1995 E420 needs a new radiator... like five minutes ago.

The two choices as we know are Behr and Nissens. I know the behr has the reinforced neck (aluminum sleeve in the neck) but its more expensive than the Nissens. does the Nissens have the sleeve?

The Nissens has the reinforced neck as well.

I did this swap years ago on my W124 and purchased the Behr. While i believe the Behr is a better quality radiator, formum members that purchased the Nissens version haven't mentioned any negative issues with that product...

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2009 ML350 (106K) - Family vehicle
2001 CLK430 Cabriolet (80K) - Wife's car
2005 BMW 645CI (138K) - My daily driver
2016 Mustang (32K) - Daughter's car

The Nissens I just installed on my 300E did NOT have the reinforced necks... I'd go Behr...

-GH

Behr as stated above

Jonathan

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Jonathan Hodgman
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Enthusiast Service, Restoration & Tuning.
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I bought a new Behr from a reputable euro supplier a few years ago - no reinforced neck. Contrary to all of the yack here, not all Behr's have this feature.

One of this forums founding techs(Benzmac) posted a technique for tightening the hose clamps.

Install hoses/clamps and snug down fairly well, but not very tight. Start car and let it warms up, as it' warming up, the hoses will leak at the hose/pipe connection if the clamps are too loose. Slowly tighten the clamps just a hair. Keep doing this 'til the leak stops, tighteneing ever so slightly each time you tighten the clamp.

The necks break 99% of the time because people get heavy-handed with tightening the clamps.

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Mike Murrell
1991 300-SEL - Model 126
M103 - SOHC
"Fräulein"

After the neck broke on the SEL, I epoxied copper pipes in all my radiator necks (not the 430 yet). That's also how I fixed the SEL neck over 5 years ago.

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Thank You!
Fred
2009 ML350
2004 SL600
2004 SL500
1996 SL600
2002 SLK32
2005 CLK320 cabrio
2003 ML350
1997 C280 Sport

I just put a Nissens in my 201 a couple of months ago. I chose it over the Behr because it was about $80 cheaper, and Phil (parts guru from MercedesShop) said he's never had a complaint on them.

The one thing I did notice is that the Nissens does not have the nice draincock with a hose nipple -- I really miss that from my OEM Behr. If you need to drain coolant, you can drain it into milk jugs straight from the radiator. No splashing, no mess. If you're re-using the coolant, you don't have to worry about the fluid getting contaminated by running down dirty greasy parts into the drain pan. And you don't have to pour from a drain pan.

I'm not sure a quality valve and a plastic nipple are worth $80, but I will miss them.

jp

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Jeff Pierce

Current Vehicles:
'92 Mercedes 190E/2.3 (247K miles/my daily driver)
'93 Volvo 940 Turbo Wagon (263K miles/a family truckster with spunk)
'99 Kawasaki Concours
Gravely 8120
Previous Vehicles:
'85 Jeep CJ-7 w/ Fisher plow (226K miles)'93 Volvo 940 Turbo Wagon
'53 Willys-Overland Pickup
'85 Honda 750F Interceptor
'93 Nissan Quest
'89 Toyota Camry Wagon
'89 Dodge Raider
'81 Honda CB 750F Super Sport
'88 Toyota Celica
'95 Toyota Tacoma
'74 Honda CB 550F

I bought a Behr in january. It has the aluminum insert. It was made in Germany. It has drain plug. Seems to be high quality. I would buy another.

And hopefully you won't have to!

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2012 E350
2006 Callaway SC560

Behr is OE, at least the original I took out of my W126 had Behr stamped on it.

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1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200