If this hose, which becomes rock hard after time and heat, develops a crack, such as at the end of the nipple where the hose makes a sharp turn to begin its path to the fender wall, would that crack and potential leak contribute to the engine temp rising quicker than if this hose were new and intact? Just wondering, because the guy who did my NYS emissions inspection told me the car initially failed and overheated, then said it passed after he added some antifreeze (which naturally was the wrong kind, green). He aattempted to charge me an additional 40$ labor plus $16 for the antifreeze,which I refused to pay after explaining to him that MB takes only zerex gr5. And this is a shop that knows me and my family; I can only imagine how they treat strangers and those that don't know their vehicles.

__________________
87 300e (white/black; amg body kit)
88 300ce (red/cream; amg body kit)
93 300ce cabrio (white/blue/blue top)
93 300ce cabrio (black/grey/black top)
98 ml 320 (totaled @ 137,000 miles)
99 clk320 (black/grey/black top)