I got my 280se 4.5 about 10 years ago, with 107,xxx original miles. Car in mint shape, but my MBZ Shop noted it running just a tad warm..........so we put in a new rad, replaced ALL the hoses, new T Stat, fan clutch...etc. To this date, and 10,000 mi later, she still runs warmer than others. We have tested the guage and even checked it with a direct reading guage (the sender is located at the rear of the block at the hottest possible place). Everything shows an accurate reading, 212 switch works fine.

We even measured the WP pully size.......I would not let them pull the pump off, every thing is so clean inside!

My MBZ shop owner and I go back almost 30 years as friends, and we have seen many 4.5's run like this......can't figure it out.

They never overheat, or boil over......just run warmer.....most noticed when the ambient air temp is 80F and up.

I don't like to see the guage up there, but the car doesn't seem to mind.

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Tim
300CE
280SE 4.5
Sandals (size 11)