Radiator replacement S550
02-27-2015, 09:07 AM
#26
Senior Member
How *is* the quality of the "OEM-Quality" replacement radiator? How is the finish, fit, plastic quality, etc.?
From my experience, parts that claim to be OEM-quality rarely are, especially when they are relatively inexpensive. On the other hand, those that are "OEM brand" are generally okay. 3rd-party manufactures are under contract with the factory to produce parts, they are often allowed to sell the same parts through non-dealer channels, but cannot display the factory logo. Those parts are the exactly the same as factory, just without the factory logo and come with a discount.
I'm just curious about the radiator you got. Thanks.
From my experience, parts that claim to be OEM-quality rarely are, especially when they are relatively inexpensive. On the other hand, those that are "OEM brand" are generally okay. 3rd-party manufactures are under contract with the factory to produce parts, they are often allowed to sell the same parts through non-dealer channels, but cannot display the factory logo. Those parts are the exactly the same as factory, just without the factory logo and come with a discount.
I'm just curious about the radiator you got. Thanks.
02-27-2015, 10:09 AM
#27
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2014
Posts: 222
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes
on
2 Posts
09 S550, 08 Charger Srt8, 63 Ford Galaxie 500, 07 GSXR1000
The condensor just unclips, the cross member had a big torx bolt on each side and then 2 10mm bolts on each side and it comes off.
02-27-2015, 10:11 AM
#28
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2014
Posts: 222
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes
on
2 Posts
09 S550, 08 Charger Srt8, 63 Ford Galaxie 500, 07 GSXR1000
How *is* the quality of the "OEM-Quality" replacement radiator? How is the finish, fit, plastic quality, etc.?
From my experience, parts that claim to be OEM-quality rarely are, especially when they are relatively inexpensive. On the other hand, those that are "OEM brand" are generally okay. 3rd-party manufactures are under contract with the factory to produce parts, they are often allowed to sell the same parts through non-dealer channels, but cannot display the factory logo. Those parts are the exactly the same as factory, just without the factory logo and come with a discount.
I'm just curious about the radiator you got. Thanks.
From my experience, parts that claim to be OEM-quality rarely are, especially when they are relatively inexpensive. On the other hand, those that are "OEM brand" are generally okay. 3rd-party manufactures are under contract with the factory to produce parts, they are often allowed to sell the same parts through non-dealer channels, but cannot display the factory logo. Those parts are the exactly the same as factory, just without the factory logo and come with a discount.
I'm just curious about the radiator you got. Thanks.
So far no leaks.
06-02-2015, 03:59 PM
#30
Senior Member
$1200? Sounds like they are selling you a marked-up part and tacking on a bunch of high priced labor.
The part is $300 on RMEuropean's website.. possibly cheaper elsewhere. And the brand is Nissens which I believe is OEM (Mercedes has only really used Behr and Nissens in recent years).
I'd buy that part and put it in yourself. Maybe do the hoses if you feel like it and they are older.
I haven't done one on this car, but I'd be surprised if it took you more than a few hours to do the entire job. Drain the coolant at the beginning and refill with fresh at the end. That way you have the coolant done also and your cooling system will be in great shape for years!
The part is $300 on RMEuropean's website.. possibly cheaper elsewhere. And the brand is Nissens which I believe is OEM (Mercedes has only really used Behr and Nissens in recent years).
I'd buy that part and put it in yourself. Maybe do the hoses if you feel like it and they are older.
I haven't done one on this car, but I'd be surprised if it took you more than a few hours to do the entire job. Drain the coolant at the beginning and refill with fresh at the end. That way you have the coolant done also and your cooling system will be in great shape for years!
05-08-2016, 12:16 PM
#32
Newbie
Join Date: May 2016
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
2008 w222 s class
Quick question
Did you have to remove the bottom cross bar? I'm stuck on last part. There seems to be a clip or something on the bottom holding the radiator and condenser. Thanks in advance.
11-28-2016, 02:02 PM
#36
Senior Member
There is a cheap Chinese radiator floating around.. sold under various brand names. If what you are buying isn't Behr (or one of the other good brands, can't remember exactly but maybe Valeo?) then it's the cheap one.
I got one and it was total garbage. Got it installed and it leaked. Took it out and found that the plastic tank had a large crack in it. I'm sure lots of radiators get damaged, but the plastic was thinner than the Behr one that I bought afterwards.
Wasted 2-3 weeks and a radiator install to find out it was junk.
If you compare it with a Behr side by side, it looks like it will fit and work perfect. But if you look closely, it's lighter, the plastic parts are thinner, the metal parts look flimsier, and all of the fittings look like they cost 1/2 as much to produce.
That radiator won't last nearly as long as a Behr will. The scary thing with our cars is if the cooling section cracks or fails (plastic tank, etc) you will overheat the engine fast if you're on the highway. If you get a transmission fluid leak, you'll quickly empty the transmission of fluid without even knowing. If you're driving at 60mph on the highway, you'll never even know the transmission fluid leaked out till your transmission wont shift any more.. at that point it is garbage.
Most of the hoses pop on with quick connect fittings, so the tolerances need to be exact. If one hose pops off you're screwed.
Best thing I ever did was to buy the Behr radiator. Yes it's more expensive (a few hundred $ more) but it's WAY worth it.
By the way, I contacted the seller and they completely ignored me and Paypal. Filed a claim with Paypal but it was too late. Ended up boxing it up and putting it at the curb for garbage pickup which sucks... brand new and it was a piece of garbage..
