W202 C250TD Aircon is shot

[cfleck]

Hi.

Popped into Tony Purslow in Basingstoke yesterday and had my 10 year old C250TD regassed as the aircon was not working.

After the work was completed, I got a very nice story about it all being done. Then a small frown appears on the service technician's face, and it's followed by a 'but the small pipe that is connected to the condensor has corroded and you need a new pipe and a new condensor'. The gas that has just gone it will have all leaked away in a couple of days.

Net net, they want £800 to put in a new condensor and a new pipe. The labour seems quite high (4 hrs) , as it looks like the main radiator has to come out to get to the condensor. They reckon that they've never managed to get a pipe off a condensor - they always break, leaving a bit of pipe stuck on the condesor unit.

I've no idea if I'm being spun a story here or not. TP have always offered great service, and I feel like I've always been treated very fairly by them (particularly over a warranty issue on my 2 front side panels).

With the car being 10 years old / 125k miles, and therefore worth about £3.50, I'm reluctant to spend this kind of cash. Conversely, it's cheaper to keep this car fully functional, than it would be to replace it, so a small mental dilemma is brewing. Other than the aircon issue, the car continues to behave nicely.

Any thoughts on the pipe / condensor story?

cheers
chris

 

[vijilants]

Ive had two condensers replaced on W202s.

An aftermarket condenser, fitted was about £150 if I remember rightly. It took the guy from Aircon Direct about 2 hours max to fit the new condenser and refill the system. Saying that, they have got the job downn to an art as they do plenty of these, as the condenser on the W202 is a common problem.

The radiator did not have to come out. The condenser sits in front of the radiator, if you are looking at the car from the front, so you have to remove the electric fans to get to it.

You can save yourself even more by fitting it yourself. Its a fairly straightforward job if you are handy with a set of spanners, then taking it to a Kwickfit for a regass.

On both occasions pipes where not broken when fitted.

 

[para alpha]

Hi.

Popped into Tony Purslow in Basingstoke yesterday and had my 10 year old C250TD regassed as the aircon was not working.

After the work was completed, I got a very nice story about it all being done. Then a small frown appears on the service technician's face, and it's followed by a 'but the small pipe that is connected to the condensor has corroded and you need a new pipe and a new condensor'. The gas that has just gone it will have all leaked away in a couple of days.

Net net, they want £800 to put in a new condensor and a new pipe. The labour seems quite high (4 hrs) , as it looks like the main radiator has to come out to get to the condensor. They reckon that they've never managed to get a pipe off a condensor - they always break, leaving a bit of pipe stuck on the condesor unit.

I've no idea if I'm being spun a story here or not. TP have always offered great service, and I feel like I've always been treated very fairly by them (particularly over a warranty issue on my 2 front side panels).

With the car being 10 years old / 125k miles, and therefore worth about £3.50, I'm reluctant to spend this kind of cash. Conversely, it's cheaper to keep this car fully functional, than it would be to replace it, so a small mental dilemma is brewing. Other than the aircon issue, the car continues to behave nicely.

Any thoughts on the pipe / condensor story?

cheers
chris

I think they are exaggerating a little TBH. A lot of "reliable" garages are doing it due to the current economical climate... I get my 1994 C180 Serviced and MOT'd for about £170. Now! I called the garage yesterday to quote for the same and it's £235? So yep, I'd say something fishy going on! By the Way, I bought my car cheap as the radiator had exploded and bust the plastic cowling and the MOT had lapsed. I paid £165 for my radiator with the Condenser built in (I don't have Aircon anyway). As for the pipe, well you could search the web for Mercedes parts dealers and get a quote for the corroded pipe! There is an Russian website you can use that has an online Parts catalouge and use that to track down the part number.

 

[rpe2]

Nonsense (the bit about not being able to remove the pipe). Get yourself up to John Griffiths or Star motors in Caversham, labour more than half of TP rate.

IIRC it is illegal to charge a system with a known leak.

Richard

 

[vijilants]

If you want an original MB condenser they are very expensive and also don't forget that MB will charge £100 + ph for labour charges, hence the price that you have been quoted.

 

[Supacool1]

I've just had the same problem on my C250TD-T! I re-gassed it a month ago. Not used it much since as it was too cold and I work shift hours. When it started to get hot I used it to no avail! All the gas had leaked out!
I got the man in who did a check and pressurised the system to find a hole in the condensor that was audible to us!
I got quoted 100 bucks for the condensor but am waiting for my Indy ( Pro-Tech ) to get back to me regards the cost for an all Benz replacement and fitting. Good luck!

 

[wigs_1]

I paid £86 for a condenser off the net and fitted it myself.
Took me about 4hrs total.
Rad had to be moved a bit but didn't need to come out.
You will likely need 'o'rings as mine didn't come with any.
Got it re-gassed for free today :bannana:

 

[Supacool1]

Am going get a new condensor from GSF parts and attempt to fit on the drive. The indy wanted a lot of salad to do the whole job, which at this moment I can not afford as I'm on paternity leave. Thanks for your input! I may call upon you when I do mine. Ta!

 

[Supacool1]

I got the condensor today. It looks a bit strange on one of the pipes. Does anyone have a pic of one for the W202?