DIY:W203 radiator R&R
03-19-2009, 12:23 PM
#51
Senior Member
Not to my knowledge. I don't believe they ever considered the Valeo radiator a "Recall". They (MBUSA) more or less didn't want anything to do with it except for swap out your whole trans (if under warranty) or charge you out the @$$ to replace everything. Again, I don't believe it is a recall, but rather a Star Bulletin on what to look for and how to test the transmission fluid for Glycol contamination.
Last edited by PA_Pete; 03-19-2009 at 12:32 PM.
03-19-2009, 02:04 PM
#52
MBWorld Fanatic!
assuming you are handly with basic hand tools and have some common sense- grab yourself a six pack of your favorite brew and DIY. good learning experience and it saves you a fair amount of cash.
03-19-2009, 04:00 PM
#54
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https://mbworld.org/forums/c-class-w...placement.html
Search for thread started by username "splinter" with a keyword of "radiator". It's the first one that pops up.
Search for thread started by username "splinter" with a keyword of "radiator". It's the first one that pops up.
04-18-2009, 01:50 AM
#55
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Excellent post as usual, Splinter!
BTW, my CLK55 fell victim to the glycol contamination. Unfortunately, the virus spread and the torque convertor needed to be replaced. Fortunately, the dealer was able replace it and the radiator as well as 12 qrts of tranny fluid all under CPO!
BTW, my CLK55 fell victim to the glycol contamination. Unfortunately, the virus spread and the torque convertor needed to be replaced. Fortunately, the dealer was able replace it and the radiator as well as 12 qrts of tranny fluid all under CPO!
04-19-2009, 11:24 PM
#56
External Trans cooler installed
Last week I just read about the Coolant to transmisson oil problem. I have a 2003 coupe, and I didnt notice anything wrong. But just to be safe I decided re route my trans oil from radiator to an external trans cooler made by B&M. Here are some pics and I recommend anyone to do this. Increases life of trnas and reduces temps about 20* degress. Mounted trans cooler behind rt sde of bumper, in front of fender liner.. Also I added a little scoop to help air flow to cooler . Thanks for the info about problem . Cheers
04-23-2009, 01:16 PM
#58
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New to the forum and the w203 world but i would agree with TEAMREDLINE; i used to work at a tranny shop and many radiators with built in transcoolers (especially those with plastic end tanks) can become contaminated and/or leak.
The cheapest and easiest solution is to eliminate the problem entirely by installing an external tranny cooler and not using the one in the radiator. Good DIY though, impressive pictures and write up i'm sure it took some time to do.
The cheapest and easiest solution is to eliminate the problem entirely by installing an external tranny cooler and not using the one in the radiator. Good DIY though, impressive pictures and write up i'm sure it took some time to do.
06-13-2009, 08:47 AM
#61
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2007 ML350
Are there Radiators besides Valeo and Behr? See description!
Just picked up a 2002 C230K. New to MB, reading many, many threads here to build up a knowledge base.
I haven't taken the car apart yet, but I'm trying to determine if I have a Valeo, or Behr, radiator. However, despite not being able to see the sticker, I noticed that according to
https://mbworld.org/forums/c-class-w...placement.html
thread, that both Behr, and Valeo, the 'fins' of the radiators run horizontally.
Mine run vertically! and I can see decent spreads of the top of the radiator (where the sticker I would imagine is),
but there's nothing there (could use a cleaning though).
So instead of running Horizontal like this
They run north and south...
Was there a third party option? =)
Or am I just being silly and the pictures are not indicative of the installed position, and they are all, in fact, north and south, when installed [which, the more I think about it, makes sense]?
I haven't taken the car apart yet, but I'm trying to determine if I have a Valeo, or Behr, radiator. However, despite not being able to see the sticker, I noticed that according to
https://mbworld.org/forums/c-class-w...placement.html
thread, that both Behr, and Valeo, the 'fins' of the radiators run horizontally.
Mine run vertically! and I can see decent spreads of the top of the radiator (where the sticker I would imagine is),
but there's nothing there (could use a cleaning though).
So instead of running Horizontal like this
They run north and south...
Was there a third party option? =)
Or am I just being silly and the pictures are not indicative of the installed position, and they are all, in fact, north and south, when installed [which, the more I think about it, makes sense]?
Last edited by phoenix_iii; 06-13-2009 at 08:50 AM.
06-13-2009, 10:02 AM
#62
Super Moderator
Here is the radiator orientation for the C230 M111 engine. The Tubes in the radiator must run horizontally as the tanks are on the sides??
