I'm looking for anyone with experience, knowledge, or contact with the RennTech hi-capacity radiator for the 500E or any other high-capacity radiators?

Thanks in advance,
:-) neil

Neil:

You might give this site a try. TobiasMB on this forum spoke highly of them about 2 years ago. They have racing, high perf, and aftermarket all aluminum radiators, and are in Ontario, CA.

Renntech cooling add-ons

http://www.fluidyne.com/

__________________
John

2003 Firemist Red/grey leather SL 500
2015 Palladium Silver/black mbtex GLK 350
1987 Smoke Silver/burgundy mbtex 300E Sportline (SOLD)

Click to see 87 300E

to the punch John!!

I believe, but not 100% positive, that RennTech's radiators are sourced
from Griffin in Piedmont, SC. Personally I like the quality of the Fluidyne much more and also because of one other reason I won't get into.

The Fluidyne company does high performance and one-offs as a side line to their production of 25-35K units a year by some 350 employees. And they are ISO9000 certified. I've dealt with their East coast office in Mooresville, NC (NASCAR country) and they treat you for a one-off as they would a customer needing 500 radiators. Griffin radiators have side tanks that are stamped and look like a copper radiator copy. Be Cool, AFCO and some others have square end tanks but the Fluidyne has 45 degree bevels in theirs so coolant doesn't become stagnant....helps keep it ALL moving. Its the small details that are engineered in. NO epoxy is used to help seal the construction as many do attaching the tanks to the core. They may cost more, but you get what you pay for, quality unsurpassed.

Good luck,
TobiasMB
4 MBs

I emailed Fluidyne, and I must of got the wrong person. He wouldn't even consider doing a one-off for my 500E.

Anyone have a contact at Fluidyne?

I'm hoping a custom is between $500-$800.

Thanks,
Neil

I've been wondering about a "custom" hi-perf radiator, or just purchasing a new ($370) or rebuilt one ($150), esp. with all the talk about 500E's overheating.

Perhaps I'll put in dual electric fans (lose the viscous fan for some more HP) and add a resistor to the water-coolant temperature probe.

Fluidyne is pointing me to "Cooled by Ice Performance Radiators" in Sarasota, Florida.

Anyone know about these guys?

Thanks,
:-) neil

I received the same answer from Fluidyne. They said they used to do small jobs, but no more. RennTech doesn't offer the radiator currently. Anybody out there found a recent source?

__________________
Bob Johnston
03 E55
Comand/Nav/Bluetooth/Ipod added
Black/black
(Oh man, this car is sooooo fast.)

http://griffinrad.com/

This is the web site to Griffin radiators - call them. What you will find out is that yes, they will do a one off BUT you have to send them your existing radiator to use as a pattern. They will make you an all aluminum radiator for between $800 and $1200 and when I called, it was taking about 6 weeks. I have seen one of their radiators and there is no doubt that the quality is first class. I went with a Behrs from mercedesshop.com.

__________________
Jim

The source of Renntech Radiators was Ron Davis Radiator
7334 North 108th Ave
Glendale, Arizona
phone 602-269-9194

Cost for 500E all aluminum larger capacity is about $1,200-if I remember correctly. They may be more now. Generally takes 6-8 wks or so- depending on what race car work they are involved in.
They are Beautiful units- at least to my untrained eyes.

If there was enough interest, maybe we could negotiate a package deal. I tapped the front of my 500 into a jeep (NO damage to the jeep) and the fan hit the radiator- now its junk and unrepairable. There is almost No clearance between the fan an radiator, so any front damage WILL trash the radiator. I have replaced it with a stock unit, and the car does run slightly hotter- especially in traffic. (at least until I put in Italian benzs fix)

I would be interested in trying to do a deal with Ron-any other possible takers?

If I could get one for between 600 and 800, I would probably be interested. I have a E420, but I would imagine that the fitment is about the same. Let me know.

__________________
Bob Johnston
03 E55
Comand/Nav/Bluetooth/Ipod added
Black/black
(Oh man, this car is sooooo fast.)

My car has a RennTech radiator (made by Ron Davis in AZ).
Yes, it is beffier than stock,,,,, so thick that it almost didn't fit!
Yes, it looks totally cool (before you install it & it disappears under the shroud).

Mine is four years old now, and I've had no problems with it.
The one "downside" is that it didn't really make as much a temp difference as I expected. I still have to "watch it closely" in traffic on hot days (over 95) witrh the a/c on.
I remove the plastic panel under the engione for summer driving and that helps,too.

On the racetrack, though- the radiator does help it run cooler than it used too.......... Which is where you can really use a 500e the way it is meant to be driven!

__________________
Alain
independant MBZ tech since 1981
http://www.motorsportlegendsks.com/

Alain- your observation of not getting lower temps with the thicker core is right on with what "BeCool" and "Cooled by Ice" told me.

Both have told me to budget $800, and don't get a thicker core, but a more efficient fin assembly.

Moreover, install one or two electronic fans so you get proper air flow at idle and stop-n-go traffic.

I think I'll try a rebuilt radiator and the electric fans BEFORE a custom radiator.

:-) neil

This may be too far out there, but in 1998 Oak ridge national labs discovered carbon foam, which weighs much less than aluminum and transfers heat better. The article lists a company that makes the foam and a subcontractor that makes auto radiators - smaller and lighter than stock. No clue what these things cost: "If you have to ask..."

http://www.ornl.gov/ORNLReview/v33_3_00/foam.htm

__________________
John

2003 Firemist Red/grey leather SL 500
2015 Palladium Silver/black mbtex GLK 350
1987 Smoke Silver/burgundy mbtex 300E Sportline (SOLD)

Click to see 87 300E

Neil,
Sorry if I took you down the wrong path as I haven't spoke with Fluidyne for about a year. The regional sales manager, Jeff Tutino, left for another job within NASCAR but his wife, Mona, still is office manager. You can reach her at 1-888-FLUIDYNE or 1-888-358-4396.
Good luck and by the way maybe Calif is too busy to do one-offs but the NC site does make radiators from their parts supply of different cores, tubes and end caps, etc. Been there, seen them!!
Also made a mistake on their ratings...they are ISO-9001 and QS-9000
International Standards.
The radiators have 25mm, 38mm or 55mm tube design with up to four cores thick if wanted!

Let me know what you find out and I'll call Mona to tell her of impending calls coming.

Tobias MB
4 MBs

I've spoken with my Fluidyne contact here in NC and was told that you are correct concerning the CA facility not being able to do any one-offs because it conflicts too much with the regular production. Mona told me that they can do one-offs in the NC facility but only if the OE core corresponds with one of theirs.
I have a friend with a 500E and will do some measuring to see if it would fit into the Fluidyne parameters. The width may be in millimeters but either close in inches or the difference made up in the end tanks.
Does anyone know if a 400E radiator is the same size physically? It would be less expensive to build if the transmission cooler were segregated from the radiator in addition to being more effecient.

Anyone have additional input to this...?

Tobias MB
4 MBs

Tobias- any luck on getting the "core size" for the 400E/500E radiators?

I'm getting ready to contact Mona to see if Fluidyne can make 1-5 of these radiators, preferably with dual-electric fans and dual-thermostats & independent power feeds for fail-safe operation.

If you can alert her that I will be contacting her soon, it would be much appreciated.

Thanks,
:-) neil

PS: have you done a 1/4 mile runs with the 5.0/190E? What were the times?