Hi Tony,
Nice to hear from an O.G. member

As you say, we are still haunted by poor design. I've just shelled out on a replacement battery too. There is still life in it but my intelligent charger says it is only holding 50% charge now. Red Ken has to sit in the long stay carpark at Heathrow next week for a month! With 52 sensors continually monitoring the car, I would expect the battery to be well flat on my return. Later models have a low-drain standby mode but sadly not ours. MB wanted £259 for a replacement Varta so I got a Bosch S5 A11 from Tayna Batteries for £144 delivered (it is identical as it comes off the same production line). Still had to go to my independent dealer to get the new battery registered with the engine management computer. The car increases the charge rate as the battery gets older so it needs to know a new battery is present.
I am now also plagued with notifications telling me Blind Spot Assist and also Lane Departure Assist have stopped working 😭 As the Blind Spot radar sensor controls both these functions and is mounted behind the rear bumper, I suspect the tyres have been throwing crud at it. Hoping the connector is just weathered as the sensor is £400 new and around £100 from breakers on eBay.
Best regards,
Trev.