94 E420 Cooling System?
 

Hello,
I have a broke fitting on the top right side of my radiator! both ends broke . It's an elbow fitting. I was wondering if anyone could tell me if that is just a fitting or does a bunch more have to be purchased and can it be easily fixed without going to the local MB dealer that wants a ton a $$$?
and does anyone know the cost of it?
Thanks a Bunch !
I hope i didn't ask too much?
Sincerely,
Bob Perkins
1994 E420

You are going to need a new radiator. What is that stuff around it? Is that glue?

Vin

Thanks for responding ! No it's not glue. the picture isn't to great sorry about that.
It is just a small elbow fitting with both male ends broke off! one end connects to the hose that runs to the overflow tank and the other end connects to whatever runs down the right side of the radiator! I hope i don't need a radiator! it looks like a small, piddly, nothing peice
Thanks again,
Bob Perkins
Did that make any more sense?

Radiator time - contact Phil at partsshop.com for pricing/availability. This is not a bad diyer type of job.

Thank You for responding and the info ! I'll give it a shot! i'm going to call our local dealer real quick and see what the part cost!
www.europeanmotorcars.com
Thanks again
Bob

That's a $.25 piece! If the radiator tank's not broken, you can simply replace the little elbow-I broke one, and have since replaced it on both of my gas-powered W124s.

Just be careful removing the broken-off piece-you want to avoid dropping it down into the radiator if possible.

I STRONGLY recommend that anyone who has a W124 and hasn't replaced this little mother, than do so at your earliest convenience!

Michael- - how does that little nipple detached? does it swivel swivel clockwise?

...in other words how is it mounted to the top of the radiator?

tks-fad

Thank You Michael,
I appriciate the info! And your right it is a little piece of .... ! My Chevy truck parts are built better in that department ! But I Love my Benz! I just came here for the right information! anyone else have an opinion?
I have had 2 1984 BMW 318I's they never did me wrong ! But then I hopped into a 1989 Mercedes 260E (6 banger) and had a ton more fun and no problems there either! maybe i'm just lucky ! lol
When i bought this E420 (8 Banger)it was something else! I love it ! Just need the radiator peice ! $8.00, got her covered I think !!
BTW! My Mother drives an immaculate 1989 BMW 735I and it's handling is like a Vette ! But it's get up ! is a funny battle on the E420 !
Have a Good One !!!
Bob

My eyes are not what they used to be but I believe if my radiator looked like what his picture looks like I would spring for a new one. Maybe it is just the poor lighting but something looks amiss.

I second that engatwork. However, I think the picture looks very bad because of the flashlight.
I have a question, is the elbow end male or the radiator end? I've never taken one out, but always assumed that the radiator was male. From the picture it looks like the radiator’s male end is broken, which of course could only be fixed by purchasing a new radiator or fabricating something and hoping it will hold.

The other thing that I wanted to add is that this is not a common problem on these cars. I've owned three 124's (still own a 88 300CE) and I've never had any problems with that particular part. Even broken neck endings that some people experienced problems with were most likely caused by human error. I’ve seen it twice myself. Once my body shop left some kind of tool on top of the radiator and slammed the hood shut (they paid for a new radiator). The other time was on a friend’s car. We were doing a valve seal job and he accidentally leaned on the neck and broke it. What I am trying to get at is that many of these parts (especially in the engine compartment) will get very fragile over the years and you just need to be careful when working around them.

Vin

Vin-

I've had this part fail spontaneously; you've been lucky my friend.

The radiator is the female part of the equation, and that 90 degree little pain in the butt pushes straight down into the radiator tank.

Tough to tell given the marginal photo quality, but things do look a bit odd-so, clean things up real well, replace the oversized clamp holding the hose to the little part (could have been what caused it to fracture-large clamp probably interfered with something on the underside of the hood) and don't overtighten the new clamp.

Good luck!

If it is only the piece that connected to the hose broke, you can replace it. If the base on the radiator broke, you need a new radiator.

The base has two plastic clips builtin to hold the piece that connected to the hose and there is a sealing O-ring inside. If the clips broke, you need a new radiator. Excellent design by the MB engineers,

:mad:

Hello Again,
Does this picture help? I just called European MotorCars of Des Moines ! they said the part is $9.00 !
BTW- maybe the pictures look a lttle shady but you could eat out of my engine compartment They don't get any cleaner.
Have a Good One !

I just thought i'd share a picture of my E420 with you all!
It's my Baby !
Have a Good One !

From the second pic, it seems that one of the holding clips (the left one) is broken. It is an integral part of the radiator and I am afraid you need a new one. The $9 part is probably for the little piece that connects to the hose but it needs the clips on the bases to form a good seal.

New radiator time
 

Even if it were possible, I wouldn't mess around with a repair. Spring for a new radiator (about $400). Mine blew out a big hole in the plastic side tank this summer, fortunately while in my driveway. I had always used MB coolant, with regular flushes. I think it's the nature of the beast, and MAYBE the M119 engine is more likely to have radiator problems since underhood temps are higher than on the 300E (my theory). In any even, the plastic on the side tanks gets brittle, so do yourself a favor and replace it now. You do not want to fry this fine engine.

I just called our local dealer again. and mentioned what some of you are talking about with the broken clips and the peice may just connect to the hose etc etc. so he pulled up a picture of the fitting and told me the peice that broke is a male end on both sides! so from what i am understanding is it's not a broken peice on the radiator! I have to go see them Monday to order the part! I'll look at the picture and hope it an easy inexpensive fix! I'll let you all know he outcome ! And i Sincerely appriciate all the information !
Bob

You do not need a new radiator!!!!!!!
Just replace the old fitting it is very simple. Make sure not to let the old bits of fitting fall into the radiator.
Bob I have already taked to you about this very problem (well maybe it was your wife).
Look at this post that I had made on the very same subject, and you replied to it.
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/tech-help/23934-need-part-m119-radiator.html

Good Luck
Subman:)

Thank You Subman !!
That's what i wanted to hear ! and that is also what the parts man told me to ! just the fitting is all i need! Just curious ? what is the best way to remove the broken peice without losing it in the radiator?
Sincerely Thanks a Bunch !!

