If the temp gauge sat as you have indicated then the engine, head gasket and head should be O.K.
The exact same thing happened to my 260e.
$500+ seems a little extreme. I'll get a price for you tomorrow in Melbourne.
Don't bother trying to ring the RACV to check out an old Mercedes - or any old Euro car for that matter - They haven't a clue - probably more destructive advice than reality. The only thing they are good for is to organise a tow to the shop or home.
There is a really good independent Mercedes guy in Geelong. Knows the old Benz's really well. I'll try and dig up his name.
You can't recondition one of these radiators. There a plastic bits, aluminum bits and other bits that can never be repaired and put together properly. The broken off neck can never be repaired so as to give you piece of mind. - It's a gamble.
I rang Natrad Geelong just now and their price is $480... still sounds expensive but cheaper than what MB spares quoted in Canberra. I guess they increased the price recently? but anyway, I am going to take it and put it in my car maybe this weekend. btw, since i disconnected the radiator and lost some trans fluid (not much though, i guess less than half can of beer), do i need to top up some power steering fluid? -- my original plan was to change it this Saturday at my friend/mechanic's place in Clayton...
Top off the transmission fluid...not power steering fluid
K. i will probably not top off anything as the trans fluid lost was quite small: 50ml on floor and some in the old radiator?
will get the transmission fluid replaced this Saturday as they are just over 60k km old.
picked up the behr radiator from the local radiator guy. put it in the car myself with 2 screw drivers and one spanner
top up coolant and started the engine for 10 min, check leaks (there is one...), tightened the leaking pipe. tested again, all good.
check trans fluid, the mark is not very clear but it covers the upper limit of the stick when warm...
i drove it around a bit and the transmission feels a little bit strange (or could be because i was wearing steel-toe boots and press the paddle differently?) any idea?
Don't you feel frustrated that such a small amount of damage can render a very expensive piece of kit useless?
yeah,, Merc coolant from local dealer (soooo expensive... $30 per 1.5 ltr, while my mechanic charge me half the price for BMW coolant which is i believe the same thing)
and ouch,, i didn't burp the car but i did top up the coolant/water several time when i saw the water level dropped at the begining (the total estimated amount of water plus coolant is about 7 ltrs plus the fresh water left in the engine after i flush it) so i guess it should be ok :P
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