Should I be Worried Valeo Radiator

[Twistedmind]

Trying to find a behr on the net. Coming up with nothing

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[mersum1es]

I've been heard that also many times, there are noth behrs as a spare part. It is funny because someone has behr factory fitted. But why afraid valeo, it has been used years and years, only that short perioid was disasterous. And all water cooled behrs, valeos, whatevers, may fail and mix coolant to oils, only cure is put air cooled radiator. BTW some W203 has air cooled transmission, wonder if that could be fitted other models too (or is the cooling power too small or what...).

 

[Dieselman]

There is no inherent weakness with a Valeo radiator. Valeo are a high quality brand for many items.

The issue is that the internal heat exchanger has rubber connection grommets where the ATF banjo bolts pass through the plastic radiator end cap. These grommets weren't lubricated on build so the banjo bolts deform them, sometimes allowing ATF and coolant to mix.

As long as the grommets are OK there is no issue.

Behr radiators use an identical system.

 

[Twistedmind]

I take it the valeo listed on euro parts is an updated model ???

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[Dieselman]

There was no update, just ensuring the correct procedure was followed on initial build. It was a short term manufacturing error.

 

[Twistedmind]

These are the ones I have found

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[Auto-mobile]

Nissens @ £220
Readyrads @ £197

 

[keastygtir]

I thought this didnt affect the c270 as the setup was different?

 

[grober]

Nissens get a good name. Behr have never been available in the UK market for some reason.

 

[flango]

We always used to fit Nissens as replacements and never had a come back. As DM says though nothing wrong with Valeo its just the name that strikes fear into the heart of MB owners and most think once bitten twice shy.

 

[Twistedmind]

How about the fridair make ????

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[Twistedmind]

Sorry. Frigair !

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[Dieselman]

Edit...

 

[Auto-mobile]

Bare in mind most are priced at £200+ that one is cheap in comparison and you tend to get what you pay for, I'd fit the nissens, this is what I replace them with.

 

[Twistedmind]

Any good sites to make a purchase ?

I see euro parts have stopped the mbclub30 discount

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[Dieselman]

It's always trying euromercwebstore for genuine parts at discount prices.

They won't guarantee to have it and it won't necessary show on the webstore.

 

[Sp!ke]

It's always trying.

A bit harsh... regularly trying I would agree with.

 

[Dieselman]

Oops. "worth"...

 

[Andy67]

Should I be Worried Valeo Radiator YES BIG TIME

I started this Thread 15/09/13 about my Valeo Rad that was fitted into the car on 02/12/2002 as stated on the lable. Thinking,, well its been in the car for 13yrs and as not gone wrong so am lucky.

Ah how wrong i was 16/10/13 it happen, water ingress into autobox lining contaminated the car did'nt no what gear it was in, so was in limp mode.
A week before, i had check the coolant res which was down, by 2 pints, topped up thought nothing of it plonker haha.

So garage bill £ 3154.83 Bargain NOT

Had Full overhaul of Auto box new Torque Converter and new Rad Fitted

Rad as a 2 yr guarantee
Box as a 1 yr

Shock/Horror they fitted a new Valeo Radiator

A203 500 42 03 RA1409, 876942G C Made in poland 28/07/13

Now have a nice CLK 270 CDI for sale

 

[Rashman]

I started this Thread 15/09/13 about my Valeo Rad that was fitted into the car on 02/12/2002 as stated on the lable. Thinking,, well its been in the car for 13yrs and as not gone wrong so am lucky.

Ah how wrong i was 16/10/13 it happen, water ingress into autobox lining contaminated the car did'nt no what gear it was in, so was in limp mode.
A week before, i had check the coolant res which was down, by 2 pints, topped up thought nothing of it plonker haha.

So garage bill £ 3154.83 Bargain NOT

Had Full overhaul of Auto box new Torque Converter and new Rad Fitted

Rad as a 2 yr guarantee
Box as a 1 yr

Shock/Horror they fitted a new Valeo Radiator

A203 500 42 03 RA1409, 876942G C Made in poland 28/07/13

Now have a nice CLK 270 CDI for sale

Don't be too quick to sell it.
It should be fine now.