While removing the thermostat from my 91 300e, the little round ball/valve fell out & down into the antifreeze in the housing. I will try to suction antifreeze out and then try to find & get the valve out using a magnetic tool. If I can't find it, can I drain it out? I have just "restored" the front end following an accident & I am afraid if I drive the car without getting this thing out I will ruin the engine. I hope MB anticipated something could fall down there and made retrieval easy. Thanks.

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87 300e (white/black; amg body kit)
88 300ce (red/cream; amg body kit)
93 300ce cabrio (white/blue/blue top)
93 300ce cabrio (black/grey/black top)
98 ml 320 (totaled @ 137,000 miles)
99 clk320 (black/grey/black top)

richard28,

You might have luck with a magnetic tool as the housing is probably aluminum and if it went down a hose it should be retrievable with a magnetic tool too. Not sure how effective a magnet will be if it went into the ferromagnetic head or the block. I am assuming this is a car with a cast iron head.

But, while I would not recommend the coolant system as a place to deposit these kinds of things, I suspect the net effect of having this part in the system will be neglible. So, if you don't find it, I would not sweat it too much. It might affect the pump a wee bit the first time through, but after that it will find a low flow spot and hang there until something comes to get it out. Coolant systems run with lots of scale and other debris deposited here and there. Your little steely is not going to really do much.

Good luck, Jim

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Own:
1986 Euro 190E 2.3-16 (291,000 miles),
1998 E300D TurboDiesel, 231,000 miles -purchased with 45,000,
1988 300E 5-speed 252,000 miles,
1983 240D 4-speed, purchased w/136,000, now with 222,000 miles.
2009 ML320CDI Bluetec, 89,000 miles

Owned:
1971 220D (250,000 miles plus, sold to father-in-law),
1975 240D (245,000 miles - died of body rot),
1991 350SD (176,560 miles, weakest Benz I have owned),
1999 C230 Sport (45,400 miles),
1982 240D (321,000 miles, put to sleep)

Thanks, Jim., for the comfort. I was also afraid it could clog the heating core.
Rich

__________________
87 300e (white/black; amg body kit)
88 300ce (red/cream; amg body kit)
93 300ce cabrio (white/blue/blue top)
93 300ce cabrio (black/grey/black top)
98 ml 320 (totaled @ 137,000 miles)
99 clk320 (black/grey/black top)