Look what I discovered... Sanden swap instructions on 616/617s - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Hit Man X · #1 06-22-2011, 01:06 PM

We now know it does exist! The picture speaks for itself:

wildest · #2 06-22-2011, 01:35 PM

How much better, or more desirable, is the Sanden vs. the R4?

Hit Man X · #3 06-22-2011, 02:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wildest

How much better, or more desirable, is the Sanden vs. the R4?

Higher BTUs, less power consumption, internal oil sump, etc. The R4 is just not a good design. I really have no idea why MB used it in the first place when they used the A6 in the 1970s then went to the Denso unit on everything else... yet opted to use the R4 on the 617. The Denso on my SDL works fabulous... and my 300SEL and the 560.

Best pricing I have found is about $450 without compressor. In comparison the exact same style kit for my 735i set me back $120. I can only surmise this is due to lack of product left in the market. Figure about $30/ea to make the new low and high side hoses, cheap. The thing I am concerned about are the oil cooler hoses.

At least we do know the kit exists.

Renntag · #4 06-22-2011, 02:44 PM

As I am about to dive into rebuilding the a/c on my W123, thisis great news. (I may need a new compressor)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hit Man X

Higher BTUs, less power consumption, internal oil sump, etc.

Sounds great. I swapped a new sanden into one of my older Porsche's nad had awesome a/c performance on R134a.

Quote:

Originally Posted by kerry

Best pricing I have found is about $450 without compressor.

Are you referring to the Kit only (OM617). ?

Quote:

Originally Posted by kerry

In comparison the exact same style kit for my 735i set me back $120.

Is that Really $120? or $1200?

Quote:

Originally Posted by kerry

... Figure about $30/ea to make the new low and high side hoses, cheap. The thing I am concerned about are the oil cooler hoses.

good to know hose fab will be cheap, why are you concerned about oil cooler hoses?

Quote:

Originally Posted by kerry

At least we do know the kit exists.

Do we? Is there a link to a site offering such a 'kit' and what does it include?

leathermang · #5 06-22-2011, 03:21 PM

NOT 1980 240d ? WHY ?
NOT Manual trans ? WHY ?
Amazing.....

Hit Man X · #6 06-22-2011, 03:45 PM

Yes, $118 and some change from Amazon for the BMW unit. I am not too keen on spending $400 for the same type of deal, but rarity drives prices. The BMW unit fits more cars than listed at the top of the paper, see bottom... I have it on a 735i and 745i. Easily could fit the '80 and older 240D. Alabbasi has a Sanden on his '76 300D.

The only other time I had seen a Sanden on the 617 turbo, it required rerouting of the oil cooler lines.

Amazon.com: Mastercool 71550 Air Conditioner Hose Crimper: Automotive

Buy that if you are going to make hoses for more than one car. The hoses are usually No 10 and No 8 on the Sanden/Seltac/Alpha style units.

European Cooler Air, Inc.
972-722-3791

Speak with Jerry. They carry it and are east of DFW a bit.

leathermang · #7 06-22-2011, 04:00 PM

What is it about the Manual Trans on the cars it does list which will not allow it to work ?

compu_85 · #8 06-22-2011, 04:32 PM

Probably the shape of the radiator, or a difference in the fan / clutch due to the lessened heat load.

-J

leathermang · #9 06-22-2011, 04:35 PM

A 240d does not have a fan clutch...
My radiator is tiny with no oil cooler and lines to get in the way....

compu_85 · #10 06-22-2011, 04:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by leathermang

My radiator is tiny with no oil cooler and lines to get in the way....

That might be the problem. The non AC rad might too small to cool the engine on a hot day with a hot condenser stuck in front of it.

leathermang · #11 06-22-2011, 06:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by compu_85

That might be the problem. The non AC rad might too small to cool the engine on a hot day with a hot condenser stuck in front of it.

The car came standard with an R4 and condensor in front of the radiator...

Hit Man X · #12 06-22-2011, 07:34 PM

I cannot see why it will not work with manual trans cars. For example the BMW kit fits both auto and manual cars... how do I know? I have one on each now.

compu_85 · #13 06-22-2011, 11:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by leathermang

The car came standard with an R4 and condensor in front of the radiator...

Right, your car with factory AC came with a radiator sized to handle the load. A base car with no factory AC might have a smaller rad. I'd need to check the EPC to confirm.

-J

leathermang · #14 06-22-2011, 11:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by compu_85

Right, your car with factory AC came with a radiator sized to handle the load. A base car with no factory AC might have a smaller rad. I'd need to check the EPC to confirm.-J

I was just saying that it does not have the problem of the oil cooler lines ( or auto trans cooler lines either ) sticking out to the rear on the same side of the engine compartment the AC compressor is on...

Renntag · #15 06-22-2011, 04:49 PM

There is a good chance that it will work, your car just wasnt listed. The list was probably put together by a human, known for mistakes.

Hitman, Thanks for sharing. This is awesome information.

Perhaps edit the first post to include the URL of the company in question. Part of my confusion was the assumption that someone found a picture on the internet so "It must be true". This now seems like a reasonable solution.

I have no idea what "DFW" is "Da French World" ?

Anyway, this is great news since we all at one point or another will, or have had, a/c issues.

Here is the website, the same phone number given above, is listed. So i can safely assume this is the same place east of "DFW".

http://www.europeancoolerair.com/

edit: ok, they are in Texas, so it must be "Dallas, Fort Worth". Got it. Way too far for me to visit, but thank god for the internet, the telephone and UPS. ...oh and Peachparts.com !