The factory installed W124 BEHR evaporator used aluminum tubing with a copper manifold.

Supposedly, the two dissimilar metals had very different expansion coefficients, and when cycled frequently eventually failed at the junction between the aluminum and copper.

Supposedly, the current generation of W124 BEHR evaporators do NOT use dissimilar metals anymore, just like the aftermarket ACM (all aluminum), or the Proliance/Modine (all copper tubing and manifold but with aluminum fins (OK), but with supposedly a poor fit).

Can someone please post pics of the current W124 BEHR evaporator showing the tubing and manifold junction ?

Thanks,
:-) neil

The "replacement" Behr unit is just like the ACM & is no longer an OE part.

They are made in Thailand. We never install the Behr units due to the HIGH failure rate!

__________________
MERCEDES Benz Master Guild Technician (6 TIMES)
ASE Master Technician
Mercedes Benz Star Technician (2 times)
44 years foreign automotive repair
27 Years M.B. Shop foreman (dealer)
MB technical information Specialist (15 years)
190E 2.3 16V ITS SCCA race car (sold)
1986 190E 2.3 16V 2.5 (sold)
Retired Moderator

Good to know.

What do you think of the Proliance/Modine all copper one (aluminum fins) ? I've heard they are a poor fit.

Anything on Meistersatz ?

Or is it, just use ACM, and forget about it. . .

:-) neil

The proliance WILL NOT FIT! I had one when I did this project--ended up sending it back and getting an ACM. In my opinion, ACM is the only solution for this project.

J. M. van Swaay

ACM was recommended when I did it last year on our 95 E320.

That's what I used, and I didn't have any fit problems.

Jim

__________________
14 E250 BlueTEC black. 45k miles
95 E320 Cabriolet Emerald green 66k miles
94 E320 Cabriolet Emerald green 152k miles
85 300TD 4 spd man, euro bumpers and lights, 15" Pentas dark blue 274k miles

The "meistersatz" is a good aftermarket unit as well. ON the same level as the ACM.

__________________
MERCEDES Benz Master Guild Technician (6 TIMES)
ASE Master Technician
Mercedes Benz Star Technician (2 times)
44 years foreign automotive repair
27 Years M.B. Shop foreman (dealer)
MB technical information Specialist (15 years)
190E 2.3 16V ITS SCCA race car (sold)
1986 190E 2.3 16V 2.5 (sold)
Retired Moderator

That's great to know. Currently the Meistersatz is about $100 cheaper than the ACM, but from the pics it doesn't look like it comes with the foam-rubber.

:-) neil

Attached Thumbnails

   

BTW: have you (or anyone else) installed a Meistersatz ?

:-) neil

Below is the response I received from CRP Industries, who holds the brands Meistersatz, ContiTech (serpentine belts, etc), and Pentosin (brake fluid, etc.):

There's nothing necessarily bad about being made in Taiwan, etc., but now I need some real-world experience with this evaporator. . .

:-) neil

=======

Thank you for your inquiry about our evaporator. Right now all of our
aftermarket evaporators are made by one manufacturer that we use
exclusively in Taiwan. We have had the W124 evaporator in our product
offering for many years and haven't had any issues with it. If you end
up purchasing one of the evaporator kits which include the expansion
valve pre-mounted you'll see that the expansion valve we include is OE.

Our current warranty for A/C related products is one year after the date
of purchase.

We are currently going through a rebranding effort so it is possible
that the Meistersatz Evaporator comes to you labeled as "Rein
Automotive". Rein Automotive is a new brand we have been launching over
the last few months that represents OE Quality parts available to
independent technicians.

If you have any other questions about this part or any other part we
distribute please feel free to contact me.

Best Regards,

David Hirschhorn
Senior Product Manager
CRP Automotive

I have installed the Rein evaporator over a year ago, and it is performing very well, especially in the heat and humidity of Florida!

Very good quality, and a value price.

:-) neil

Any updates on your rein evaporator?

__________________
http://superturbodiesel.com/images/sig.04.10.jpg
1987 300D Sturmmachine
1991 300D Nearly Perfect
1994 E320 Cabriolet
1995 E320 Touring
2001 Eurovan FOR SALE
1985 300D car, sold and missed.
OBK #42

As noted in post #5, the ACM in our 95 E320 is still working fine.

Jim

__________________
14 E250 BlueTEC black. 45k miles
95 E320 Cabriolet Emerald green 66k miles
94 E320 Cabriolet Emerald green 152k miles
85 300TD 4 spd man, euro bumpers and lights, 15" Pentas dark blue 274k miles