1996 C220 Radiator part advise

[KLee]

Guys, I have a leak on my radiator as pictured below - it's at the neck of the level sensor I believe. I'm a newbie to these things. Now my car was orig from UK and the oz mechanic confirmed the radiator is of a diff design to the ones in oz. So I should get a replacement ready in the event my goes kaput. I am in uk now and need to move fast to secure one before I leave back to oz. I will be around for a mth. My model is 1996 C220 2020222F385849. Can someone pls help:

- what exactly should I be getting? and where are the best places online/shop as I am in coventry for the duration in uk
- based on the pic what is it that needs replacing? the whole water tank? so when the mech says get a new radiator what does this mean?

 

[c55]

Try Eurocar parts, nearest one to you is Birmingham:0121 555 000 if no luck there then try KMS Birmingham: 0121 753 6454. Web sites are
www.eurocarparts.com & www.kmsparts.com respectively. You will find the exact same parts as dealers but should save minimum of 50%. However it is always worth a quote from MB! You may be surprised!

 

[KLee]

Thanks I will try and from the web sites can already see relevant parts. Some info on the name of parts would be very helpful. For example - what is the name of the part where that leak is present? What do I get when one says replace the radiator? What is the sensor for header tank? I see one on KMS for GBP99 is this it?

Or at Eurocarparts:

REPLACEMEN n/a 203220380 M/A RADIATOR 202 ACC C180-220 C180 93- C200 94- C220 93-
WITH A/CON £95.00

BHER n/a 203220540 M/A RADIATOR 202 208 210 NOT A/C
WITHOUT A/CON £115.75

If mine has a/con, go with the one above?

 

[c55]

Klee sorry didn’t answer you question fully I thought one of the other members who’s more technical would. I m not t so familiar with the 220 engine however the radiator is the complete black unit in you picture. Looking at the pictures the leak appears to coming from the top of the radiator which incorporates the sender housing. So replacing the radiator replaces everything, I would ask for a send unit also, that’s the bit with the wires coming of it , it may or may not be integrated with the radiator I can’t tell ?

I can’t see the KMS picture so can‘t confirm, even when logging to their website. However if you have air con then you need the radiator with air con. It’s worth your while going to the store if possible and better to go during the week than weekends those guys are very helpful & it would allow you to make a visual inspection of the part rather than via the website. If you were in London I could assist and take you there as both suppliers have local branches

Hope this helps

 

[Dieselman]

The part that is leaking is the header tank but that is probably part of the whole radiator so it looks like you need a complete radiator.

As the car is in OZ why not take tis opportunity to convert it to the same as an OZ spec car. That way there is no compatability issue in future.

 

[nick mercedes]

Guys, I have a leak on my radiator as pictured below - it's at the neck of the level sensor I believe. I'm a newbie to these things.

- what exactly should I be getting? and where are the best places online/shop as I am in coventry for the duration in uk
- based on the pic what is it that needs replacing? the whole water tank? so when the mech says get a new radiator what does this mean?

It's just the standard radiator fitted to early 202 with no factory aircon, you need the whole thing, the tank is part of the radiator. If you get stuck I have a used one (in Coventry as it happens).

Nick

 

[KLee]

Thanks guys I'm hearing it means I need the radiator cooling grill, the tank, and sender unit.

c55, is the KMS london branch the one off the A406 near IKEA? I may have been to them last year - are their parts OEM stuff? One of the biggest problems I have is information. Not enough of it.

- Is the radiator+tank unit confirmed different between UK and Aus models? Why? Are the Aus models diff to compensate for the extreme temperatures there? Can anyone help? Can MB help?
- I know I said the mech said it was diff but I would be happier if someone here also confirmed it.
- Does anyone know where the Aus radiators come from originally?
- Is the conversion from UK to Aus radiator something that definitely can be done with no issues? Anyone? - else this is for my mechanic.
- Newbie question_ How does having a/con affect the type of radiator? Is it because with a.con I have twin fans at the front sucking air to cool it?

Nick, I appreciate your help. My C220 has a./con will your used one be compatible? Whats the condition, mileage and what car did yours come off?

 

[nick mercedes]

Thanks guys I'm hearing it means I need the radiator cooling grill, the tank, and sender unit.

That all comes in one piece.

- Is the radiator+tank unit confirmed different between UK and Aus models? Why? Are the Aus models diff to compensate for the extreme temperatures there? Can anyone help? Can MB help?

The Australian cars all came with factory air con, yours must have been retro fitted with air con at some point, even Mercedes dealers used non MB aircon kits...

- I know I said the mech said it was diff but I would be happier if someone here also confirmed it.
- Does anyone know where the Aus radiators come from originally?

Mercedes, they're the same as the UK rads for cars with factory aircon.

- Is the conversion from UK to Aus radiator something that definitely can be done with no issues? Anyone? - else this is for my mechanic.

You'd need to fit an expansion tank and change all the radiator hoses and transmission lines.

- Newbie question_ How does having a/con affect the type of radiator? Is it because with a.con I have twin fans at the front sucking air to cool it?

Generally a larger radiator is fitted to compensate for the condenser sat in front of it...

Nick, I appreciate your help. My C220 has a./con will your used one be compatible? Whats the condition, mileage and what car did yours come off.

It's the same one as the one fitted to your car, it's in good condition, so I don't imagine it's off a car with many miles.

 

[c55]

Yes that's KMS! located in the Industrial warehouse of the slip road that leads onto the A406 Westbound, incidently the same slip road in the opposite direction takes you to Wembley stadium and Euro car Parts is just behind the stadium. Both stores are 5 minutes apart (by car) so you should be able to complete your order between the two. Both supply OEM & OEM quality parts always check which one your getting.

