I recently purchased some MB antifreeze and the dealer told me that the price went DOWN (to only about 2x the cost of "ordinary" AF), probably due to the lower cost of oil. I don't think that there is any good reason NOT to use it on a car that you care about.

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86 560SL
With homebrew first gear start!
85 380SL
Daily Driver Project

http://juliepalooza.8m.com/sl/mercedes.htm

It seems that most places do not stock the Zerez G-05. We have NAPA auto parts stores in our area and they can get it. Ordered some a couple of months ago and bought 2 gallons for about $12.50 each. I suspect that any place that sells Zerex could order the G-05. This antifreeze is also approved by Mercedes - in fact I believe Zerex has made the MB brand for them since the '80s - just a different dye color in the Zerex labeled package. Zerex lists this as good for 150K miles or 5 years but I personally think it is still best to change it every 2-3 years for maxumum protection (freshness of additive package). Don't use the DEXCOOL! It has caused enough problems for GM and your car is not designed for this formulation.

Pep Boys stocks G-05 around here and NAPA can get it.

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Jim

Absolutely DO NOT use Dexcool with your type of radiator! I made that mistake a few years back in my older Toyota Pickup with a brass radiator and it quickly ate through the solder joints and ruined the radiator.

The best advice is to stick with the dealer supplied MB antifreeze, if you can't find any G-05. However, as long as you thoroughly flush your cooling system, just about any other type of antifreeze (except Dexcool) will be just fine. Just make sure you follow the change interval that is prescribed for that particular antifreeze.

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2000 c280 Sport (looks like an upgrade, feels like a downgrade)
1991 190e 2.3 (sold)

Go to Phil at Fastlane on the above banner. Get the correct antifreeze. Not too much more expensive, and peace of mind.
regards.
Mark

I, too, have purchased it at Pep Boys. But that was probably a year ago. Seemed like it was 9.99 a gallon

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1989 300ce 129k
( facelifted front,updated tail lights, lowered suspension,bilstein sports, lorinser front spoiler, MOMO steering wheel, remus exhaust,stainless steel brake lines). (Gone)

1997 s320 154k (what a ride). Sold with 179k miles. Replaced with Hyundai Equus

1994 e320 Cabriolet 108k



1972 280se 4.5 153k Owned for 12 yrs, sorry I sold it


[/SIGPIC]

$9.00 / gallon at Pep Boys about 3 weeks ago for me...

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08 W251 R350
97 W210 E320
91 W124 300E
86 W126 560SEL
85 W126 380SE Silver
85 W126 380SE Cranberry
79 W123 250
78 W123 280E
75 W114 280

"However, as long as you thoroughly flush your cooling system, just about any other type of antifreeze (except Dexcool) will be just fine. Just make sure you follow the change interval that is prescribed for that particular antifreeze."

Before someone follows the above advice, they should think for just a small second about this logic. In essence, the poster is saying it's ok to ignore the MB approved fluids list. This is absolutely not true. MB approved coolant are the MB brand and the Zerex G-05. They are the same product.

How in the world did the author figure out that any anti-freeze with the exception of "DEXCOOL" is OK for MB engines? Based on what facts or statistics?

Steve (based on literally hundreds of posts on this subject)

...perhaps including your approximate geographic location on your profile might help you get some help?

If you are living in Bali (vs. SoCal or Atlanta) it might explain the perceived unavailability?

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'91 420 SEL @ 199K, '92 SVX @ 181K, '93 SC400 @ 86K, '93 Kaw ZX-11 @ 30K, '87 F250 @ 181K , 2001 Valkyrie Interstate @ 6K, Y2K Honda NightHawk 250 with 1.5K, '88 420SEL I.@ 179K & the 2nd latest, an '88 420SEL II.@ 210K runnin' parts car, '85 F150 300/NP435