I had installed new genuine Mercedes coolant hoses when I replaced the head, but my roommate wanted to save money by using a ÜRO brand upper radiator hose. The hose rubber felt thick, and the hose clamps didn't seem to compress it well. It ended up leaking in short order, with coolant spraying out from between the rubber plies on each end.
Cost was still an issue for the upper radiator hose, but my roommate bought a genuine Mercedes one on eBay, which would have cost less than ordering it from the dealer and having it shipped. However, shipping took a long time, and he was told the hose was "damaged in shipping", so it never arrived, and he was refunded.
So finally, I placed an order for one from the dealership and was told it was no longer available. Ugh! ÜRO is apparently the only game in town. However, there was a listing on eBay for a new Lemförder brand hose. I had no ide
a Lemförder made them! Well, when the hose arrived it was obviously old stock with shelf wear and had been relabeled. Hmmm.
Once I removed the label, it seemed to have a manufacture date of 2007, making it 14 years old. I guess it's either old stock or ÜRO. Oh... or cut-to-fit universal hoses that aren't the right diameter--we actually tried that first. I suppose cheapskates are killing the demand for genuine Mercedes parts.
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DON'T MESS WITH MY MERCEDES!
1967 W110 Universal Wagon, Euro, Turbo Diesel, Tail Fins, 4 Speed Manual Column Shift, A/C
1980 W116 300SD Turbo Diesel, DB479 Walnut Brown, Sunroof, Highly Optioned, 350,000+ Miles