W124 radiator replacement tips?

[don78]

I've concluded my radiator needs replaced, been quoted £280 ex VAT and labour for a new one from Merparts Port Glasgow (this is for a Mercedes one which is all they'll fit -seemed strange for an independent to only fit Merc parts). Anyway, rather than spend that much on a replacement I thought I'd source one (approx £120) and give it a go myself

I'd say I'm about average at DIY but have little experience with cars, in Haynes it's a 3 out of 5 spanners for difficulty which kind of scares me........ any experience / tips / online guides?

 

[television]

Removing rad from 124130 with 613 engine.

Remove engine bottom compartment panel.

Drain coolant. remove radiator cap, by slackening pipe clamps on lower and upper hoses.

Unbolt oil pipes for auto gearbox cooler, and tie up, Keep ends clean and cover, with hoses, pinch off. (clamp)

Unclip clip for top expansion hose.

Pull out spring clips,one each side of shroud where it clips to rad.

Take off fan shroud and place it forward over the fan.

Take off hoses.

Take off expanding rivets 2 each side, 1 top and 1 bottom on ends of rad.

Remove the 2 side panels.

Pull off clips on bottom front.

You may have to remove bonnet release cable.

Unbolt condenser from rad.

Lift out rad.


If you want more info please give me your Email address

 

[grober]

Not detracting from Malcolms excellent post, but removing the viscous coupled fan makes life a little easier. You will need a waterpump spanner for this plus a means of locking the waterpump rotation. [The large securing nut has an anticlockwise thread!!!]Remember to check your auto transmission fluid level afterwards and this might be a good time to change your 50/50 water/antifreeze coolant mix to give your radiator a good start in life. Use the proper MB antifreeze.

 

[Dieselman]

Similar to Tv.
Drain the rad from underneath and the engine from the drain under the exhaust manifold, then undo the hoses and remove the fan shroud. Have the heater set to hot.

This should give enough space to remove the radiator from above.

When refilling the system use 50% antifreeze and keep filling slowly with the heater set to hot.

Once the system appears full start the engine and keep it idling. Continue filling as the level drops and keep squeezing the bottom radiator hose to purge air from the system.

Eventually you will have all the air out of the system and a filled expansion tank.

 

[don78]

If you want more info please give me your Email address

thanks for the info, tried to PM you my email but your mailbox is full!!!

Do you think the job is do-able by a novice -provided i take my time and get the correct tools?

 

[television]

thanks for the info, tried to PM you my email but your mailbox is full!!!

Do you think the job is do-able by a novice -provided i take my time and get the correct tools?

Virtually few tools required, and nothing special

I have made some room for a PM if you are quick as it soon fills up

 

[Ade B]

thanks for the info, tried to PM you my email but your mailbox is full!!!

Do you think the job is do-able by a novice -provided i take my time and get the correct tools?

I've changed several radiators on different cars in the past, all on the driveway, its pretty straight forward if you follow the excellent advice offered here.. my spannering skills are very limited..

The W124 makes it even easier as there are plastic drain cocks at the base of the rad and engine block which you can attach sections of hosepipe to which prevents coolant splashing everywhere.. It may be worth fitting new hoses while you are at it if the existing ones are perished and brittle.

Best of luck.


Ade

 

[television]

Changing rad papers sent by Email 46kb file

 

[nick mercedes]

I've concluded my radiator needs replaced, been quoted £280 ex VAT and labour for a new one from Merparts Port Glasgow (this is for a Mercedes one which is all they'll fit -seemed strange for an independent to only fit Merc parts). Anyway, rather than spend that much on a replacement I thought I'd source one (approx £120) and give it a go myself

I'd say I'm about average at DIY but have little experience with cars, in Haynes it's a 3 out of 5 spanners for difficulty which kind of scares me........ any experience / tips / online guides?

Have a look at the state of the transmission cooler lines (assuming that yours is an auto) as they can crumble when disturbed, and turn a 20 min job into a bit of a nightmare.

 

[TonyVianoAmbiente]

I think mine may also need a new radiator, and I have found prices from £130 + VAT, obviously not MB original parts. Try:

Discount Cooling

Aaron Radiators

Aaron Radiators (Catalogue as a PDF file)

Aaron Radiators also sell on eBay as "aaronradiators":
eBay listings

And here's another one on eBay, brand new for £137.00 plus £8.95 carriage:
eBay item

 

[janner]

Only use genuine MB antifreeze (50/50) when refilling.

 

[jaymanek]

Only use genuine MB antifreeze (50/50) when refilling.

come on now, thats not really necessary, any decent coolant will do, i tend to use comma blue.

 

[television]

come on now, thats not really necessary, any decent coolant will do, i tend to use comma blue.

Comma make excellent products and I took home many samples from the last trade show,, their hand cleaner is amazing stuff, I got black the day before I went on holiday from all of the oil leaking from my car, it cleaned me up in seconds including finger nails

 

[don78]

Only use genuine MB antifreeze (50/50) when refilling.

I've got some non-MB stuff that is MB approved and certified so should be ok.

Looking to replace the AT oil cooler pipes from the radiator but finding it hard to source them, any ideas or part a number?

Found German, Swiss, French cheapest for the radiator at £115.15 delivered .

TV, thanks for the guide, quite useful!

 

[don78]

oh, just had another quote from an Indy to replace the Rad and 2 AT cooler hoses.......... wait for it............ £506 inc VAT .

I wonder what MB would cost

 

[television]

http://www.detali.ru/cat/oem_mb2.as...M=717.433&CT=GA&cat=09S&SID=27&SGR=180&SGN=08

Any use for the oil pipes

 

[janner]

It's true that there is some non-MB anitfreeze available that is MB approved but if you use the wrong stuff then you can damage the waterpump and headgasket over time.
https://mbwholesaleparts.com/StarTuned/pdfs/AntiFreeDec04.pdf

 

[don78]

Managed to find a good grarage who will fit a radiator including MB antifreeze with distilled water for £100. The car is saved my bungling DIY!

Thanks for the help.

 

[LastMinute]

Any use for the oil pipes

This is the link for the 300D saloon.