Air con condenser!

[merkS350]

Hi all, I have a 2012 S350 Bluetec B-FCY L CDI Auto and the air con condenser has a leak. I had an air con bloke come out to me and he checked and found the leak. He told me that it would cost about £400 all in to be repaired but would need to check with his mechanic with regards the condenser price. Fast forward to this evening and the price has gone up somewhat to £700ish. Apparently my car is a special edition? and there is no after market condenser listed and he will have to get an OE part from Mercedes with a price tag of £250ish and should take about 4hrs to complete.
Does this seem about right, what are your thoughts.
All advice gratefully received.
TIA

 

[st13phil]

Can’t comment on the price, but it’s certainly true that after market condensers aren’t available for some models.

 

[DSM10000]

Price seems reasonable, parts, labour, gas (which has increased hugely in price) and VAT.

 

[Ted]

Plus a receiver/drier

 

[MrGreedy]

Sounds like £350 for the condenser (which probably has an integrated drier as standard down one side), and £50-100 for degas, test and regas. You might need some non-reusable seals, some PAG oil and UV dye. Maybe £350 saving at best if you know what you're doing, get the front bumper off and do all this yourself.

Price sounds fair to hand it over and forget.

I've done this job myself on other cars; plan at least twice as long all in if you DIY, noting trips to air con specialist x2 for the gas work.

 

[phobos]

My W221 has the same issue. a leaking condenser and I have ordered a Nissens AC condenser ( part code 940137) + Nissens Dryer ( 95497) all in from Autodoc for less than £130!
Oil is around a £10.
R134a + UV at my locat mechanic is £60.
I am doing my own work and allocated at leat a whole Saturday to this job, which will also involve draining / replacing the coolant at the same time

 

[merkS350]

Thanks for your answers, I'm afraid my days of DIY are now past, good look phobos.
The prices quoted are not much different than has been mentioned, labour £299, service system (gas) £89, and the condenser in the region of £250. I think at the end of the day it's best to let the experts do it I can bring a chair out and watch
I suppose I should also keep them supplied with a few cuppa's
I'm still baffled about the special edition bit though, I cannot find anything about that on the tinternet?? any thoughts?
Thanks all for the answers, much appreciated

 

[Londonscottish]

I'm still baffled about the special edition bit though, I cannot find anything about that on the tinternet?? any thoughts?

Why not stick your reg in GSF/ECP/Autodoc and see if they list one for your car. Only takes a few minutes.

 

[merkS350]

Hi Londonscottish, funnily enough I went on their website last night, I did the search by make and model and registration and they list 12 different condensers, but I'm afraid I haven't got a clue which one is right for my car, as I don't have the correct part number

 

[E55BOF]

With a bit of luck somebody who has WIS might be able to put up the part number. Your car may be some sort of special edition, but I doubt the aircon condenser would be any different to a standard edition.

That said, though, if the price went up by £300 and the OE condenser from MB is £250, either an aftermarket condenser would be free and they'd give you £50 as well, or the rep's initial guesstimate was way too low.

Whereabouts in Berkshire are you? I use Vanchilla near Maidenhead; the owner and main man is an absolute star with aircon, and reasonably priced too.

 

[Petrol Pete]

The sticker with the part number on it is probably still on the condenser , might be tricky to see while still bolted to the car, but might be worth having a look . By your own admission DIY is no longer something you want to do so just pick the right guys for the job and sit back and let them get on with it.

 

[bob6600]

I can pull the part number if required, post or send me your VIN.
Alternatively, give these guys a call, no idea how competitive they may or may not be but have used them in the past for alternators

SAC | Car Air Conditioning Coventry

Startermotor Alternator Centre | Car Air Conditioning | UK Parts Supply, Testing & Fitting Service West Midlands

www.sacweb.co.uk

 

[Benzowner]

Had a new condenser fitted to my old B Class a few moons ago and that cost in the region of your quote and took about 3-4 hours. On my B Class there were only 2 types and even 50/50 I would not guess which one fitted, left it to the professional who fitted it. It's unfortunate the condenser is usually situated where it is prone to damage, but has to be to cooled to work

 

[DSM10000]

Let one person supply the parts and carry out the work.

They way if anything goes wrong you only have the one conversation.

 

[vijilants]

Let one person supply the parts and carry out the work.

They way if anything goes wrong you only have the one conversation.

This is the best approach if you are giving this job out to a garage and good advice.

Theare are condensers and there are condensers. Early last year my previous W204 condenser sprung a leak. Warrantywise insisted that they would only recommend a condenser that cost £80 off a website link and refused to pay any more for the condenser.

My indie refused to fit it as he said that he has had loads of trouble with the cheap condensers re fitment, performance etc and if, aftermarket would only fit the Nissens units which was a more expensive unit.

So, after escalating this issue via Warrantywise management, they finally agreed to pay for the better condenser.

So if you are buying the cheapest unit, beware as what you pay for is what you get.

 

[merkS350]

Hi all, I have told the person to move ahead with the work, The person I am using is part of an actual Air Con company but uses a trusted mechanic (to him) to do the actual replacement work and after reading the answers here I am happy to pay for the OEM condenser and let them carry out the work.
Thanks Bob6600 for the offer but I don't have enough messages to be able to send my vin number over to you and I don't feel comfortable posting it on the forum.

 

[alabbasi]

2012 S350 Bluetec B-FCY L CDI Auto and the air con condenser has a leak. I had an air con bloke come out to me and he checked and found the leak.

Ok so now that the aircon bloke told you that you need a condenser, why don't you contact a few mechanics in your area and shop it around?

 

[merkS350]

Hi alabbasi, it wasn't just a case of he told me he actually showed me where the dark damp patch of doom was, as for shopping around for the work to be done there aren't any mercedes indi's where I live, (that I know of) the company that did the diagnostic for me came recommended to me from a friend who had work done before by them.

 

[Petrol Pete]

Hi all, I have told the person to move ahead with the work, The person I am using is part of an actual Air Con company but uses a trusted mechanic (to him) to do the actual replacement work and after reading the answers here I am happy to pay for the OEM condenser and let them carry out the work.
Thanks Bob6600 for the offer but I don't have enough messages to be able to send my vin number over to you and I don't feel comfortable posting it on the forum.

Don't worry about posting your VIN on the forum, don't forget it's visible to everyone who walks past your car every day , so hardly a secret.

 

[ray_hennig]

Why not stick your reg in GSF/ECP/Autodoc and see if they list one for your car.

Lots of reasons why not. Far, far better to use the MB EPC to find the CORRECT reference for any part. Then use that to cross-reference to aftermarket parts at AutoDoc or wherever.

The generic suppliers cannot be relied upon to identify correct MB numbers, including alternatives.

Honestly.

RayH