Disagree about the shroud in theory and in practice, in pusher or puller configuration. The shroud increases cooling by directing the air so it goes through more surface area of the condenser/radiator, instead of just the area in front/ behind the fan blades. This is true only if the fan is not in contact with the condenser/radiator, e.g. mounted on it with Nylon straps (which is not a good way of installing a fan). With a good fitting shroud, there must be an air gap between the fan and radiator/ condenser.

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85 300D turbo pristine w 157k when purchased 167,870 July 2025
83 300 D turbo 297K runs great. SOLD!
83 240D 4 spd manual- parted out then junked

Except there is no such thing as a good fitting shroud, certainly not the stock shroud sitting in front of the condenser. If you look carefully around the perimeter of the shroud there are always leaks. Put your hand behind the radiator with the aux fans running and theres barely any airflow getting through. And when the aux fans are not running the shroud is simply blocking airflow. There is really no way to make that plastic thing air tight around the condenser. This is not F1 technology. Its ill conceived and MB got rid of it around 2000. Cooling fans are only effective behind the radiator.

My 190e went from this.


To this. Pic was taken before reinstalling the radiator.


Guess which setup has the colder AC? Not only that but the engine stays cooler because there more air getting through to the radiator even when the electric puller fan is not running.

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CENSORED due to not family friendly words