I think you should try the $9.00 part-if indeed one of the retainers is broken, then epoxy the sucker into place rather than eating a new radiator!!

Thank You Micheal!
That is what i'm going to do first and hope it's all I have to do !!
I'm glad I found you guys! I believe it was a Paul in a WEBTV Mercedes Newsgroup that headed me Here ! I'm glad he did !
Thanks again to all of you are so willing to help !!!

In order not to loose the bits of plastic in the radiator. You should take the inlet hose off and put something in there to catch all the bits (you will lose a bit of radiator fulid) then just push the half that is still in the radiator down into the waiting cup or hand or aluminum foil shaped to fit in the radiator. I made the mistake of pushing the bits down and had to take the whole radiator out. While you are at it get a new hose, mine stared to leak again but I changed the hose and now it is fine.
If you have any more probles this board is the place to go I know it has saved me hundreds of dollars :D :D :D :D .
Subman

Thank You All !
 

Hello Everyone !
Well the $9.00 fitting Fixed it ! with about 4 minutes of work ! if you want to call it work !!! I just wanted to Thank Everyone for the responses !!!
Awesome You Guys are Great !!!
Sincerely,

I am curious here, Bob. How did you fix it? What is the part number for the $9 piece?

Hello Bo,
the peice that broke was an elbow peice of plastic. both ends of it were male and one end broke in the hose and the other end broke going down into the radiator. the peice that broke going into the radiator was an interesting process. i had to take the big hose off coming out of the top of the radiator. then i had to CAREFULLY break off the 3 clips and pull them out so they didn't fall into the radiator. then i held my finger on the bottom of the remainder of that peice and my Dad took a screw into it and pulled it out! then the new elbow popped right in!rehooked the hose and that was it ! part number ? good question? here is what is on the package 11039C556 and it says Radiator fitting under that! now there are other numbers on here! if that's not it let me know and i'll get you the other numbers
Have a Good One !

Thanks, Bob.

So you got an aftermarket piece? Usually the MB part numbers are like 124-240-06-18 (this is the transmisson mount part number, BTW).

Maybe the radiator in your V8 is different from these of the inline 6. I see that part as an integarla part of the radiator of my 1991 300E. Then my 1987 300TD does not even have that part on the radiator.

Bob,

A little search on the Internet revealed the following:

Although it may look integral, the coolant overflow fitting at the top of the radiator can be replaced on six-cylinder E- and S-Class cars. To fix a leak, just remove the upper hose, place a 9mm box wrench over the socket, press the fitting out using a big screwdriver under the wrench, then install a new fitting.

If I understand what this is saying, the box wrench is to protect the two clips from breaking, no?

Bob, does the fitting look like the one in the attached picture?

If yes, then it is part number 000-500-08-94 and it is a $3 part.

On my sold 1990 300E, there was a slow leak on that fitting. My mechanic very carefully removed the fitting and replaced an O-ring. He commented about being careful with the clips on the radiator to hold that part as if that breaks, then a new radiator is needed.

My feeling is that you got a different part as the one you had broke was on the radiator.

Bo
 

Hello Bo,
I'm not sure about the difference on the v-8 and the inline 6 radiators ! I just sold an 89 260E and it had the 6 of course! but i never once had to get under the hood of it!
I did have it serviced regularly though! as for the part, That is it you have pictured! and it does have that number on the package 000 500 08 94 I purchased it from our Des Moines,Iowa Dealer
www.europeanmotorcars.com and they stuck me with a $9 bill! where did you find it that cheap? as for the 3 clips i said i had to break and not drop in the radiator are the ones on the bottom right side of you picture on the fitting. Then I had to keep the remainder the broken piece from falling in the radiator with my finger while My dad just ran a screw into the peice and got it out !

Fastlane, the parts shop here, has it for less than $3.

No Kidding! That's cool if i need anything else i'll be sure to check here first! what would be the shipping and handling on something like that?

Yep, that was me Bob on the alt.auto.mercedes board that pointed you here.

Glad to have ya, and glad you got the advice you needed :)

~Paul

Hello Paul
 

I'm Glad you sent me here or I probably never would have found it!
Thanks Buddy it's been a real help ! I've learn more in here going through the discussion boards in the last week than I have in the 3 years of owning Mercedes-Benz
Sincerely,
Thanks Again,

I noticed on my 95 E420 with same problem. But i had my male fitting fall into radiator. and I had to take radiator out to get the broken part out. But this forum is helpful. The experience and suggestions are greatly appreciated.

Thanks
kamal

That sounds painful!

I repaired a similar fitting on a 300D turbo radiator with a two piece valve stem used for custom wheels. This valve stem goes through the valve stem hole and then a nut is screwed onto the stem to hold it in place.

You can get such a valve stem at your local custom wheel dealer. To put it in place, grind the area flat where it will seal. Push a wire from the outside of the hole through to the neck or large hose connection. Slip the valve stem over the wire and bend the wire to keep it from coming off. Then pull the wire with stem attached to get the stem through the hole from the inside. Slide your nut over the wire and tighten. Don't forget the rubber washer seals.

Remove the valve core from the valve stem and clamp your hose in place. Worked great for me and saved buying a radiator.

Good luck,