When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
Hi guys - I have a 2011 cls550, and Im struggling shopping for a thermostat because some sites indicate that most thermostats won't fit my 2011, but work for all other cls550s up to 2010. This makes no sense, as I don't believe any changes were made to 2011??
Is this just a case of 2011 being a cutoff year for manufacturing? any 5.5 application should work the same, correct???
thank you, but I'm still having the same problem. This appears to me to be an interchangeable part for almost all MB's from that time period, including 300/350 models. not just specific to the v8s. I am having a hard time officially confirming this, but depending on the vendor information you go by, there is a ton of confusion.
It's literally the difference of 150-200 dollars, so I'm really trying to verify this. I may just get the cheaper part and if it doesn't fit, oh well, lesson learned. but I can't see a difference in design whatsoever on all these different part number designations.
lol, yes, thank you. Some places are a bit cheaper and some are asking 250+.
my dillemma is that you can get an aftermarket part for around $30 that claims to fit s550s and even cls' up to 2010, etc, which all appear to be the exact same part, but cannot confirm a fit, even though I'm fairly certain it would fit.
The discrepancy seems to be in the third row of digits:
^^ this one for example is 272 200 05 15 (there are other examples with varying digits in the part number, and my guess this is to denote specific platforms, even though the part is interchangeable across platforms)
it also claims to fit a 2010 cls550 but no other year before or after. that just doesn't make sense does it?
Yes, I could spend 150-200 more on an oem part but if it's quite literally the same thing in a different package, why would I? I've had fairly good luck with aftermarket parts, and fairly bad luck with OEM stuff (mostly AC delco trash)
Here is what is tripping me up. Mine is the 2nd type with the added metal piece that routes to the main coolant hose on the other side of the oil filter/cooler. Are they still the same thermostat types just with a different orientation?
Please advise as to the difference here. Thank you for your time
I ended up ordering a Wahler part (basically OEM nowadays innit?) that matches the updated part number exactly. Got a good deal, will update as to fitment when it arrives in about 10 days 😮💨
NOPE - product was out of stock and order cancelled. I decided to just go to the Dealership and pay the full piper. This is not a great into to Mercedes ownership. LOL! good thing I enjoy tooling around with cars.
I ran into the same problem with my 07 cls550 with the m273 motor. Ordered 3 that didn't work, ended up ordering from https://www.fcpeuro.com/ and yes it was the more expensive $150 one, part# BOR-4829100D.
Don't know if you have the same motor or not but it looks the same, with that aluminum upper radiator hose running behind the oil filter housing that bolts to the thermostat instead of slip fit.
If you're replacing the thermostat, it's a good time to change the belt, belt tentioner, idler pully and oil cooler gasket. There is also an orange o-ring gasket where the upper rad hose bolts to the thermostat, don't have a part # off hand but it was $3 from the dealer. The thermostat doesn't come with it and would highly recommend changing it also.
If you don't replace the serp belt, remove it first or it'll get covered in coolant. The oil cooler gasket is simple and cheap but requires that upper aluminum coolant hose to be removed which is why its best to do them both.
Thanks man, I ended up paying dealership tax just to cut out the hassle of dealing with shipping time and stock issues. Local dealer had one on site for $220. Ouch. Lol.
I definitely will be removing the serpentine belt, as I need to verify which of the pulleys is making a scraping noise. My guess is the top idler pulley, but who knows. This the common culprit?
Thanks man, I ended up paying dealership tax just to cut out the hassle of dealing with shipping time and stock issues. Local dealer had one on site for $220. Ouch. Lol.
I definitely will be removing the serpentine belt, as I need to verify which of the pulleys is making a scraping noise. My guess is the top idler pulley, but who knows. This the common culprit?
How many miles? It's difficult to say with hearing it but yes when the bearings in the pully start to wear, they'll make noise. Might be loader on cold starts. There a standard maintenance replacement item, most manufacturers recommend replacing between 60-80k.
The alternator and a/c pulleys can go bad also but it's not as common on lower mileage vehicles. To eliminate them as a cause, have some sit in the car and cycle the ac on and off and listen to the ac compressor. For the alternate, you want turn on the ac/heat, blower fan, etc to put as much load on the alt as possible as listen if the noise changes.
Oh, BTW there are 2 idler pulls, one ribbed and the other is smooth. Rockauto had both in stock and the best price I could find. IIRC around $160 for the belt, tentioner and idler pulleys depending on brand.
Update : Yes, the top Idler pulley was the culprit. 85$ from dealership, because I was impatient. Could have gotten online for half that. Install of thermostat went well. Sucks that I have to have the oddball model that has a different design and costs an arm and a leg, but it's done now and I shouldn't have to worry about it for quite some time.
02-04-2023, 02:52 PM
