MB battery is lithium ion. It's not; it's a AGM acid-filled battery. So, the ones from Autozone, ebay, etc for $50-75 less are the same.
Good to know and I'm glad the tips helped! Classic example of over engineering
Thanks a lot it’s been great help. 🙏
Very helpful thank you
Excellent tutorial
Thanks for the hints!!!
This is a good instructional video. Not many out here on the SL models (of which I have two). The background music is distracting.
Just fyi, the 2013-2016 SL’s are the same (all R231’s). The battery is BCI group size 400, also referred to as Aux14. Most auto parts stores have a compatible battery (same aize and specs), although they may not show it fitting an SL.
Bonjour, merci!
I can confirm that you DO NOT need to snip any plastic tabs to remove this cover. The tabs on the right can be pushed in (away from you) towards the center console allowing you to pull the cover free, after doing similar to the other side. I am replacing my aux battery as I type this and then doing the main battery in the trunk. I went all the way to Home Depot to buy snips. When I returned home I looked at the cover closely and saw that it can be removed without cutting. If YT allowed pics I would post. Once again to any R231 owners do not cut anything. Look carefully and you will see you do not have to do that. It literally just pulled free. You think Mercedes would cut that each time and keep putting on a new cover? Do not cut those tabs!
Thanks for the info. It would be great to see a video of how to do that. I fought with those suckers forever! The clippers seemed like the easiest option after 20 minutes of frustration.
@@mikeh7256 Yeah, I wish YT allowed pic posting. I completed both battery swaps at the time I originally posted earlier today. They both took about the same amount of time. 10 minutes. I would have completed the Aux battery faster, but it took me a few minutes to figure out how that big cover pops off.
Do you know where to find it of an McLaren SLR from 2008? Thanks!
Very helpful! I have a 2019 450 SL. Do have suggestion for best way to do a battery tender for storage over the winter? Is there a central point to trickle charge to maintain both batteries?
The best you can do is connect a trickle charger to the jumper points under the hood. This will maintain the main battery only. There are sources on youtube that show you how to hook up a pigtail the auxiliary battery through the trunk if you want to go to the trouble. Putting a trickle on the main has worked for me for 5 years, and I'm still on an original 2016 main battery. Had to replace the auxiliary this year. On a previous vehicle (2006 E series) the auxiliary went after about 5 years. Original main battery was still good when I traded it in in 2014, and that was after sitting in winters in North Dakota and summers in AZ. Wish they still made them like that.
PS: I found I was able to avoid cutting the third tab as shown in the video by wiggling it around for 15 or so minutes. Went back in easily. Had to cut the first two.
There's really no central point to get both batteries at once. The best idea is a pigtail as suggested - to the trunk or even in the rear interior where you can tuck it in.
Helpful thanks. Did you need to connect back-up power when the battery was out? (so not to lose all settings etc).
No. You only lose a few items, but they are big time convenience items that are just irritating. There's another comment below that talks about hooking up a pigtail to the backup battery, but that would also require a second trickle charger.
My 2009 SL550 has it in the trunk. Car has 17k miles. Has the AMG package. I start my car everyday for 30min then roll it back in the garage. It's the OEM battery.
Thinking of buying trickle charger as well (C-Tech???).
CTEK is the way to go. They are actually included with some exotics as standard equipment.
You have an aux battery under the hood of your 2009 SL
@@Imran-Ahmed-786 - my car has 2 batteries--->the starter battery under the hood and the auxiliary battery in the trunk.
Great video, anyone have any idea if this is the same for a SLC300 roadster? thanks
Not that I know of
Same location and process for removing and reinstalling aux battery in all 2013 to 2016 Mercedes SL series
bei ebay ca. 40 Euro sogar als AGM Batterie 12v 12Ah
So you broke a 100K car for a DIY battery replacement just to save $150.00?
So I can change it out in 10 minutes next time? And the time after that? Yep! Lol