w210 evaporator replacement - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

JHZR2 · #1 09-07-2007, 07:04 PM

Hello,

My father's 96 E300D has a bad evaporator, causing a leak of the refrigerant. Apparently the shop used a sniffer of some sort to check up there, and the test was positive.

I am curious what the going rate for an evaporator is in a w210, when considering the parts and labor (including dryer, etc.).

Also, his dash has some cracks. He was curious if, given that the dash has to be more or less torn apart, he could replace the dash pad. I am not sure if the dash pad is integral to the passenger airbag, or if it is its own part. If it is its own part, then Im curious if this is the right time to change it in order to save on total labor...

Any insight would be appreciated.

Thanks!

JMH

nhdoc · #2 09-07-2007, 07:12 PM

It's a big job...BIG. At one time someone had documented doing it here. I'll see if I can find the thread. Nothing overly complex, just tedious disassembly and re-assembly. IIRC it took the guy about 2 man days to R&R it as a DIY. I'd bet you're easily looking at $2000 from an indy and $3000 from a dealer to do it.

I'd want to make sure it was leaking before ever considering it. I'd have a dye check done as the sniffer can be fooled by a bad leak in the condensor and the air being drawn into the HVAC system from the cowl. These don't fail that often that it is worth having a second opinion...I'd first want to see dye running out the bottom of the car before shelling out that kind of money.

The dash cover is not sold as a separate part as far as I know, it is part of the whole dash assembly and the cost of it is probably approaching $1000 today (it was $600 when I last checked). It has nothing to do with the airbag..that is completely separate.

nhdoc · #3 09-07-2007, 07:16 PM

I found it:

http://www.peachparts.com/Wikka/W210Evaporator

it is an EXCELLENT write-up and I'd suggest you print it out and look it over carefully. You might consider doing it yourself, though it looks quite daunting and a bit scary it will likely save you a grand or two.

TMAllison · #4 09-07-2007, 07:19 PM

Isn't the cover a dash "cap"?

What does one do if the airpag deploys? Surely you dont replace the entire dash and insulation etc?.

Tell me it isn't so.

nhdoc · #5 09-07-2007, 07:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TMAllison

Isn't the cover a dash "cap"?

What does one do if the airpag deploys? Surely you dont replace the entire dash and insulation etc?.

Tell me it isn't so.

The cap is a separate part it is just not sold separately, at least it wasn't when I inquired about the replacement of my cracked cover...you needed to buy the entire dash, top and bottom and I recall maybe even the glove compartment? I'll check my EPC.

nhdoc · #6 09-07-2007, 07:27 PM

Here, the dash is shown as item #5 on the EPC, there is no separate item for the dash cover though it looks like you can buy the dash assembly without the glove compartment cover.

vahe · #7 09-07-2007, 07:33 PM

In fact I asked the same question with our mechanic today, this was about our E320 97 with roughly 80K miles, he was surprised that the evaporator has in fact lasted this long and is still working fine, but I am expecting it to fail any day. The complete price that he quoted was $2900 and will take at least two days to complete.
The mechanic also tells me that the replacement evaporator is a big improvement over what comes with the car.

Vahe
240D 77
E320 97

TMAllison · #8 09-07-2007, 07:37 PM

Hmmm.....Well I guess that is what insurance is for.

nhdoc · #9 09-07-2007, 07:43 PM

I take back what I said...it looks like the cap and bottom part of the dash are all one part, that's why they are not sold separately...I looked at the DIY photos and the EPC again and it looks like it is all one piece to me.

nhdoc · #10 09-07-2007, 07:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vahe

In fact I asked the same question with our mechanic today, this was about our E320 97 with roughly 80K miles, he was surprised that the evaporator has in fact lasted this long and is still working fine, but I am expecting it to fail any day. The complete price that he quoted was $2900 and will take at least two days to complete.
The mechanic also tells me that the replacement evaporator is a big improvement over what comes with the car.

Vahe
240D 77
E320 97

The evaporators in the W210 are not prone to frequent failure like the earlier models. I have only heard of a couple of them that have failed so far...mine has many more hours than yours at 155K miles and was a southern car and it is still OK.

JHZR2 · #11 09-07-2007, 09:04 PM

thanks all!!!

My father's has about 190k on it... and is the first year, FWIW.

The place they took it to (an A/C shop) quoted $2500 to do the job. I figured that is about right, but then I figured that maybe an MB specialist would be the better bet... Most work we get done at the dealer, as they dont seem to have a good indy around them... (north NJ)

Thanks,

JMH

vahe · #12 09-07-2007, 11:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nhdoc

The evaporators in the W210 are not prone to frequent failure like the earlier models. I have only heard of a couple of them that have failed so far...mine has many more hours than yours at 155K miles and was a southern car and it is still OK.

Hope you are correct, mine is working just fine with about 80K miles on it, although the A/C is used all the time since we live in Houston.
Meanwhile, I will continue knocking on the wood every chance that I get.

Vahe
240D 77
E320 97

raMBow · #13 09-08-2007, 12:37 AM

Isn't the replacement dash about $2,000 itself. Mine has some minor cracking, but not worth that.

nhdoc · #14 09-08-2007, 07:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by raMBow

Isn't the replacement dash about $2,000 itself. Mine has some minor cracking, but not worth that.

Probably parts and labor would run that but when I priced the part alone in 2005 it was about $600. Probably now it would run closer to $1000 but I haven't priced it out lately I just know all of their parts prices have gone up alot in the past 2-3 years.

At the end of last summer my A/C suffered a massive leak. I feared it was the evaporator since a sniffer I borrowed showed positive readings inside the vents but it turned out to be the condensor and it was proven by dye and removal of the aux fans which clearly located the leak on it. That was an easy DIY replacement and it's been a year now, knock wood, and my A/C is still cooling great. I guess if my evap developed a leak I would replace it myself or sell the car as I can't see paying $2000-$3000 or more to have someone else do that work.