My new 98 E300D has had the leads to the auxiliary water pump cut. I can only surmise that the reason that this was done was that a failed aux water pump was adversely affecting the climate control system (yes, this can happen, don't let anyone tell you otherwise), the connector was stuck, so they simply cut the wires. So, I'm trying to decide whether to replace the pump (part is about $200 new) which would also involve installing a new connector to the leads.

The only ill effect of leaving as is is weak vent heat at idle. And of course I have other cars to drive if I need piping hot heat at idle.

What would you do?

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14 E250 Bluetec 4Matic "Sinclair", Palladium Silver on Black, 154k miles
06 E320 CDI "Rutherford", Black on Tan, 172k mi, Stage 1 tune, tuned TCU
91 300D "Otis", Smoke Silver on Tan, 142k mi, wastegate conversion, ALDA delete

19 Honda CR-V EX 61k mi
Fourteen other MB's owned and sold
1961 Very Tolerant Wife

I would install a good used aux pump.

Sixto
87 300D

First decide if it does in fact bother you much. I live in a place on the coast, while not really cold, I like the warm air quickly. That said, as much
as I would absolutely LOVE RollGuy's Sanden kit, I just cannot justify the cost of getting my A/C going. We have about 1 hot week per season here.
It does bug me not having everything functioning properly though.

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85 300TD FED-Daily
84 300SD-Wife's
86 XJS-Sunday
66 GMC-Work- Given to my stepson
83 BMW Airhead- Given to my stepson

There's one I can get for $50 on Ebay....but the mileage is unknown so I'm hesitant. I find the pumps last about 70-80k miles (at least on the W124).

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14 E250 Bluetec 4Matic "Sinclair", Palladium Silver on Black, 154k miles
06 E320 CDI "Rutherford", Black on Tan, 172k mi, Stage 1 tune, tuned TCU
91 300D "Otis", Smoke Silver on Tan, 142k mi, wastegate conversion, ALDA delete

19 Honda CR-V EX 61k mi
Fourteen other MB's owned and sold
1961 Very Tolerant Wife

There is always the seat heater, but I would want the aux pump installed and working. Perhaps from a boneyard? These pumps may be the same over several chassis styles; I can compare W210 and W201 tomorrow.

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'98 E300 DT
'87 190D 2.5 turbo RIP
'92 S500 Sold
'03 3.2TL-S A-Spec

Seat heaters are wonderful but your hands and feet still need the heat.

Shertex, I can't imagine you idling enough to need the aux pump. Even if you are moving slowly, the car will still make heat happen, or at least it does in my w126.

Also, I've seen you drive, you don't idle much

We could always route a coolant hose through the floorboard with a shutoff valve controlled by an external temp sensor. Anytime its below 50 degrees, coolant is run through a pad in the floorboard.

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77' 300D, "Cartman" SOLD @ 150K (didn't know what I had)
83' 300SD, "The Superdon" 325k+ @ 28mpg
95 E320 wagon, "Millennium Falcon" 231k+ @ 24 Mpg
95 E300D, "Sherley" 308k @ 33.69 Mpg, currently anticipating a head
99 Suzuki Intruder "Trudy" @ 45 mpg

Thanks for the compliment about not idling much!

Trust me, if I only had one car, I would want that aux pump. When it's 10F outside, it's noticeable. I may ride this winter out and see what I think.

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14 E250 Bluetec 4Matic "Sinclair", Palladium Silver on Black, 154k miles
06 E320 CDI "Rutherford", Black on Tan, 172k mi, Stage 1 tune, tuned TCU
91 300D "Otis", Smoke Silver on Tan, 142k mi, wastegate conversion, ALDA delete

19 Honda CR-V EX 61k mi
Fourteen other MB's owned and sold
1961 Very Tolerant Wife

Although I, like you, buy and drive a used MB diesel, it is to be expected that it breaks real often, however, just because it's old, I don't let malfunctioning equipment stay broken very long. I'd get it fixed to OE spec were it my car - this week. RE: aux. water pump malfunctioning......BTDT @ 10F in my old W126. I got 'er fixed in two days.

I'd leave it. As long as I have enough heat to keep the windshield free of fog and frost, I'm happy. I only fix the important stuff.

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Whoever said there's nothing more expensive than a cheap Mercedes never had a cheap Jaguar.

83 300D Turbo with manual conversion, early W126 vented front rotors and H4 headlights 400,xxx miles
08 Suzuki GSX-R600 M4 Slip-on 22,xxx miles
88 Jaguar XJS V12 94,xxx miles. Work in progress.

I checked and the two pumps are quite different; the W210 pump has a 210XXX part number moulded into the housing so it is chassis specific.

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'98 E300 DT
'87 190D 2.5 turbo RIP
'92 S500 Sold
'03 3.2TL-S A-Spec

the 240D you had a while back didn't have one im pretty sure. Mine doesn't. Didn't you drive that thing over the winter? I can't recall. I doubt this is a major issue realistically.

Unless you plan on installing a light bar, busting out your state trooper badge, and camping out on 95 with the engine running, I don't think you will need it. Besides, if you DO decide you need it, easy install later. Might as well wait and see if the 200 bucks stings

Mine I have no problem with no aux pump in cold temps, and ive had several cars where the aux pump was bypassed for functional issues with no cold weather complaints.

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This post brought to you by Carl's Jr.

I did not like the heat output in my 85 TD when the aux pump wasn't working.

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1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

I would:
Replace the aux pump with a brass union.
or
Spend $75 for an aftermarket seat heating unit. (They're great)
or
Remove, clean, replace my aux pump and wire in a fuse to protect the CCU.

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$60 OM617 Blank Exhaust Flanges
$110 OM606 Blank Exhaust Flanges
No merc at the moment

wasnt working as in broken and installed? or bypassed?

how does it work, can it act as a restriction just sitting there?

we get fabulous heat out of our 85 TD seems, at least not a problem at idle really, but there is no aux pump at all, its gone completely and I replumbed straight hose instead.

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This post brought to you by Carl's Jr.

I think I'll at least go through this winter and see what I think....the heat seats will help, I'm sure.

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14 E250 Bluetec 4Matic "Sinclair", Palladium Silver on Black, 154k miles
06 E320 CDI "Rutherford", Black on Tan, 172k mi, Stage 1 tune, tuned TCU
91 300D "Otis", Smoke Silver on Tan, 142k mi, wastegate conversion, ALDA delete

19 Honda CR-V EX 61k mi
Fourteen other MB's owned and sold
1961 Very Tolerant Wife