Dear wby300:

Never attempt to remove the thermostat completely. MB cooling system uses a bypass cooling design, in which the thermostat will completely open when the actual temperature has reached its intended specification (usually 87 or higher). At the open position, the thermostat will completely shut down the bypass hole, forcing the circulating coolant from engine block to flow into the UPPER radiator hose, and to the radiator itself for heat dissipation.

Therefore, removing a thermostat will likely render your car more vulnerable to overheat condition, because coolant will keep circulating within the engine block in a vicious cycle, without being able to move to the radiator for heat dissipation.

Eric