So I need a new radiator, and I find that I can purchase a BEHR OEM part, but it is made of plastic with an aluminum core. I have heard so many different things about plastic versus aluminum, but given that it is made by BEHR, is it a good radiator?

The original radiator that came with the car is the same type, aluminum with plastic end tanks.

A lot of Behr stuff is made in China now but I've used them recently on a few different vehicles and they are working well so far.

thanks for the reply.

I don't know why my veteran Mercedes mechanic made a whole big point about the making of one hundred percent metal radiators in China!

BEHR is a German company, and because Germany has good business ethics I would imagine they would keep a close eye on their Chinese producer.

anybody here of these guys? They make hundred percent aluminum radiators made of aircraft grade aluminum:


https://instantradiator.com/product/1986-1987-mercedes-benz-300sdl-aluminum-radiator/

A poster recommended Nissin radiators for the 86 300 SDL, but I don't seem to. be able to find where to purchase them. My searches usually reroute me to some generic aluminum radiator

I will keep those in mind if I need another radiator in the future. A word re: 3 row vs 2 row radiators. I had a radiator shop build me a 3 row radiator for my W123 300TD (wagon) w/ 85 turbo. I discovered it was a waste of money as it made the car take longer to warm up, esp in city driving from a cold start in normal say 60-70 degree weather. I even replaced the thermostat with one tested and it still needed 15-20 miles of flat out pedal to the metal to hit 80C. It was so bad that I put a piece of cardboard in front of the rad to get it to reach hot when in cold weather, I think it was that trip across West Texas in 15F weather. In retrospect I would have been better off with a stock rad.

On the present subject, I have a radiator out of a 350SDL with little miles on it, it had been replaced prior to my geting the car and eventually scrapping it. Not sure it will fit the 87 SDL but if interested I can look for a p/n.
PM me if your interested. DDH

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'95 E320 Wagon my favorite road car. '99 E300D wolf in sheeps body, '87 300D Sportline suspension, '79 300TD w/ 617.952 engine at 367,750 and counting!

Unless something has changed since I had a 300SDL (so in the last couple years), you get a choice of used or an aluminum one like that from various sources. The stock ones have been discontinued for at least 8-10 years if not longer.

Where are you finding the Behr radiators? I have not been able to find any OE or OEM, or aftermarket radiators for years except for those ugly aluminum ones.

there is a rumor that BEHR may do another run of them, but it's unsubstantiated.

Aluminum isn't bad if it's made correctly. The one mentioned above… Liland Global from ********…has a number of very problematic reviews. It's made of very thin gauge aluminum.

I've used no-name aluminum radiators too, on a couple of turbo Subarus.

Havent noticed any difference in performance, but I like the all-aluminum welded rads because most all the rads I've ever had to replace failed at the plastic tanks or at the tank/core junction. All-aluminum rads eliminate both of these weak points. I wouldnt mind running an all aluminum rad on any benz.

If you are worried about how they look, IIRC the tanks are on the sides on these cars so not really seen. And painting the end tanks black should make them blend in nicely.

I wouldnt mind an all aluminum rad at all.

I'm also beginning to think that all aluminum is advantageous, but it's the quality of the aluminum that's important.

******** has Liland global which is thin gauge aluminum, and has a number of questionable reviews

There are other companies which make them, some very expensive. I might have a line on a good one that's not crazy expensive at some point.

all aluminum radiator

Thanks for the link. I've just emailed them to see if I send them a new, leaking one from a 98/99 E300 could they build an all aluminum radiator and about how much it will cost. I'll let y'all know when I hear back.

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Jim

The link above is for a vendor of Champion radiators. The actual company is in Lake Elsinore California, and if they have a champion for your car (they don't have one currently for mine… Out of stock) you're in luck. They are all aluminum and, though manufactured in China, are welded throughout… No epoxy like some of the similar Chinese radiators.

They are about 1/3 of the price of other American aluminum radiators.

If they had one for the 86 300 SDL I'd be happy

I have one of those in my SDL, Maybe not the same manufacturer, then again, it might be one outfit in China who has made them out of all aluminum for all I know. I’m real happy with mine.

Likewise for my mechanic who has one of those on one of his two 350SD models. The Behr radiator spoken of here was not available as far as I know back in 2017 when I bought my all alum unit.

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1986 300SDL, 362K
1984 300D, 138K

That’s where my OEM radiator failed.

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1986 300SDL, 362K
1984 300D, 138K