Radiator Question

[78240D]

Hey everyone,

Just a simple question here. Last year I replaced my rad which I believe was original, but didn't have behr written on the upper tank. Am I to believe that it was not the original since they were all behr factory? The hoses/clamps sure seemed original.

My appologies if this seems silly to be asking, but I am curious to know!

BTW 1978 240D 4 spd 129,000.

[oldsinner111]

You are lucky then,Behr radiators are known for necks breaking off.Nissens uses fiber reinfroced necks.

[fruitcakesa]

Originally Posted by oldsinner111

You are lucky then,Behr radiators are known for necks breaking off.Nissens uses fiber reinfroced necks.

Is that the only difference between them? plastic tanks, brass cores?
Did MB use both as original equipment?

[fruitcakesa]

xenawolf
Registered User
Join Date: May 2006
Location: New Jersey
Posts: 38


Warning Nissen Radiators Are Dangerous!
After finding a small leak in what I thought was my upper or lower radiator hose at a rest stop I turned around and made it home. Then I opened the hood, it seemed like the lower hose was leaking when all of a sudden the upper hose neck snapped spraying me with steaming hot coolant. At some point the radiator on my 1991 300E 4-Matic must have been replaced because I thought Behr was stock. I quickly ordered a Behr for $40.00 more than that POS Nissen. Is the Nissen company so cheap and negligent that they can't insert a simple metal sleeve in the neck like Behr? I would really like to get my hands on the neck of the engineer that thought reinforcement was not needed after all over the years alot of clamping down occurs at this point. I guess thats why on all my other 1980's Mercedes and also on my 1973 BMW Bavaria the Behr's are still working fine. Opinion:Always buy a Behr NEVER buy a Nissen. Also be very careful around those Nissens they can and will blow at any minute!

I found this post

[oldsinner111]

Behr Sucks

[78240D]

So does anyone here know if 240ds came with something other than Behr from the factory?

[pawoSD]

Our 300E has a Nissens and its been fine......when my 300SD needed a new one I bought a $400+ behr. Aside from a minor heart attack due to the cost....it has performed just fine. (3 years or so now...)

[rs899]

The 77 240D in my sig has a "made in Holland" plastic tanked , brass radiator. I don't know if it original, but it is old.

[fruitcakesa]

I just contacted a radiator supplier who has aftermarket rads with metal tanks and 2 row brass cores.

Price?

[fruitcakesa]

$180 delivered

[fruitcakesa]

Originally Posted by fruitcakesa

I just contacted a radiator supplier who has aftermarket rads with metal tanks and 2 row brass cores.

Brass tanks and copper core.

[dieseldan44]

My Behr radiator I got from WorldPac said 'Behr' on it, and the Mercedes symbol was ground off.

[mobetta]

Ive been running a nissens in the wifes volvo for a few years (30K)w/ no issues. any brand plastic tanked unit will have problems somewhere down the road. so will a copper rad, I suppose.

if yours did not have the three pointed star on the top tank, I reckon it was not original.