Brothers of The Benz
The Evaporator coils priced from a M/B Dealer $718.00, 2 year warrantee.

The Evaporator coils priced from a grey market supplier, OE part, plain brown wrapper, $195.00, 2 year warrantee.

Where would you purchase this part, considerring the depth of disassembling involved?

Happy Trails Beep Beep from The Spiderman in Houston!!!

P.S. And I left you with the feeling that my 1987 300E was bullet proof.

Even though the spelling is the same, not all evaporators are equal. From the same supplier I can purchase 124 evaporators from $89 to around $230. I usually buy the $230 one.

It is an exact replacement including expansion valve and the insulative boot where the hoses go through the case. I have used many of the copper units (the cheapest) but can not stand to deal with the crummy fit. The aluminum units with expansion valves fit and look exactly like the one from MB. Hopefullly they have improved the metallurgy.

My starter went out on my 84 ford f-150 this winter. Called a friend to give me a ride. O'reiley's had an aftermarket for $12 less than the rebuilt motorcraft, both had the lifetime warranty. I got the cheaper one, got back and could not get it to fit, the grove on the block and raised ring cast into the starter motor were of a slightly different diameter. Mind you I was Christmas shopping and it was about 15 degrees with a hefty north wind. I was in the parking lot of a store with my 13 yr old daughter (Who learned some interesting new technical terms from the experience) I went back and got the OEM part and was on my way in 15 minutes. I guess the moral of this story is "you get what you pay for" and "a true friend will leave his nice warm home to help you out"

dlswnfrd
What is the difference between the two? Steve points out fit and finish, and mentions material. Is saving that much money, (I agree, it IS a lot), worth tearing your dash apart again when this fails? I understand this is why you posted this, but think about it: how can they sell the same thing for so much less money?

This is how some of the parts suppliers make cheaper parts. They do not hold the locations of holes and other features to the tight tolerances the OEM does, and the part is faster to produce. We see this in my industry frequently. I am constantly questioned as to why the original parts cost so much. But my field service people are also constantly dealing with repairing machines that have low quality parts bolted to them! I could cut the price in half easily on many of my parts if I would relax the tolerances on them.

My $.02. I always buy the parts I KNOW will fit. I wish you good luck in your repair and have fun!

P.S. Partsshop has two variations of for 1987 300e, evaporator, one for $128 and one for $156, just to add to your confusion!

I remember when the a/c questions were heavy last summer, someone saying that the original had copper AND aluminum which created a bimetallic problem. The replacements were all copper or all aluminum. In choosing a replacement, I would want to ensure that the unit is NOT bimetallic.

Good luck,

Confused?
 

You Bet!
Brothers of The Benz
Thanks stevebil and Larry for your input.
It's summer time ain't it?
My evap coil isn't bad. It's a vacuum device that is the problem.
Last week I replaced the compressor/cluch, drier/reciever and the expansion valve.
Considerring the labor involved in replacing the vac piece, I know it is good practice to replace all components accessable during disassembly.
Today I have investigated the purchasing of an evaporator coiling coil.
I've gotten prices from $129.50 to $718.00
Confusion!
Not all are the same; bi-metal, copper, aluminum, with and without an expansion valve and insulating boot.
Through patience and persaverience, I prevailed.
An OE unit with all of the hardware and valving required to put the evaporator assembly into original condition; and it cost $70.00 more than the highest priced gray market unit.
Both come with the same 24 month warrantee, except the OE is honored at any M/B Dealer, parts and labor. Where the G/M unit only warrantees the part and no labor.
I've purchased three sticks of dynamite as disassembly tools.
If you see a glow in the southern sky, it's Little Ole Me.
Happy Trails Beep Beep from The Spiderman in Houston!!!

Another point to consider is who made the "aftermarket" part. Example I have experienced; Behr makes radiators for MB. If you buy a Behr radiator from an aftermarket supplier it will cost much less than a radiator from the dealer. The difference? The "MB" logo is missing from the Behr "aftermarket" radiator. I noticed this with BMW also.