You guys were right! This was a lot easier than I thought...and I didn't break any parts! I didn't have a manual on hand, so I had to dismantle carefully. This really is a great forum!

Anyway, The radiator is in. Now I need to know, can I use an off-the-shelf product like Prestone, or should I go to the dealership and buy the MB brand?

Oh no G-benz! Please do a search on 'coolant'. The subject of what coolant to use has been discussed and beaten to death. Again there are many many many opinions.

Here are two of the best threads....

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/tech-help/12636-coolant-red-vs-green.html

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/tech-help/14110-corrosion-coolin-sys-q.html


Hope they help.

Use OE coolant! Every tech I've ever met worth his salt HATES the green stuff...an ounce of prevention, as they say.

MB Anti-freeze + Water + WW
 

My vote is for MB antifreeze (40%) plus distilled water (60%) and one can of Water Wetter. You'll love it!

Check this link out: http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/tech-help/17519-water-wetter-compatible.html

Okay, I read the other threads, and my decision will be...(drum roll please)...the RED stuff that MB recommends.

All of my MBs have been serviced by the dealer (until now when I replaced the OVP and radiator on the 300E), and they all have the red stuff.

Unfortunately, all I had in the garage was the green stuff (for the Conquest outside) so I used it to test drive the car and look for leaks and such. Going on vacation, so no time to do the flush myself, so I'll just drop it off at the dealer's and have them correct my error.

Thanks again everyone!

Green / Red / CLEAR
 

I change the Antifreeze(Clear "colorless" from the factory)in my 92 400e every with MB Clear"colorless" AF every other year since new. Last year when I changed it, The MB AF they sold me was Clear "colorless". After reading this discussion thread , I called My local dealer and MBNA 800-222-0100. The part Gal told me that MB had just recently changed the color of the fluid. MBNA confirmed this and added however, that the properties are IDENTICAL!!!
So DONT be alarmed as I would have been had I not read and confirmed this,if you go to the dealer and are sold some of the clear stuff or Redish-orange.If you get it from the "Stealer" its probably the right stuff. Also if you lose some due to breaking a hose or otherwise, The offending color can be used to top off the AF without worry of consequence. I suppose that the environmentalist made them change the formula so as to lessen the likely hood of accidental ingestion as water by small children, animals, Thirsty techs and the like.

Not quite so...
 

You should not mix MB anti freeze (clear, red, orange [blue in some parts]) with Prestone (always green). The difference in make-up can cause particulates to settle out of solution and clog the cooling vanes in your radiator. Some chemical gobbltygook about silicate versus nonsilicate and the lack of compatability between the two.

Now if you're talking about mixing clear MB coolant and reddish-orange MB coolant then all should be OK.

This topic has been covered before, but I highly suggest using the red-orange MB coolant. The previous owner of my 300D used that green crap, and not suprisingly the radiator became plugged. Why give you Mercedes anything less than what it deserves? Buy the stuff from the dealer.

As others said, get the OEM stuff from the dealer, its orange I believe, and the price difference is negligable.

Though personally I don't see why one brand would make much difference over another, you might as well just go for the OEM stuff as long as you are looking for the best, MB will tell you theirs is the best, so you might as well trust in those who built the car. :)

I havent even checked to see what my mech used, but I don't care, the car runs much cooler than before in hotter weather with AC on max Cold. :) So why mess with something thats workin. :) I'll check it, if its the "good" stuff, I'll let you guys know.

Alon