What colour should the Mercedes coolant be?

I am curious, what is so different about the cast iron, aluminum and plastic used in a M/B compared to any other vehicle. Why do M/B vehicles require special coolant? Could it be the the corrosion that a previous poster mentioned be caused by the use of cooling system flush chemicals or improper coolant/water ratios? or differed cooling system maintenance or some sort of improper electrical charge in the cooling system due to a bad ground?

Really, I would like some real answers or links to real answers other than a pat "you can only use M/B coolant or XYZ coolant in a M/B".

Just curious........

A valid question / request.

The first link is to a STAR article in PDF, a good read.

https://mbwholesaleparts.com/StarTuned/pdfs/AntiFreeDec04.pdf

The second to a coolant discussion that should probably be a DIY sticky:

Coolant

__________________

Gone to the dark side

- Jeff

Lots of aluminum bits on the 450SL and other much earlier MB engines dating to the 50's. Non-diesel heads were aluminum with various water pump/thermostat housing bits also made of aluminum. The mid 50's to early 60's 300SL had alloy blocks too as did the M189 engined 300SE from 1961-1967. The M130 engines from the late 60's to 70's tended to have numerous head related problems including corrosion but I'm not sure how much of the corrosion problems with those engines was due to poor cooling system maintenance or what. Mark