This is in regards to a 1984 123 chassis 300D. I’ve been giving some thought to the replacement radiator that I installed. I installed a Behr brand radiator, since it is essentially an OE radiator without the ‘Star’.

I understand that the newer 124 chassis radiators have a metal tube inserted as a reinforcement for the neck. My new Behr radiator for the 123 chassis DID NOT have this reinforcement tube, the neck is *only* plastic like the original one. I am thinking that perhaps this radiator missed a step during manufacturing, or worse, is possibly some type of “second’s” type merchandise.

My Question to anyone that has used a Behr replacement radiator in a 123 chassis 300D:
Did the new radiator have the reinforcement, or did it not have the reinforcement?

Thanks in advance for your replies!

RTH

The radiator you bought is definately a standard BEHR, and a quality radiator, but if you don't see metal in that upper hose connection, it's because that was one that was manufactured before they started adding the metal inserts.

It should work just as well, but if you want the added protection, you could always have a piece of stainless steel or brass tubing of the proper diameter cut to fit inside of the connection to reinforce it. I would also refrain from using antifreeze that contains phosphate corrosion inhibitors, because I have heard that the phosphate has a tendency to prematurely dry out the plastic and make it get brittle, but that the Mercedes Antifreeze will not.

Still, many major radiator makers do not make replacements with this metal sleeve. CSF is just one maker who sells their plastic tank aluminum replacement radiators for Mercedes' without the metal sleeve inserts.

__________________

Scott Longston
Northern California Wine Country...
"Turbos whistle, grapes wine..."

Thanks Longston

Longston: Have you actually *seen* a Behr 123 replacement with the reinforcement, or is this speculation on your part?

The radiator looks to have a date code that indicates it was manufactured in September of last year. This is long after Behr started to use the reinforcement inserts in the 124 radiators.

I don’t really even care about the reinforcement itself, as the original lasted for 17 years without it & I know that this will work just as well. However my concern is that IF it was a missed step during manufacturing, who knows what else may have been skipped or done improperly. I’m still chasing my own tail on the hot-running problem, and while I don’t believe that the radiator is defective, it is a (slight) possibility. Even though it does cool the water down, perhaps it is not up to specs running at a full thermal load. I don’t want to return a part unnecessarily.

Has anyone out there recently purchased a Behr radiator for a 123 chassis 300D? Can you please confirm whether or not it has the reinforcement? I would be greatly appreciative!

RTH


[Edited by RunningTooHot on 07-26-2001 at 01:12 AM]

When I said you were screwed, I didn't say it to offend you. I meant that you bought it, you installed it, now you own it. No one I spoke with told me they ever take a product back once it's been installed...

I spent a couple of hours on the phone and on the internet on your behalf to try to get an answer to your dilemma, and what I found out from the experts was that if you don't see metal, there ain't none, and if there ain't none, it was made that way, as many other companies other than Behr still do. I couldn't actually find a Behr radiator in my area at all, but I did ask several folks I spoke to around the country to confirm whether or not there might be a manufacturing defect here. As you say, yours lasted 17 years. Or did it? Are sure it's original? My '82 300SD is on it's second radiator (that I know of), and I'm shopping for the third(?) right now

I would suggest you call the source you got yours from and ask them, then call a few radiator sources that sell Behr radiators and ask them, or maybe call Behr direct:

Behr America, Inc.
4500 Leeds Avenue, Suite 201
Charleston, South Carolina 29405
Phone + 1 - 843 - 745 - 4074
Fax + 1 - 843 - 745 - 1698

Behr America, Inc.
Detroit Customer Center
850 Ladd Road, Building A
Walled Lake, Michigan 48390 - 3026
Phone + 1 - 248 - 624 - 7020
Fax + 1 - 248 - 624 - 9111

__________________

Scott Longston
Northern California Wine Country...
"Turbos whistle, grapes wine..."