C32 AMG, C55 AMG (W203) 2001 - 2007

How to know if Valeo?

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Old 02-21-2007, 07:44 PM
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2002 C32 ///AMG
How to know if Valeo?

Hi, I already tried searching and didn't come up with any definitive way to determine if my radiator is a Valeo. Does anyone have a picture or can give me an answer as to how I know if it is a Valeo? It is black, and I don't see any writing anywhere.
Old 02-21-2007, 09:46 PM
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C32 AMG - in Pewter
It has a small label on top of the rad which is hard to see. I tried looking from quite a few openings and angles until I noticed it.
Old 02-21-2007, 10:40 PM
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If you have a Behr, you'll find its ID sticker on the bottom, in the middle of the lower radiator tank.

If you do indeed have the dreaded Valeo, insist that your dealer perform a Glycol test. It's a warranty job; Star Bulletin #P-B-27.55/50f.
Old 02-22-2007, 10:08 AM
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2002 C32 ///AMG
Originally Posted by John Goodlad
If you have a Behr, you'll find its ID sticker on the bottom, in the middle of the lower radiator tank.

If you do indeed have the dreaded Valeo, insist that your dealer perform a Glycol test. It's a warranty job; Star Bulletin #P-B-27.55/50f.
Outside of warranty though. If it's valeo, would the smart thing to do be to just replace radiator and flush radiator fluid AND transmission fluid or is that overkill without the glycol test?
Old 02-22-2007, 01:52 PM
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Originally Posted by TJ_Andrews
Outside of warranty though. If it's valeo, would the smart thing to do be to just replace radiator and flush radiator fluid AND transmission fluid or is that overkill without the glycol test?
Some may think it's overkill without the glycol test, but I had it all done. The peace of mind was WAY worth the extra $$.
Old 02-23-2007, 04:16 PM
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Originally Posted by m3_eater
Some may think it's overkill without the glycol test, but I had it all done. The peace of mind was WAY worth the extra $$.

i thought the issue with the rad was not if it will fail but when. i had mine replaced, tranny fluid flushed. car runs like a dream now. very smooth.

you can flush or test but in a month the rad could fail, what then? by the time you recognise you have a problem you may need a new tranny or toque convertor....$$$$$.

DO IT NOW!
Old 02-23-2007, 04:20 PM
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2002 C32 ///AMG
Originally Posted by AWDman
i thought the issue with the rad was not if it will fail but when. i had mine replaced, tranny fluid flushed. car runs like a dream now. very smooth.

you can flush and in a month the rad could fail, what then? by the time you recognise you have a problem you may need a new tranny or toque convertor....$$$$$.

DO IT NOW!
Yeah, I'm gonna do it within the next couple weeks. I got a motorcycle so I will ride that mostly till the radiator is fixed. I think all at the same time I'll change radiator, intercooler pump, flush transmission fluid, and flush radiator coolant. That should alleviate me from the dreaded problems Isn't there a Transmission Control Unit software upgrade from 02 to 03 that I could ask for as well to the dealer or is that pushing it?
Old 02-23-2007, 05:31 PM
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1959 220S / 1979 230 G / 2002 A210 AMG / 2003 C320 SC / 2004.5 C320 SS / 2005 ML350 SE / 2008 smart
Question

Originally Posted by John Goodlad
If you have a Behr, you'll find its ID sticker on the bottom, in the middle of the lower radiator tank.

If you do indeed have the dreaded Valeo, insist that your dealer perform a Glycol test. It's a warranty job; Star Bulletin #P-B-27.55/50f.
Does Star Bulletin #P-B-27.55/50f list any other models besides the C32 with this problem ? or just the C32 ????
Old 02-23-2007, 06:04 PM
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There are different Valeo radiators.

Not all Valeo radiators are bad. There is the bad Valeo that caused coolant to leak into the transmission system (as described in the TSB, it's the way the radiator expansion tanks are crimped together) and the updated Valeo that was to mitigate that problem (I know because I have the updated Valeo, and it does not look anything like the one shown in the TSB). The only is thing that the updated Valeo radiator part number did not last long because it was replaced when MB switched radiator suppliers for the subsequent model year. I checked part numbers with a dealer and it seems to confirm the frequent updating (or superseding) of radiator part number year after year.

Hope this helps.
Old 02-23-2007, 09:06 PM
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Originally Posted by auxo
Not all Valeo radiators are bad. There is the bad Valeo that caused coolant to leak into the transmission system (as described in the TSB, it's the way the radiator expansion tanks are crimped together) and the updated Valeo that was to mitigate that problem (I know because I have the updated Valeo, and it does not look anything like the one shown in the TSB). The only is thing that the updated Valeo radiator part number did not last long because it was replaced when MB switched radiator suppliers for the subsequent model year. I checked part numbers with a dealer and it seems to confirm the frequent updating (or superseding) of radiator part number year after year.

