Good advice, Chuck. I'm looking for a new drier bottle on eBay right now (I lost out on one yesterday because I wasn't paying attention).

Question: can I install the drier bottle before I take it to the shop for recharging, or should I just give the shop the part (remember, I don't know anything about what can and can't be removed without leaking freon all over the place).

Catrinus

If it's a NEW drier, it should have the fittings sealed with caps or plugs to keep out moisture. Don't un-cap/open and install the drier until you're ready to evacuate and recharge the AC.
Also note that many Mercedes of this vintage (also some BMWs) used wire reinforced Aeroquip hose for the AC lines, instead of black rubber. The outer surface of the Aeroquip hose has a woven appearance and is usually dark pink colored. These hoses used two piece threaded fittings that are re-useable. Mercedes dealers used to sell Aeroquip hose by the meter but the last time I checked they no longer stocked it.
You may be able to buy the correct hose, by the foot, from an industrial or hydraulic hose supply house and install it onto your original fittings, although the modern Aeroquip replacement hose may be blue instead of pink.

Happy Motoring, Mark

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DrDKW

Catrinus,
I'm not sure which car you are looking for a dryer for but they are a pretty inexpensive part. I picked up a new one for my 300D for around $30 at a local a/c supply house.

Nancy,
$600 sound pretty much in line for what that job goes for around these neck of the woods too. I recently converted a friends '88 Chevy truck BACK to r12. Seems about 3 yrs ago his compressor went out on him and he took it to one of the larger a/c service shops here locally. They supposedly repaired the system and converted it to r134 for $700 and it never cooled the truck right again. In my opinion, their service group is by far, one of the most untrustworthy automotive a/c service groups I have ever run accross and is the main reason that made me get the 609 certification and recovery equipment to allow me to start doing my own a/c work. Oh the other hand their a/c parts department is second to none. Anyway, I charged him $200 to evacuate the 134, replace the dryer and orifice tube (he supplied the parts, I supplied the R12), flush everything out, replace all the o-rings, pull a vacuum and recharge with r12. The look on his face was priceless when we went for a test drive and it was blowing cold as it was designed to do way back when. Oh yea, the orifice tube had all kinds of metal particles on the screen which led me to believe that three years ago when they replaced the compressor they did not do a very good job. edit - one other thing, converting one back to r12 for me is an all day job. Usually start around 8 am and finish up around 3-4 pm. I am slow and meticulous.

Around these parts not having a working a/c is reason enough for people to get rid of a good running vechicle.

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Jim

Jim,

I did purchase the sanden 508 with the york conversion bracket and the two fitting for hose change at the compressor side.
the cost was 190.00. Going to look at the vintage air orifice tube and dryer to double check that all components work together for the conversion. hopefully we'll have air by the time july comes.

I kind of chuckeled when you said selling a car because of no air,
since for me a car without it is useless in the summer.

This one's useless days are over with Iam thinking I should have about 400.00 into it to have a complete new system.

Won a new drier on eBay today for $20.95 + shipping. I'll keep you posted on progress. Thanks for all the advice.
Catrinus
73 280C