A/C condenser information overload...
 

So I have been wanting to fix the air conditioning in the 300sd for a while and I am finally getting on track to doing it. I have read thread after thread on parallel flow condensers and all kind of info. I am going to keep my system r12 and I want it to work well. I have the old style condenser on my car now and I would like to upgrade to a better one. Now I know that the later w126 came with a better condenser and I was looking at different years of w126 and the condensers available besides parallel flow. I found to types. A tube and fin and a serpentine kind. It seems both are available for a 1989 420sel. Now would these both be a direct fit to my 84? I looked at pictures and they both look different than mine. Which one is better if they will both fit? I am having a hard time making a purchase because I dont want to waste my money. I did look on this site for a condenser but none are listed and an email to the parts request went un answered. Any information is appreciated. Thanks

The best set-up I've seen is a "piggy-back" of a parallel flow condenser with the original. Do a search for "parallel flow" and "Whiskey Dan". With this configuration, you don't have to deal with fitment problems and is a fairly inexpensive resolution to weakness of the original condenser when using R134 refrigerant. Since you are keeping the system R12, you could end up with a system that operates even more efficiently.

I saw that thread but Im ditching my 30 year old condenser and I dont want two up there. I bought a spal fan to supplement the original one and its pretty thick

A higher powered (cfm) will make enough difference. I recently fixed my 89 300e and used basically all stock parts. A proper running r12 system is surprisingly better than one would think. We had a few high 90* days in Cleveland, with humidity to boot, and I felt that my ac was way more than just "barely adequate". I found myself setting the fan to a lower speed usually.

Window tint would be a great upgrade as well

Have you tried hosing off your condenser? Made an appreciable difference on my 134 converted 124. The cars are really old, all kinds of crap over the past 20-30 years get caught in the fins of the heat exchanger.