Hi all, been awhile since I've been by here but I'm having some Benz troubles.
The radiator in my 220D is leaking from where the upper radiator tank attaches to the radiator. My dad asked the local stealership where he lives what a new one costs and they found roughly 15 units in the 'system' - over in Deutschland at around $950 each, depending on the exchange rate!
I have looked some online but not managed to find any place that sells a radiator for my car!

My first thought is to find a radiator shop or attempt a repair myself. Of course, out here in Idaho I don't know how many MB radiators the shops see, which makes me a touch nervous.

So, what is my best course of action here? Have it repaired? Try fixing it myself? Is there any place besides MB who sells a radiator for this car? I can probably dig one up in a junkyard somewhere depending on how big the interchange list is, but that might take some looking.
Thoughts? Suggestions?

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1971 220D/4-speed ~250K mi. Family owned (dads side) through three generations since <5K miles.
1992 Chrysler LeBaron, 3.0V6 125K. Family owned (moms side) through three generations since new.
1977 Chevy Camaro Continual hotrod project
1970 Cadillac Sedan DeVille 472ci and nearly 19' long
1974 Fiat Spider Still needs work

First off I do belive that is an all copper/brass rad???

I would take if off the car and clean it up and pin point where the leak is. If you are good with a touch & solder, I would try to fix it yourself first if you think you are up to the job. Just make sure the copper is nice and clean, and use flux before you solder. If you don't want to go that way, still clean it up and take it to a decent rad shop, it doesn't matter if they fix MB rads, they are all about the same.

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-Randy Wakefield

1969 220D 4 speed (parts car)
1976 280C
1976 280S
1981 240D 4 speed (parts car)
1982 300D
1983 300TD (Ivory)
1983 300TD (gold)
1985 300TD (gray)
1987 190D 2.5
1970 280SEL (sold)
1977 240D 4 speed (sold)
1974 280 (rusted to death)
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1927 Chevy 4 door sedan
1938 Chevy 2 door sedan
1950 Willys Jeepster
1955 Studebaker President 4 door
1977 Ford F250
1979 Glastron 17'
1948 John Deere A
1960 John Deere 2010
1979 Satoh S650G
--
2000 Bichon (Doby)

i might have a good rad from a 74 in my garage leftover from my 240 to 300 conversion. will that fit?

tom w

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

Blu,

Take the radiator to a radiator shop and have it repaired and cleaned. I have found that radiator shops do a competent job at reasonable cost.

A new core can be installed if old core is NG and that would be equivalent to a new radiator at about 1/4 the cost U were talking about.

P E H

good luck,
hey, did you know Idaho is a made up name?
John

Yes its a potato.

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1981 300D 147k
1998 VW Jetta Tdi 320k
2001 Dodge Ram 2500 141k
1979 300D 234k (sold)
1984 300D "Astor" 262k(sold)
Mercedes How-To and Repair Pictorials
I love the smell of diesel smoke in my hair

Yup, it's copper/brass. I've never repaired a radiator before, but I hadn't rebuilt an engine either untill I did it for the first time It doesn't seem that hard anyways. Use a propane torch, right? Any tips would be welcome.

The leak is from the seam where the upper tank joins the flat part where the cores are. If I squeeze the radiator hose when the engine is warm I can see it drip from there (don't worry, not driving it) Would it work to patch along the edge of that seam, or do I really want to get the solder to wick down into the seam and if so, how do I get it clean?

Does anyone know what other MB radiators would interchange? I have no idea.

__________________
1971 220D/4-speed ~250K mi. Family owned (dads side) through three generations since <5K miles.
1992 Chrysler LeBaron, 3.0V6 125K. Family owned (moms side) through three generations since new.
1977 Chevy Camaro Continual hotrod project
1970 Cadillac Sedan DeVille 472ci and nearly 19' long
1974 Fiat Spider Still needs work

I've got a 73 220 radiator sitting here if you ever end up needing one and the fix job doesn't work.

PDX OR

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76 300D 130K "Stella" (Sold )
74 240D 299K (Donated to Highschool For Senior Project WVO)
83 300TDT 290K (My one and only)
Sanford, NC

i bet you can take it to a shop and get it cleaned and soldered for less than 100. i have heard of folks soldering them themselves, but i wonder how easy that is with an ordinary torch.

i wouldn't bother trying glue.

tom w

__________________
[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

You can fix it yourself... ...or you can take it to an experienced radiator shop and have it boiled out and repaired correctly and painted - all in the same trip. Around here the boys arm-wrestle for the opportunity to work on a "real" radiator. You can flush out the block while the radiator is at the shop - I keep the heater valves closed until I rinse.

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daBenz - 1970 220D

I've got a radiator and oil cooler for a 69 220d. I took it off my parts car and don't know if it leaks or not, though neither shows any signs and the necks seem good on the radiator & the inlet and outlet on the oil cooler threads look good.

Sorry for the delay, the semester is coming to a close so I'm working overtime!

You guys with 220D radiators, how much are you wanting for them? Any shipping estimates to 83501? I'll be able to get repair estimates this weekend or next week and want to compare.

Also, did MB put the auto trans cooler in the radiator? Mine is a 4-sp and I'd preferr a 4-sp radiator if there is a difference.

__________________
1971 220D/4-speed ~250K mi. Family owned (dads side) through three generations since <5K miles.
1992 Chrysler LeBaron, 3.0V6 125K. Family owned (moms side) through three generations since new.
1977 Chevy Camaro Continual hotrod project
1970 Cadillac Sedan DeVille 472ci and nearly 19' long
1974 Fiat Spider Still needs work

Mine's a 4-speed. Has a separate oil cooler (engine oil). I don't know the cost of shipping, but it may be a lot given the size & the fact I'd have to build a wood crate to protect it. As I said before, I can't guarantee it doesn't leak, but it appears in very good condition. As other's have said, get an estimate at a radiator shop, or read up & solder or braze yourself. Give me a PM if things don't work out for you & you can check shipping costs from here since you have a radiator. The oil cooler is only 4 or 5 inches wide & same height as the radiator; the two are separate pieces. Since the oil cooler is separate, I bet the trans oil cooler is non-permanently attached too. If your's is fixable I'm sure having it fixed is going to be cheaper than even sending it.