My system is tight. I had replaced compressor 3 years ago and been fine on 134A. No leaks and so so cool. I had put in ester oil so I could go back to R12.

How much better cooling should I get? worth the effort and cost??

__________________
1982 300SD

Long answer is how deep is your pocket, how much time you have and how competent are you? You have to do it yourself, may be with moral support from this forum as NO shops will touch R12.

Short answer is NO.

There is a post recently on a successful R134 system and all my cars are on 134 with great cooling.

__________________
Not MBZ nor A/C trained professional but a die-hard DIY and green engineer. Use the info at your own peril. Picked up 2 Infractions because of disagreements. NOW reversed.

W124 Keyless remote, PM for details. http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/mercedes-used-parts-sale-wanted/334620-fs-w124-chasis-keyless-remote-%2450-shipped.html

1 X 2006 CDI
1 x 87 300SDL
1 x 87 300D
1 x 87 300TDT wagon
1 x 83 300D
1 x 84 190D ( 5 sp ) - All R134 converted + keyless entry.

Yea, in San Diego!!!

I use alternate freons as much as anybody, but still R12 gives you the BEST shot at cooling. Sure, in some climates R134a works just as well, but when you climb into the 90's and above it just won't give you quite as much.
If you have some R12 I would certainly use that over R134a.....

__________________
Jimmy L.
'05 Acura TL 6MT
2001 ML430 My Spare

Gone:
'95 E300 188K "Batmobile" Texas Unfriendly Black
'85 300TD 235K "The Wagon" Texas Friendly White
'80 240D 154K "China" Scar engine installed
'81 300TD 240K "Smash"
'80 240D 230K "The Squash"
'81 240D 293K"Scar" Rear ended harder than Elton John

If your car is in decent shape, and your AC system holds pressure well, it may be worthwhile to go back to R12.
I have a pair of 240ds. One had a quickee R134 conversion kit some years ago, and compressor noise & engine load are higher than normal, while cooling on 90+ days is mediocre (though better than nothing) There is a slow leak in that AC and the car is a rustbucket, so no way would I waste my precious R12 on it.

OTOH, I have a really nice 240D, with a replacement compressor, so I gambled some R12 on it and it's been holding pressure for over a year, and system performance is so much better than the AC in the rustbucket.
Now perhaps if I replaced the compressor in the other car, it might perform better with R134, but that car just isn't worth it.

Happy Motoring, Mark

__________________
DrDKW

My shop has no problem working with R-12, and it works better than 134a in old systems. There is no reason not to use R-12, that's what the system is designed for. I tried r-134a, I didn't like the performance and converted back to R-12.

One of my favorite Texas sayings describes that situation perfectly: "All hat, no cattle."

You puriists can stay with R12 for all I care.

I am only stating the obvious. If you can find a shop for the OP to restore it back for cheap then it is fine. Remember, all you can offer is advice or moral supports unless you offer wrenching help. Talk is cheap. May be you A/C experts can pick up a wrench and help.

__________________
Not MBZ nor A/C trained professional but a die-hard DIY and green engineer. Use the info at your own peril. Picked up 2 Infractions because of disagreements. NOW reversed.

W124 Keyless remote, PM for details. http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/mercedes-used-parts-sale-wanted/334620-fs-w124-chasis-keyless-remote-%2450-shipped.html

1 X 2006 CDI
1 x 87 300SDL
1 x 87 300D
1 x 87 300TDT wagon
1 x 83 300D
1 x 84 190D ( 5 sp ) - All R134 converted + keyless entry.

You are obviously misinformed and mistaken.

I can assure you that not everyone shares your fascination with "cheap." The OP already tried "cheap" and has now discovered that it didn't work out very well.

Absolute rubbish.

Bad advice isn't.

Did you read my disclaimer, read it at your own peril? May be I am, so beware.

I read the OP again and I did not read that he tried it 'cheap'. Did you have your glasses on or you can read others' mind?

I am sure there will be exceptions that a few shops will touch R12. Why don't you recommend one to the OP, hopefully it is somewhere near where the car is. Don't ask the OP to drive it to your area. That would be disingenuous.

Good advice from you?? That will make my day.

__________________
Not MBZ nor A/C trained professional but a die-hard DIY and green engineer. Use the info at your own peril. Picked up 2 Infractions because of disagreements. NOW reversed.

W124 Keyless remote, PM for details. http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/mercedes-used-parts-sale-wanted/334620-fs-w124-chasis-keyless-remote-%2450-shipped.html

1 X 2006 CDI
1 x 87 300SDL
1 x 87 300D
1 x 87 300TDT wagon
1 x 83 300D
1 x 84 190D ( 5 sp ) - All R134 converted + keyless entry.

Already back-tracking from what is often mis-information from you! {"Crawfishing" is another term. For Tyler's benefit......}

The more I see of your posts regarding AC related issues, the more I am slotting you as either vocally mis-informed, or just one of those "if you don't do it like I do it then you are an idiot" types. {Forced comes to mind. }
Either way, while I don't do everything the same as the more seasoned AC guys do, I at least respect their presentation of the facts for the most part.
You are not garnering respect for your positions. Quite the opposite......

__________________
Jimmy L.
'05 Acura TL 6MT
2001 ML430 My Spare

Gone:
'95 E300 188K "Batmobile" Texas Unfriendly Black
'85 300TD 235K "The Wagon" Texas Friendly White
'80 240D 154K "China" Scar engine installed
'81 300TD 240K "Smash"
'80 240D 230K "The Squash"
'81 240D 293K"Scar" Rear ended harder than Elton John

I live in NC so I know kind of temps and humidity you are dealing with. I also lived in South Fla. and LA (that's Lower Alabama for those out of the loop.)

The statement "R134a works fine for me..." is all well and good from anyone who lives OUTSIDE the southeast of the USA (or places comparable.) What you and I both know is half the comfort factor comes from the dehumidifying ability of the A/C system. It will blow cold but in the South, that is just too weak with 134a in a W123 car. Unless you have a W123 made for the Middle East or Sub Saharan Africa market you have the same design cooling & A/C parts as the European cars. Put simply, the system was engineered for R12, when you put in R134a you reduce the capability of the system.

__________________
1987 300D (230,000 mi on a #14 head-watching the temp gauge and keeping the ghost in the machine)
Raleigh NC - Home of deep fried sushi!

[QUOTE=C Sean Watts;2491977] Unless you have a W123 made for the Middle East or Sub Saharan Africa market QUOTE]

Wondering out loud what components they put in those cars?

__________________
Brad
1981 300TD - daily driver
1963 Chevy II
2001 F-250 7.3 Power Stroke

[QUOTE=TchTchr;2491983]Bigger radiators and condensers. I recently got back from Germany - while there, I went to the museum and saw a few models of the 'worldwide models.'

__________________
1987 300D (230,000 mi on a #14 head-watching the temp gauge and keeping the ghost in the machine)
Raleigh NC - Home of deep fried sushi!

My Canadian spec 450SEL works just fine with R134 in Texas :-). But I agree that maintaining an R12 system is not cost prohibitive.

Mine was converted before I bought it and works so well, I don't mess with it.

__________________
With best regards

Al

Nothing cools like R12 in an R12 system. Coolest refrigerent ever.
Nothing stops like asbestos brake pads. Best braking material ever. Don't try breathing it.
Both will never be made again.