The plastic top of my radiator cracked and leaked a lot of coolant. The crack is about 2 inches on top left close to the hose on top.

Can this be repaired? if not any idea how much a radiator cost? where would be a good source for a radiator?

thx

emmy
1991 560SEL

I think your referring to the inlet neck on the radiator. This seems to be a problem on all MB's, and it also happened on my W124. I think theres a place who replaces the plastic housing around the radiator--other than that, your looking to get a new radiator. I dont know of the place that does this, but look on the archives. Lots of posts on inlet necks, and radiators.

Good luck....

Agron
1989 300E (108k miles)

no, this is not the inlet part of the radiator. If you are looking down, at the plastic top of the radiator about an inch to the left of the inlet (right at the centerline under the coolant hose coming from the inlet and going to the overflow)is about a 2 inch crack. hope this helps

fyi, i inspected the inlet and it is already
re-inforced. btw, about 3 months ago, I had the radiator be rudded out. I wonder if they had changed the plastic top as a part of the rudding process....

you need to replace both the top and bottom tanks of your radiator. The plastic has deterioted and it is not worth effecting any repairs. I have had quoated to me about $150 including labour and parts (you remove the radiator). This is from RadiatorLand in Santa Clara. Recommended to me by the MBZ people at Motorspeed West. However I did call a number of other radiaotr repairs shops and about half of them will do a tank swap.

Presently I am waiting a quoate from Mercedesshop for a new radiator as half way up to Lake Tahoe last weekend it became eveident that I didn't have enough cooling power and worst upon inspection a hairline crack in the top tank.
Does anyone if there any third party suppliers of radiators with more cooling power?

A couple of years back I needed to replace the Volvo's radiator and did so with one with increased fins and ever since the temperature gauge remains rock steady no matter what outisde temperature or work load. On my 300TD it mostly sits around 85C, but any extra work or extra hot days it is up to 95C even 105C. I hope the head is still OK.

Michael

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82 300TD Turbodiesal +250, 000
86 Volvo 740 GLE 220000
85 Honda Civic 120000

Michael:
thx for the timely response. I just removed my radiator this evening and ready to be repaired. i did not think of sources for new one besides MBZ. i will also ask for a quote from mercedesshop.

can you recommend any other shop other than radiatorland in the san jose area where you got favorable quotes? By tank swap, do you mean an exchange?

thx

emmy
91 560sel

Why would Mercedes engineers do such a *STUPID* thing as to put a plastic tank on a radiator? I could understand General motors doing such a stupid thing, but Mercedes Benz?
Any engineer worth 2 cents would know that putting a plastic tank on a radiator, no matter how good the quality of the plastic, is not as good as a brass tank that has proved it reliability over many years. Don't the people who design cars ever pay any attention to how much repairs cost when they redesign a part to save the manufacturer a few cents and cost their customers hundreds of dollars later?
P E H

P.E.

I couldn't agree more, but it's not an MB decision, it's the tree huggers. The brass radiators require solder to build. Solder contains lead. I think the tree huggers are afraid we will all go out in our garages and lick the solder off the radiator to get our daily lead fix.

Larry

I don't know about MBs, but I have been able to get new Modine brass/copper radiators for all of my BMWs and my Volvo. They cost about $150-$200, have a lifetime guarantee, and are sold through radiator shops throughout the US and Canada. I've had one in my '82 Volvo 245 for four years now with no problems, and the temp gauge stays below halfway, idling in 90 degree heat with the A/C on. Maybe they make 'em for MBs (or something that could be easily adapted), which would permit you to get rid of those awful plastic things. I have never heard of any make of car which uses plastic rediator tanks and has not had breakage problems. Good luck!
Colin