What are the chances that there are other differences between the US version and the Euro version that your not aware of that would make it not need an oil cooler? Im sure you have engine blueprints of the Euro Version vs the American version right?

I agree, why fret over $100?

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I'm not a doctor, but I'll have a look.

'85 300SD 245k
'87 300SDL 251k
'90 300SEL 326k

Six others from BMW, GM, and Ford.

Liberty will not descend to a people; a people must raise themselves to liberty.[/IMG]

Exactly... Its more effort to jury rig the system and hope you have it "right"

I installed a new motor mount and new lines in about 90min I think it was... most of that was spent getting the motor mount "just so" to fit properly.

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I'm not a doctor, but I'll have a look.

'85 300SD 245k
'87 300SDL 251k
'90 300SEL 326k

Six others from BMW, GM, and Ford.

Liberty will not descend to a people; a people must raise themselves to liberty.[/IMG]

Actually, very high! Who do you think buys used cars from Europe that are no longer passing their strict emissions guidelines? Thats right, nearby middle eastern and african nations! Most Mercedes you see in Morroco probably began their life in France or Spain.

As far as the 'oil cooled car' issue, I'll just relate that I remember one of my auto maintainence revalations early in my car fixing life when I was informed by a VW mechanic that Beetle engines aren't really 'air cooled', they are oil cooled. Air cools all cars, via the radiator, the oil cooler, or direct convection off the surface of the engine and oil pan. If there is no water, then the only fluid carrying heat from the center of the engine to the outside (where the air is), is oil, then its an oil cooled engine. It made a lot of design choices 'click' in my mind, and the design of the engines began to make a lot more sense. All engines are oil cooled, just to varying degrees.

And finally, my suggestion to the OP, make a 'real' repair. The lines are not incredibly expensive, and are a critical engine system. Not fixing the AC is fine, its just a little thing off to the side, the car is fine without it. However, oil cooling is a very important part of the engine. A botched repair can result in a seized engine in a very short period of time! If you dump oil out of one of those lines (or an uncertain repair), you've got about 10 seconds to shut off the engine before you permanently damage it. Thats not worth the risk, to me. Just do a little searching on this forum, and you'll see that every few weeks, someone else posts a "My oil cooler lines broke and now my engine won't turn over!" that inevitably ends in a 4,000$ rebuilt engine...

peace,
sam

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"That f***in' biodiesel is makin' me hungry."

1982 300TD Astral Silver w/ 250k (BIO BNZ)
2001 Aprilia SR50 Corsa Red w/ 5.5k (>100 MPG)

The Euro oil filter housing has no threaded openings for cooler lines, to make a US version, drill and tap threads. The innerds must be different also (by pass wise) but I have never had one apart.

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1985 Euro 240D 5 spd 140K
1979 240D 5 spd, 40K on engine rebuild
1994 Dodge/Cummins, 5 spd, 121K
1964 Allice Chalmers D15 tractor
2014 Kubota L3800 tractor
1964 VW bug

"Lifes too short to drive a boring car"

could happen.

personally, keeping the oil (and engine) cool cant ever be a bad thing, so if it were mine and unless i was so broke that i couldnt fix it the factory way, i would always opt to keep the oil cooler functional.

there is a reason they will go 500k miles. keeping the oil cool is one of them.

when the germans started exporting cars to the us i am sure they looked at the interminabley long straight roads in the southwest, like texas, and said "ein oel kuhler ist gut!". sorry for the stupid german for those who actually speak it.

we tend to be very mobile here. just cause you live in vermont now doesnt mean that you might not take a job in texas next year.

the early vw air cooled engines tended to have trouble here with the high sustained speeds and ambiant temps. also they held like two quarts of oil, i think. i think they would have benefitted from increased oil capacity and a big oil cooler.

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.

Nate,
I just replaced the oil cooler lines on my '82 300D. The old lines appear to be in great shape. The car has only 141k miles. I replaced the hoses only as a preventive measure, not because of any problem. If you would like to have my old hoses, I will be glad to send them to you for the cost of shipping.