How hot is too hot

I have a 1982 300SD and it's real hot outside. Now this is the first summer for me with this car so how hot is hot. It normally runs around 90c. Today it sat around 100c on the road and inched up towards 105c in heavy traffic with ac on. Once moving it cools right back to 100c. Is this too hot or is this acceptable for real hot weather.

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Mark B

82 300SD 225k
81 300D dead at 207k

[jeffsr]

105 in hot weather with a/c on is probably OK. As long as it doesn't keep climbing while sitting at idle. If it drops down to about 95-100 in the city, you're probably OK. Keep an eye out for trends to staying elevated. Check the t-stat and cooling system, especially hoses. Gotta be on top of that stuff for hot weather and a/c use.

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Jeff L
1987 300e
1989 300e
1987 BMW 325

Check your A/C condensor fan and see if it is running when you turn the A/C on. I noticed on my e320 the temp creeping up around 100 then coming down after the fans came on from the heat. You will also notice that your A/C is not cooling very well especially sitting still).

Benzmac recommended checking a fuse under the fuse panel, and sure enough it was blown, replaced the 15 with a 20 (as he suggested) and now my temp stays at a steady 85 - 90.

[This message has been edited by jfaldridge (edited 06-12-2000).]

Ya its not relay that bad i have a 1985 500 sel nad i have troble keeping it below 100c its not un comon you might wanna check your aux. fan or if you live in a warm area year round alot of people take the thermastat out

The aux fan works just fine. Some of the hoses are too soft. I will replace them soon. Everything else seems ok. I have the reciepts that show the radiator, thermastat and radiator cap are new 3 years ago. Temp does not continue to rise past 105c. After everyones comments, I feel pretty good about the situation. I will replace the soft hoses asap just to feel better.

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Mark B

82 300SD 225k
81 300D dead at 207k

[ncarter]

The thermostat isn't a very expensive part, and is easy to replace since you'll have the coolant drained anyway to replace those hoses. If it were me, I'd probably replace the thermostat at the same time. Then, check the old thermostat to see if it was bad... there's a way to test them in a kitchen oven but I don't remember exactly what to look for offhand.

If the old thermostat was not bad, then save it for next time...

- Nathan
'83 240D