radiator 1987 300td
 

Hello, I have 87 mercedes 300td, parked it and water started spraying out of my radiator.
I am having a hard time finding a new one. took the radiator to get it welded and was told the hole is to close to the seam, and would melt the plastic. Is there anything that will fix this?

Answer
 

Radiator
MB# 1245000002
Pelican Parts - Automotive Parts and Accessories - Porsche & BMW

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Got your email. You asked if you could jbweld the crack. I am replying to all so that the forum can see the answer.

Sorry but jbweld is not going to help you out here. These radiators have a nasty problem of splitting between the plastic and the metal. The different expansion rates for the two materials means that jbweld is not going to bond well.

I'm afraid replacement is the only safe option. Behr is the M-B original equipment supplier for radiators, so that is a good choice at half the price of "genuine M-B".

I would hate to see you stranded, or worse, with head damage, trying to get by with a patch. The OM603's aluminum head does not tolerate overheating well. Especially the original #14.

Was the crack a fatigue crack, or is is possible the radiator was struck with the fan blade? If it was a fan strike that unfortunately opens up another can of worms.

Radiator
 

I do think it was the fan blade, but not sure. I bumped the curb as I pulled in to park.

Sigh,(Wince)
 

The W124 Chassis has a distinct weak spot for being struck by "Elevated"
curbstones.[Or most anything Else!]
The Incident BENDS the (Lower) Radiator support structure REARWARDS.
(And UPWARDS,Possibly also)
Which assaults the Radiator WITH THE FAN BLADES.
Fan is stationary,SPINNING on the Water Pump mounting...Radiator is Pushed
back and/or up into the fan. (Cry,Cry,Sob)

If you suspect THIS is the Cause...Measure the clearance between the Fan
and the Radiator BEFORE preceding to repair radiator.
Use FSM measurements for Chassis to verify the front (Lower) radiator
support structure has not been moved Rearward (AND/Or Up).

That is unfortunately one of the weaknesses of the 124. It is very vulnerable to curb stops while parking. Everything is kind of exposed down there and it is easy to damage something. The lower radiator support is just in the right place to get hit by curb stops and that can push the radiator into the fan.

edit: Yeah, what he said. We were typing at the same time.

Ok, I really think by hats what did it. I'm not sure what the FSM is, or how to fix the support structure. I actually hit the same curb twice the same day. I feel like a moron..anyway, I'm getting a new radiator ASAP.

another problem that's JUST with the 87D's is the replacement fan blade. if you still have the aluminum blade, ignore this, but if you have changed to the 602 blade, get it out of there. you need the 606 TURBO blade. the 602 blade offset is too high, and it will hit the radiator under load.

Radiator today
 

Is there anything special I should do once I get the new radiator in before I drive it? I will be working on it in a parking lot so I'm just trying to get it home.

try to place the front of the car as high as possible above the rear when filling the coolant. also, fill the upper radiator hose into the head until coolant fills the radiator to be certain the cooling system is as full as possible. the heater section is difficult to fill, as air gets trapped in there when you are filling. so uhnooking the upper heat hose to let air out is a plus.

I have a Nissens radiator for sale -- the Nissens guy said it would fit the Mercedes-Benz "300" from model year 1981 to model year 1993. Interested? I'm asking $100 + shipping. According to the guy I got it from, it is barely used -- he bought it new shortly before his 300CD bit the dirt due to rust. It has been sitting since then, and, according to the Nissens guy, is 2010 or before.

Radiator
 

I bought one already, the parts store sold me the wrong one, had to go back...it's so hard working on my car, I'm exhausted after I'm done...I wish I knew more about it.
A bracket came off left bushing next to the wheel-well I got it back in place but something not right about it. There is black gunk all over under front left.. I'm lost.

Yikes
 

Black gunk all over under front left may be engine oil cooler or hose damage.

Engine oil cooler
MB# 2015018201
Pelican Parts - Automotive Parts and Accessories - Porsche & BMW

Hose x2
MB# 6031800430
Pelican Parts - Automotive Parts and Accessories - Porsche & BMW


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there is no radiator that will fit all "300" from 81 to 93... WAAAAY too many chassis and models in that range that are exclusive in the radiator department.

The P/O of my 124 did the same thing with a curb or something, when I would apply a decent amount of pressure to the bakes I would here a horrible sound coming from the front of the car, couldnt figure out what it was till one day my radiator started spewing, when I replaced it I noticed things were not lining up and thought I had been given the wrong radiator, but when doing a side by side comparison they were the same, I crawled under the car to see what was holding it up to find the lower support had been bent up and back a bit which was putting my radiator just mm.'s away from the fan blades, I took a small sledge hammer and finessed them back to their orig spot and all fit well and no more horrible noise.