The truth is German cars simply didn't have the best AC systems back then. Sufficient? Yes, but not the best. A salesman at a MB dealer told me a story about when he worked at a BMW dealership. Some BMW executives came to Houston in the summertime and drove a rented Lincoln or Cadillac from the airport to the dealership with the AC on full blast. At the BMW dealership, they got into a new BMW and asked if the AC was on full blast because they were feeling a little hot. They were told "it is at full blast!"

I know my 82 300D's R12 system doesn't cool the car down as fast or as powerful as my dad's 02 Caddy, but it keeps me from breaking into a sweat in the summer and that's enough.

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'81 MB 300SD, '82 MB 300D Turbo (sold/RIP), '04 Lincoln Town Car Ultimate

Sooner or later every car falls apart, ours does it later!
-German Narrator in a MB Promotion Film about the then brand new W123.