 

[KLee]

Nick thanks v much especially clarifying Australia vs UK and rightly, my a/con brand is Davia (italian) ie. non MB and not factory added ( !) I like Dieselman's suggestion of converting it to the 'Australian' radiator (which I now know is just a MB factory radiator with a/con support). However the issue I am thinking of (as I am a newbie apologies for dumb questions):

• Is asking to chg radiator to one with factory a/c when my own a/c and connections is not factory MB is asking for trouble? Wouldn't this be too much work/cost and apart from future proofing are they more gains to be had? Does the factory a/c radiator perform significantly better (translating to less strain on the car) than the one with after market a/c?
• Given the car age wouldn't just replacing like for like be the more sensible option?
• I need to learn a bit more about the diffs between the two when installed in the car - is the condensor the grille part that cools the air just like household a/c? If so, which part is doing that function in my current non factory a/c radiator? (Sorree )

Nick, how heavy is this whole radiator all in all?

 

[Will]

Hi KLee,

The condenser is a second 'radiator' type unit that will sit in front of the cooling system's radiator. Will have two connections on it (for the refrigerant to enter/exit the condenser) and will have your electric cooling fans fitted onto the front of it.

Without knowing the specific differences between radiators for A/C models and non A/C models, I can only assume it is to do with the logistics of mounting the condenser onto it (the condenser sits snugly in front of the radiator and slots inside).

Have you had a price/looked at an OZ spec radiator to see how much and if it will fit ok?

Radiator weight, as a total guess, I would say around 10-20Kg?

Good luck

Will

 

[nick mercedes]

Is asking to chg radiator to one with factory a/c when my own a/c and connections is not factory MB is asking for trouble? Wouldn't this be too much work/cost and apart from future proofing are they more gains to be had? Does the factory a/c radiator perform significantly better (translating to less strain on the car) than the one with after market a/c?

The problem is that it's not just a case of swapping the rads, your present rad has a built in expansion tank, air con rads have a seperate expansion tank. Also your transmission lines are different to air con lines as are the rad hoses.

[*]Given the car age wouldn't just replacing like for like be the more sensible option?

That's what I'd do, plenty of cars have Davia air-con (it was fitted by many MB dealers) and have no problems.

[*]I need to learn a bit more about the diffs between the two when installed in the car - is the condensor the grille part that cools the air just like household a/c? If so, which part is doing that function in my current non factory a/c radiator? (Sorree )

The condensor = your ac rad, and it just cools the gas in your ac system.

Nick, how heavy is this whole radiator all in all?

5-6KG at most, they're plastic and aluminum so they don't weigh much.

 

[KLee]

Nick or anyone, could you do me a favour and provide the part number for my radiator. I am so daft, I took lots of pictures of the engine bay but none of them feature the radiator part number - where is it located? As I am in UK, I have to get my other half to find it!! I spoke to MB Park Royal and very nice chap Alan have lots of advise but he could not give out the part number as policy. Even he was umming with the config of orig non a/c radiator fitted with Davia a/c but from VIN he is very sure mine was produced with no a/c. So I need the part number to make confirmed matches to the Euro Cars, KMS out there. Some kind soul found an ebay item for me and the part number will confirm if it is the right one. BTW MB quoted mid hundred for the radiator with a/c and slightly more for the one with NO a/c ...

** Please anyone know the part number or its whereabouts **
** The wife couldn't find it, I scoured the net and found Car Parts Wholesale is this it? ***

 

[grober]

renew hoses!

By the way it appears from your third picture your radiator top hose is shot/ leaking. See the white deposits at the hose end. Best renew both radiator hoses at the same time as rad.

 

[KLee]

By the way it appears from your third picture your radiator top hose is shot/ leaking. See the white deposits at the hose end. Best renew both radiator hoses at the same time as rad.

Are you referring to the part right in the middle of the 3rd picture the one with wire coming out of it - isn't that the coolant level/temp sensor? I know about that - its the topic of this discussion else which one can you elaborate thanks. BTW people see my post just above grober's I think I found the part number at Car Parts Wholesale - am I correct? Is the radiator part number 2025002203?

 

[Dieselman]

He means the hose end where it connects to the thermostat housing, it appears to havev scale creeping out. I'm not convinced, it might just be that the laquer is going yellow so makes the unlaquered bit appear white.

 

[grober]

Dieselmans right. I meant where the top hose joins the thermostat housing. If the hose is on the way out then you should see these white deposits at the radiator end also. The top hose is subject to more thermal stress so is usually the first to go.

 

[KLee]

Thanks, I have attched pic so no ambiguity. This is what you are talking about right and I think dieselman's right from the zoomed pics I don't think its scale - correct me if I'm wrong.

Btw, you guys do realise my situation yeah, I'm sitting here in UK whilst my car is in Sydney and these pics are the only link I have to it as I took a bunch of shots at 5mp I can zoom in and out somewhat around the engine bay. What we do for our cars...

And the latest is having spoken at length to my mech in Sydney about sourcing my radiator at a reasonable price (I'm not able to basically!!) he now reckons perhaps we can get away with it cos the existing leak is only coming from under the cap with the wire sticking out of it. Getting a new one with a newer 'O' ring will stop the leak?? Does this make sense to anyone? Does a new coolant temp/level sensor cap unit come with a new 'O' ring?

 

[KLee]

Well I have bought the part that I thought had the cap - the Coolant Water Level Indicator p/n 0208 522 6200. But when I saw the part it doesn't have anything on it that would stop a leak - nothing rubber on this indicator - its just long black plastic shaped meant to plunge into the radiator water/coolant and twist to lock. So its highly likely the radiator part that receives/holds it that has the leak! Eeck I'm back to square one and must find a radiator!