W123 1985 280TE Station Wagon Heater Issue
 

Hello, I have a 1985 280TE Wagon that has an issue with the heater. After driving 10-15 minutes the water temp gets up to 80 degrees C or so and the air coming out of the vents is lukewarm at best. If I turn the car totally off and it sits for 2 to 5 minutes and then re-start the car the air coming out is now hot. I am not very mechanically inclined Maybe I bought the wrong car! :) Any suggestions on where to start? I will need to find a REAL mechanic and would like to have some idea prior to taking the car in. THANK YOU VERY MUCH!

Kevin

since this is a euro car we have to establish what kind of a heater valve do you have. Do you have the push button system like all 1985 us cars or do you have a manual system with 3 rotary knobs?

It has the push button system.

with the push button system then you should have a "monovalve" mounted on the firewall. It's an electric valve that opens and closes the coolant circuit.

To check where the fault is you can try disconnecting it (Disconnected should put out full heat) and that will help us see where the fault is

Thank you! I will try that.

X2 ^^^ ...If it is the monovalve I've heard of problems with aftermarket. Some have successfully replaced the insert with the BMW equivalent costing less than an MB valve.

Good luck!!!

Thanks!