It's Melbourne Australia and the current temp as I type this is 36 degrees C or around 97 degrees F.

The OP has some small problem as his car's A/C was converted to R134 in Perth while the car is now in Melbourne. The distance from Perth to Melbourne is comparable from California to Florida. Thus seeing that same repair centre is slightly difficult.

FWIW for the O.P., I have just had my W124 260e' s aircon serviced and refilled with gas in Clayton for AU$140.00.

Australian Design Rules require proper ventilation to the front windscreen and as such there would be no current OZ specced M.B.'s without A/C. There are subtle differences in the setups for the A/C.

Australian specced cars are also fitted with higher specced cooling systems than European cars.