I pulled the SL out of storage today only to have the car troll me with thermostat problems (I swear the car knows when I want to go for a drive and promptly breaks down). Car got very hot very quick, then rapidly dropped. Engine temp keeps climbing to 100-100ish, then dropping quickly to 80, slowly climbing, then suddenly dropping repeatedly. Before today this wasn't happening, the temperature was always pretty consistent in the 85-90 degree range. Plenty of coolant, pressure cap is good, water pump seems to be pushing, fan clutch is locking up (passes the newspaper test). Everything points to thermostat issues.

Now the question - where is it on this car? The internet provides conflicting information, is it in the fitting on the side of the water pump or is it in the outlet fitting on top of the water pump? I don't want to pull the wrong fitting off and risk screwing something up or needing a gasket I don't have when the new thermostat comes in!

__________________
Current stable:
1995 E320 157K (Nancy)
1983 500SL 125K (SLoL)

Gone but not forgotten:
1986 300SDL (RIP)
1991 350SD
1991 560SEL
1990 560SEL
1986 500SEL Euro (Rusted to nothing at 47K!)

Gone and wanting to forget:
1985 524TD 167K (TotalDumpster™) [Definitely NOT a Benz]