Well, had a MAJOR issue today. Stopped at Wally World, headed home and temp started climbing, as usual. Kept climbing... kept climbing. Luckily, I had just bought two gallons of distilled water. Managed to cool it down twice and limp home. Doesn't appear to have blown the head gasket, so it could have been worse. Small hole in the lower hose right at a clamp on the water pump had drained the coolant. Had enough to cut the hose above the hole and re-clamp until I can get a new hose (probably the original 1992 hose). While I was at it, I took out the thermostat and drilled six 1/4" holes around the top ring. On the highway, never saw over 90C. Drove for about 10 mins and then stopped for about three minutes. Temp barely climbed above 100C and INSTANTLY started back down as soon as I started moving again.

Going to hit Pull A Part this week and see if I can find a big Volvo electric fan. Have already estimated that I can get it in by looking at the one on my 960. That will put an end to depending on the clutch fan at low rpms.

If you have an inline 6 Benz, the Volvo fan is not going to fit. Not enough room between the radiator and engine.

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CENSORED due to not family friendly words

The 16" Spal fan p/n 30101516, will fit the m103 with maybe 2mm of room to spare. I had that fan on for a bit, but recently went back to the clutch fan, the stock 11 blade for the 201 since my 124 nine blade ended up breaking off into the radiator after an accident. I will admit that the viscous fan has thus far been the best. I am running the 79°C thermostat and have the aux water pump circulating coolant at 91°C during and after shut off. I am still attempting to fit the massive 600 watt fan from the newer MB. I have one from a W220 and I actually think I will get it to fit. Removing the aux fans and moving radiator forward about 1cm gives some clearance. I had to remove the large plastic bracket/shroud, but we'll see. I have been at it with this fan for maybe 2 years. A fan bearing bracket delete in the m103 will allow us to mount much larger fans, but my only problem is finding out how to manage the pulleys so the belt doesn't rub against itself. I mock removed the bearing bracket and the large fan went in with no issue. Unfortunately, I got too lazy to figure out a way to manage the pulley/belt set up, so I've opted to move the radiator forward. I was at it until about 3:00am, gonna head back out in the garage later today and try again.

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1990 190E 3.0L

The first gen Prius dual puller fans bit between the om603 and radiator and I suspect other inline 6 benzes. It's more than powerful enough for the job. This was the thinnest factory fan setup I know of. I ditched the aux fan a long time ago. The more surface area you can expose to the inclonibg aur the more efficient the statement becomes.

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CENSORED due to not family friendly words

I think it may be good enough for any place other than socal/az desert. Out here almost every car sounds like a jet engine

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1990 190E 3.0L