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Succeeded in getting the W210 E55 running and it's much better with a functioning thermostat.
Next up, replacing the heater control valve in my W211 E55 so I can get some heat in the passenger compartment. I've done it before so I expected to have it done in 3 hours or so.
Nope!
Used an old drum brake spring puller to pop off the metal clips that fit the old heater control valve to the engine coolant hose and the heater core. Heater valve slipped right off of the heater core connections but the plastic fitting on the hose from the engine was stuck in the old heater valve. Tried rotating the fitting to break it loose and only managed to break the plastic fitting! (Not much bad language. I just accepted it as my fate.)
Now to obtain a new hose with pre-installed plastic fitting from the dealer. Yay.
And looking at everything, it appears I have to remove the driver's side surge tank so I can get to the hose clamp attached to the engine block under the throttle body. Joy oh joy! Can my day get any better?
Is it recommended to replace any gasket under the surge tank?
What rotten luck! Not likely to need the heater for a while judging by the forecast for Christmas.
May I ask when you’re picking up OEM parts from the dealer is that primarily from San Pedro dealer or somewhere else? I know I will need to work on a relationship with someone in the near future!
What rotten luck! Not likely to need the heater for a while judging by the forecast for Christmas.
May I ask when you’re picking up OEM parts from the dealer is that primarily from San Pedro dealer or somewhere else? I know I will need to work on a relationship with someone in the near future!
The folks up North snicker at me when I whine that it is 40*F here. As the forecast shows, I should be good for Christmas but with the broken fitting I cannot drive the car.
FWIW, the San Pedro dealer is the one I use. Rene at the front desk has performed yeoman's work assisting me in tracking down parts. Mr. Eddie Holguin in back is also extremely effective in finding parts that are in short supply for our W211 cars. I'm heading there tomorrow to order some old "new" stock while it is still available. Cowl under the windshield, fasteners, cold air intake tubes, heater line assembly, etc., etc.
As much money as I've dropped there in the past month I think I'm going to insist they put my picture on the wall as "Customer of the Month"....
Mine is leaking from this plastic fitting/hose & planning to replace it once i pull the engine in the upcoming days. Do you perhaps know part number for it?
The thing about these fittings is that they are not MB specific. When I had my cooling system torn apart and was looking for a fitting...it was found on a VW forum and very low cost at the local VW dealer. It was a simple black plastic elbow - much like yours.
Mine is leaking from this plastic fitting/hose & planning to replace it once i pull the engine in the upcoming days. Do you perhaps know part number for it?
Well, I'm going to drop even more money. The clamp where the line connects to the engine cannot be reached by ordinary means as the blower outlet snout and proximity to the firewall prevents access.. My thanks to HemiAlex for his suggestion to pull the blower off the engine (I was seriously considering dropping the transmission).
Since the blower is going to be off, it means "as long as I'm in there" rules apply. Rear bearings, fuel pulsation damper, possible injector cleaning and flow testing, new injector o-rings, MAP sensor, cleaning of valley between the heads, replace any rubber lines in there, and degrease the intercooler if needed.
All for one clamp...
This is funny because when I last did my engine and saw this hose location and how old it was I said I might as well change it before I have to fight with it like you have been !! Glad you fixed it.
This is funny because when I last did my engine and saw this hose location and how old it was I said I might as well change it before I have to fight with it like you have been !! Glad you fixed it.
@SICAMG
Not fixed yet. My boys are arriving to visit tonight; they do not yet know they are going to help me pull the blower off the engine.
There may be local places that can clean and flow test the fuel injectors but do you have any recommendations? I've used RC Engineering but that was a long time ago....
And to anyone who is pulling the blower for any reason, replace the dang heater hose while you can reach the clamp!
Last edited by bbirdwell; Dec 27, 2025 at 07:36 PM.
I have used RC as well but these days unless I just want to test the flow rates I will just replace the injectors to be safe.
Considering it is $280.00 to clean a set and 290.00-320.00 to buy new ones,screw it.
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