Hope this helps.
OK i thought all 2002 c32s had the "defective" rads??
Old 02-23-2007, 09:25 PM
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Originally Posted by AWDman
OK i thought all 2002 c32s had the "defective" rads??
AWDman,

You got me there...mine is an 03, TJ_Andrews did not mention 02 only so I posted my obersvation. So I should have put: "03 and on have different Valeo rads...

I wouldn't be able to speak for 02's.

Cheers.
Old 02-23-2007, 09:53 PM
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Not an AMG :(
Originally Posted by auxo
AWDman, You got me there...mine is an 03, TJ_Andrews did not mention 02 only so I posted my obersvation. So I should have put: "03 and on have different Valeo rads...
I wouldn't be able to speak for 02's.
Cheers.
Mine is a 2002 (went into service June of 2002) and it doesn't have the Valeo radiator. There's no record on the VMI of it being replaced either.
Old 02-23-2007, 10:02 PM
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Originally Posted by boohooramblers
Mine is a 2002..and it doesn't have the Valeo radiator...
OE Behr installed at birth in mine too!
Old 02-24-2007, 10:31 AM
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2002 C32 ///AMG
Originally Posted by John Goodlad
Yes, the following are affected by potential Valeo failure, and therefore Glycol contamination of the ATF;

Models 203.040/061/064/065/081/084/261/281/284/740/747/764

Models 209.365/375/376/465/475

Models 211.065/070/076/083/265/283

*Up to Production Date 09/2003*

Because of copyright issues, the pdf bulletin cannot be reproduced here.
Send an inquiry to johngoodlad@verizon.net should you require further discussion.
Where do you find the Model of your car that you mentioned here?
Old 02-24-2007, 02:13 PM
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Where do you find the Model..?
It's listed in the "technical data" section of the operator's manual. C32=203.065
Old 02-25-2007, 11:35 AM
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2002 C32 ///AMG
Is this a good deal on a Behr radiator?

http://replacement.autopartswarehous...diator&dp=true

The first one.
Old 02-25-2007, 12:08 PM
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here's where i got mine $189 oem behr.
https://mbworld.org/forums/c32-amg-c55-amg-w203/175571-189-good-price-radiator.html
Old 02-25-2007, 12:17 PM
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2002 C32 ///AMG
Originally Posted by AWDman
here's where i got mine $189 oem behr.
https://mbworld.org/forums/showthread.php?t=175571
You end up installing it yourself or you get it professionally done?
Old 03-13-2007, 09:49 PM
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The dealer install a Valeo radiator in my car before I bought it. There is a sticker on the top that has 11/4/2004 on it, so hopefully it's the new one and won't leak.

Anyone think I should say screw it and get the Behr?
Old 10-17-2010, 04:55 PM
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C32
Does anyone have any more up to date and accurate information on how to determin whether a C32 has a Valeo? Mine is missing the label it seems and I can't verify the make of the radiator.

GT4AWD mentioned that the crimps are different. But different how?
Old 10-18-2010, 01:38 AM
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Valeo connection...

Attached Thumbnails How to know if Valeo?-valeocrimp.jpg  
Old 10-18-2010, 02:10 PM
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Trying to figure out what that picture is a picture of.
Old 10-19-2010, 12:51 AM
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The end tank on the radiator. Bottom side.
Old 10-19-2010, 03:32 AM
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Originally Posted by splinter
Yes, the following are affected by potential Valeo failure, and therefore Glycol contamination of the ATF;

Models 203.040/061/064/065/081/084/261/281/284/740/747/764

Models 209.365/375/376/465/475

Models 211.065/070/076/083/265/283

*Up to Production Date 09/2003*

Because of copyright issues, the pdf bulletin cannot be reproduced here.
Send an inquiry to johngoodlad@verizon.net should you require further discussion.
Never checked my radiator until now that this thread was resurrected. I do have the Valeo radiator but the part number is A 203 500 39 03, with a date of 04/02/05 which is not listed on the list that Splinter provided here in 2007. My car is a 2002, does this mean the first owner might of encountered the glycol contamination and therefore replacing it..? Production date was 02/2002..

Last edited by saer1one; 10-19-2010 at 03:37 AM.
Old 10-19-2010, 07:28 AM
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Sounds like yours has already been replaced. Where did you find the part number that you referenced?


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