11-28-2016, 02:59 PM
#38
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2014
Posts: 222
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes
on
2 Posts
09 S550, 08 Charger Srt8, 63 Ford Galaxie 500, 07 GSXR1000
Don't buy that radiator!
There is a cheap Chinese radiator floating around.. sold under various brand names. If what you are buying isn't Behr (or one of the other good brands, can't remember exactly but maybe Valeo?) then it's the cheap one.
I got one and it was total garbage. Got it installed and it leaked. Took it out and found that the plastic tank had a large crack in it. I'm sure lots of radiators get damaged, but the plastic was thinner than the Behr one that I bought afterwards.
Wasted 2-3 weeks and a radiator install to find out it was junk.
If you compare it with a Behr side by side, it looks like it will fit and work perfect. But if you look closely, it's lighter, the plastic parts are thinner, the metal parts look flimsier, and all of the fittings look like they cost 1/2 as much to produce.
That radiator won't last nearly as long as a Behr will. The scary thing with our cars is if the cooling section cracks or fails (plastic tank, etc) you will overheat the engine fast if you're on the highway. If you get a transmission fluid leak, you'll quickly empty the transmission of fluid without even knowing. If you're driving at 60mph on the highway, you'll never even know the transmission fluid leaked out till your transmission wont shift any more.. at that point it is garbage.
Most of the hoses pop on with quick connect fittings, so the tolerances need to be exact. If one hose pops off you're screwed.
Best thing I ever did was to buy the Behr radiator. Yes it's more expensive (a few hundred $ more) but it's WAY worth it.
By the way, I contacted the seller and they completely ignored me and Paypal. Filed a claim with Paypal but it was too late. Ended up boxing it up and putting it at the curb for garbage pickup which sucks... brand new and it was a piece of garbage..
There is a cheap Chinese radiator floating around.. sold under various brand names. If what you are buying isn't Behr (or one of the other good brands, can't remember exactly but maybe Valeo?) then it's the cheap one.
I got one and it was total garbage. Got it installed and it leaked. Took it out and found that the plastic tank had a large crack in it. I'm sure lots of radiators get damaged, but the plastic was thinner than the Behr one that I bought afterwards.
Wasted 2-3 weeks and a radiator install to find out it was junk.
If you compare it with a Behr side by side, it looks like it will fit and work perfect. But if you look closely, it's lighter, the plastic parts are thinner, the metal parts look flimsier, and all of the fittings look like they cost 1/2 as much to produce.
That radiator won't last nearly as long as a Behr will. The scary thing with our cars is if the cooling section cracks or fails (plastic tank, etc) you will overheat the engine fast if you're on the highway. If you get a transmission fluid leak, you'll quickly empty the transmission of fluid without even knowing. If you're driving at 60mph on the highway, you'll never even know the transmission fluid leaked out till your transmission wont shift any more.. at that point it is garbage.
Most of the hoses pop on with quick connect fittings, so the tolerances need to be exact. If one hose pops off you're screwed.
Best thing I ever did was to buy the Behr radiator. Yes it's more expensive (a few hundred $ more) but it's WAY worth it.
By the way, I contacted the seller and they completely ignored me and Paypal. Filed a claim with Paypal but it was too late. Ended up boxing it up and putting it at the curb for garbage pickup which sucks... brand new and it was a piece of garbage..
11-28-2016, 03:17 PM
#39
Senior Member
I ordered one from eBay for $130 Canadian plus shipping, seller had sold over 80 of them with 100% positive rate
I'm going to try to JB Weld mine at the crack as I'm only getting the low coolant message every 2 weeks, if it works that's cool, otherwise ill install the new one.
Is this job a DIY, how many hours labour should it take
I'm going to try to JB Weld mine at the crack as I'm only getting the low coolant message every 2 weeks, if it works that's cool, otherwise ill install the new one.
Is this job a DIY, how many hours labour should it take
11-29-2016, 01:32 PM
#40
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2014
Posts: 222
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes
on
2 Posts
09 S550, 08 Charger Srt8, 63 Ford Galaxie 500, 07 GSXR1000
I ordered one from eBay for $130 Canadian plus shipping, seller had sold over 80 of them with 100% positive rate
I'm going to try to JB Weld mine at the crack as I'm only getting the low coolant message every 2 weeks, if it works that's cool, otherwise ill install the new one.
Is this job a DIY, how many hours labour should it take
I'm going to try to JB Weld mine at the crack as I'm only getting the low coolant message every 2 weeks, if it works that's cool, otherwise ill install the new one.
Is this job a DIY, how many hours labour should it take
11-04-2017, 10:03 PM
#41
Newbie
Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: Yorba Linda, CA
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
07 S550
Hi I have the 07 S550 with V8 with engine 273 with the same leak - air intake by driver side problem (seems like manufacturer defect that warrants recall); according to the instruction I don't need to discharge the AC since it is engine 273. How to disengage the AC condenser - by pulling it off? Do I need to to recharge the Automatic transmission fluid as indicated in the instruction list? Please help, thanks!
01-13-2020, 04:03 PM
#43
MBWorld Fanatic!
Looks like there's quite a few things you have to take off. As far as evacuating the AC I wonder if you can get away with not doing that as long as you're careful with the condenser. When I did my engine mounts I didnt follow the official procedure and got it done much quicker and took very few parts off lol Good luck
