W108 Radiators...

[Keenan]

Hello, Im trying to find a NEW replacement radiator for my 280sel 4.5. Turns out mine is rusted on the bottom (originally a washington car). Now Ive seen some replacements for about 5-600 dollars, but I think thats alittle outrageous. I can get a racing aluminum griffin radiator for my 1970 Olds 442 for 500, and its a larger capacity custom built unit! Would it be cheaper to find the makers of radiators for my mercedes as opposed to getting a direct manufacturer's replacement? And if so who are the manufacturers?

Could one of you German speakers check out ebay.de for me or give me the words to search for in german? I looked at their mercedes w108 fields last night and their wee atleast 120 items for sale, and they had some interesting stuff!

-Keenan
thanks!

[rltorregrossa]

From a previous thread:
Radiator

Interesting note.. MunchTaxi, of Vintage Mercedes Forum fame, has a 108 he is parting out and offered to sell me his old radiator. Long story short, turns out the old radiator was leaking and so wasn't a viable replacement.

However, MunichTaxi aka John, rigged another 280 of his with a '76 300 Turbo Diesel radiator. Works like a charm! I am tempted to do the same with my 108 4.5 because the price difference is pretty significant - the '76 300TD radiator is under $200.

But, 300TD radiator needs to be rigged to fit the 108 by essentialy putting a coupla "spacers" on the sides to make it fit in the frame. Apparently, it actually makes MunichTaxi's machine run cooler.

[JMela]

1. (US) Ebay seller raretwincampart has been selling 'updated' brand new 113 radiators for $400. You might send him an email and see if he can get the 108 variant.

2. On eBay and in The Star magazine, there are advertisements for Tigris International in Houston that advertise "heavy duty radiators": Radiator: new for 280SL, W113 chassis, 1968-71, heavy duty, made in Germany. Tigris International, 713/628-1362.

3. (Germany) Ebay.de has a seller by the name of mercedes-classics who seems to have good product. Might send him an email - his English in excellent btw.

[JoeyTheB]

Call these guys -
http://mercedesdismantlers.com/wholeyard.html

Last I checked, they had an "as new" one for like $100.

For any used (including your rusty one),
Find a radiator repair shop.
They usually will do a clean/repair job for around $40.
Dealers usually pimp up the charge to over $100 for the same service...

[Tomguy]

I don't think all 108 rads are the same.

I think the 6-cyl ones are smaller than the 4.5's rads, so not just any 108 radiator will do. The one on my car has a 109 part number (not 116 or 117 to match the 3.5 or 4.5 engine, beats me why). Do the 6-cyls have tranny coolers? If not, the radiator would probably be wider but thinner. Won't handle a 4.5!

I'd go the custom route if I couldn't find a non-leaky used one. It'd be far cheaper, you can get it made locally and backed by the shop, and you can have it built above specs so it cools better. Not that my 4.5 has overheating issues, but who knows?

[DieselBone]

108 six's do have tranny coolers. As far as I know all MB auto's have the tranny cooler built in the lower part of the rad.

[Tomguy]

Sorry, meant to say oil cooler. That's the problem when you have both!

[280SE Guy]

My 6 cylinder has a tranny cooler and an oil cooler. I saw this used w108 radiator for sale this morning on eBay. The tranny cooler inlets and outlets are located on the bottom of the radiator and the oil cooler is located on the drivers side of the radiator.

[gerryvz]

You can get a new, factory NOS radiator from Robert Fenton, owner of European Car Service in San Rafael, CA (just north of San Francisco). He has them in stock. Phone 415-456-4077 or 415-999-0083 pacific time. Largest amount of NOS/factory parts and sheetmetal, plus lots of used parts, west of the MIssissippi River.

Robert will ship same day as long as it is early enough.

Cheers,
Gerry