How long should a radiator last?

[IanT]

How long should a radiator last?

I spent much of the day cleaning and polishing the W210 earlier, then drove 7 miles to my lock up garage to pick up some wiring looms for a project. It was dark and I left the sidelights on as I got out, but noticed a small wisp of steam through the (freshly polished) grille.

On closer inspection, the near side of the radiator is leaking badly, as when I squeeze the coolant pipe at the top on that side I can feel very little water in it and hear air being sucked in through the rad as I release.

I immediately checked the dash gauge but it showed just over 80 degrees, which is normal, so I am hoping that there's no harm done to the engine. Fortunately the Merc fits in the garage so I topped up the water and left it there.

Tomorrow (or Monday) I will ring Mobilo and get them to come and take it away, but I have a couple of questions:

1) How long should the radiator last? The leak is at the ends of the coolant channels where they join the end cap on the near side, it's apparent that several are leaking. I'm used to radiators lasting for 6 years plus, come to think of it, I haven't replaced one for over 8 years.

2) How much do they cost to replace at M-B?

3) Does anyone reckon that there will be any reasonable percentage of goodwill payment offered by M-B towards the repair costs, and how can I improve the chances of that happening?

For background info, the car is an E220 CDI and was 3 years old on the 1st March. The mileage is 163k, but otherwise it's very tidy.

Thanks, Ian.

 

[silverarrow]

try rad weld first have you had the coolant changed if not then you have not serviced the car to the standard mbz want i would be surprised if mbz offer good will are you 100% coolant and not water from when you cleaned the car water can stay on rad and evaporate in to steam and look like a coolant leak radiators can be repaired and recon much much cheaper then a new one but honest try rad weld my dads jag had this as factory fit at first fill to stop small leaks

 

[IanT]

Perhaps I should have said, the car has a full M-B history from the supplying dealer since new. so I would hope that everything has been done exactly as per the schedules.

I did consider using Radweld, but the car is only 3 years old and if the radiator is corroding along the ends of the channels then surely the whole lot could give way later and leave me stranded. Plus the coolant tract would take on that nasty lumpy rusty goo from the radweld.

It's definately leaking, if I shine a light through beside the sidelight I can see bubbling and water running as I squeeze the top pipe. I've felt all round the pipe clip / joint to make sure it's not loose, but I'm absolutely sure. The coolant had gone down significantly in the header tank since when I last checked it the week before.

Ian.

 

[Ian B Walker]

Serek Marston (if I have spelt it right) a National Company can do a good swift repair to your radiator if your stealer wont play ball. I have used them before and found them reasonably priced and quite good.

 

[silverarrow]

ummm seems like its the rad then but i agree should it go at 3 yrs and why has it gone i would ring euro car parts for a quote on part id does not seem a big job to change how is your rad fan are you sure it is working and the water pump ok

 

[IanT]

Not sure whether the water pump was changed at the same time, but mine had an alternator and idler pulley changed under warranty last year. I've never tested the rad fan - it's electric (of course, being a later model) and has never been on since I bought the car, although I haven't driven anywhere on a hot day yet. The temperature gauge usually indicates about 80 degrees or slightly higher once properly warmed up and on the move, I'm feeling pretty lucky that I spotted the steam following a short journey and not just been presented with a series of dash warnings and overheated engine. Do W210s have a coolant level sensor that flags up a fault condition on the dash, or is the first notification of a problem a soaring temmperature gauge and steam?

It was dark when I had to abandon it last night (thankfully somewhere secure). I'll try to get round there to see what sort of job it will be to change - hence my question about the likelihood of a goodwill repair. I'm debating whether to just call Mobilo and get them to come and trailer it away to the local dealer and fix it, or to insure my other car and drive that for the next fortnight, as I'm rather busy at work at the moment and don't have much time to chase around fixing cars.

Ian.

 

[NormanB]

Not sure whether the water pump was changed at the same time, but mine had an alternator and idler pulley changed under warranty last year. I've never tested the rad fan - it's electric (of course, being a later model) and has never been on since I bought the car, although I haven't driven anywhere on a hot day yet. The temperature gauge usually indicates about 80 degrees or slightly higher once properly warmed up and on the move, I'm feeling pretty lucky that I spotted the steam following a short journey and not just been presented with a series of dash warnings and overheated engine. Do W210s have a coolant level sensor that flags up a fault condition on the dash, or is the first notification of a problem a soaring temmperature gauge and steam?

It was dark when I had to abandon it last night (thankfully somewhere secure). I'll try to get round there to see what sort of job it will be to change - hence my question about the likelihood of a goodwill repair. I'm debating whether to just call Mobilo and get them to come and trailer it away to the local dealer and fix it, or to insure my other car and drive that for the next fortnight, as I'm rather busy at work at the moment and don't have much time to chase around fixing cars.

Ian.

Ian,

In view of the age of the car and the full dealership service I would press most strongly for a replacement rad at no cost to yourself. I would expect any reasonable MB dealer to demonstrate his committment to you by supporting your case 110%

Good Luck

NormanB