Last edited by Glyn M Ruck; 06-13-2009 at 10:04 AM.
06-13-2009, 10:27 AM
#64
Super Moderator
Yes - The crimping of the tanks is different. I'll try & find the pictures. I've never seen the difference with my own 2 eyes because all SA cars have Behr radiators. Behr have a plant here. I have only seen the difference on the forum.
06-13-2009, 10:40 AM
#65
Super Moderator
Read splinter's reply to this question on this thread & see the difference in crimping between a Behr & a Valeo in his pics. BTW - splinter is one of the most knowledgeable members of this forum so you can trust implicitly anything he posts
https://mbworld.org/forums/showthread.php?t=228327
https://mbworld.org/forums/showthread.php?t=228327
Last edited by Glyn M Ruck; 06-13-2009 at 10:45 AM.
06-13-2009, 10:48 AM
#67
Super Moderator
You should be able to see parts of the crimping. If you have difficulty then remove the top shroud.
06-13-2009, 12:13 PM
#68
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2007 ML350
Hard to tell without removing the plastic, and I do not have a book or DVD yet, though I could probably bust out the tool box and figure it out... sadly looks like (from what I can barely see) that it is a Valeo... oy.
I'll see if I can see anything with a flashlight. =) [I'm at work presently]
I'll see if I can see anything with a flashlight. =) [I'm at work presently]
06-13-2009, 01:48 PM
#69
Super Moderator
Not all Valeos give trouble but many on this forum have changed them for piece of mind. Take a transmission oil sample & have it checked for coolant. A transmission failure is a lot more expensive than a radiator.
06-13-2009, 01:57 PM
#70
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2007 ML350
The conundrum I am in is that I just the car. I want to have the ATF flush and filled at the dealer (~$350 I imagine). However, if the radiator is a valeo, for $187 I can get the new Behr shipped, and probably put in for another hour of labor and fluid, vs. sending out the sample, getting it back positive, and having to do it.
To the contrary, if it is a Valeo and the test comes back negative, is it a matter of time, or was there a change in manufacturing, a defect, or...
I understand the piece of mind thing. I guess my real question is, will it be that much of a cost savings to have the radiator done during the ATF flush vs. a later date? But ugh, if I F&F the ATF, and then we find out the radiator is a Valeo and I want it changed out, it could contaminate during that mean time. Oy! Time for me to learn how to remove that upper plastic and see who made my radiator! Didn't find a guide/pics for that part of it, I'll review the splinter thread some more.
To the contrary, if it is a Valeo and the test comes back negative, is it a matter of time, or was there a change in manufacturing, a defect, or...
I understand the piece of mind thing. I guess my real question is, will it be that much of a cost savings to have the radiator done during the ATF flush vs. a later date? But ugh, if I F&F the ATF, and then we find out the radiator is a Valeo and I want it changed out, it could contaminate during that mean time. Oy! Time for me to learn how to remove that upper plastic and see who made my radiator! Didn't find a guide/pics for that part of it, I'll review the splinter thread some more.
06-13-2009, 03:03 PM
#71
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2002 C230K, 2013 BMW 328, 2015 BMW X5
If I could ask Phoenix, how many miles and how much did you pay for the car?
The trans flush is not that hard of a DIY if you have some hand tools to include a 30 torx bit on a 3/8 drive wrench, some rags and the new filter, gasket, and proper fluid.
Ed
The trans flush is not that hard of a DIY if you have some hand tools to include a 30 torx bit on a 3/8 drive wrench, some rags and the new filter, gasket, and proper fluid.
Ed
06-13-2009, 04:39 PM
#72
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2007 ML350
The DIY I thought states you need to be particular about the temperature, amounts, and required a good bit of finagling... Normally I would do things myself but I've been mundo busy these days. PM on your other questions.
06-14-2009, 06:05 AM
#73
Super Moderator
on my car i was concerned like you so i got a flash light and could barely see on the right side of the radiator that is was a Behr the sticker was barley visible but i found it pretty easily if i can find the pic i took of its location i will post it.
06-14-2009, 08:33 PM
#74
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2007 ML350
That'd be great. I too was looking on the right side (well, the driver side, technically), where I thought I saw Valeo-esque crimping
06-15-2009, 12:30 AM
#75
Super Moderator
sorry i am sort of sick i am felling better now 
n the morning i will make a note to go take a new pic and post just so you know morning will be 11am or so est lol. got to love a summer with not much work to do and money flying away. lol
n the morning i will make a note to go take a new pic and post just so you know morning will be 11am or so est lol. got to love a summer with not much work to do and money flying away. lol
