After thinking I just had a bad upper radiator hose, (and replacing same) I've discovered my leak in my 98 E300TD is really happening where the core meets the driver side case. (leaking heavily down the side of the radiator case). I'm not very familiar with this style of radiator. Are they repairable. With 150k on the car, is a radiator repair worth it compared to the $300 Rusty charges for a replacement unit?
Is the leak coming from a hole, or did the clamps holding plastic ends corroded and the parts separated at the seal?
For a hole you can use a sealer. To my experience, the silver powder, what is on the market for decades and usually the cheapest works the best.
With corroded clamps you are out of luck.
After thinking I just had a bad upper radiator hose, (and replacing same) I've discovered my leak in my 98 E300TD is really happening where the core meets the driver side case. (leaking heavily down the side of the radiator case). I'm not very familiar with this style of radiator. Are they repairable. With 150k on the car, is a radiator repair worth it compared to the $300 Rusty charges for a replacement unit?
Hi, Jim. Times like this I consider Click 'n Clack's sage advice: repairing a car is always cheaper than a new one. Of course with MB's I modify that: if the car is otherwise okay and has been properly maintained, them fixing is cheaper than replacing.
So if your oiler is otherwise in good shape -- and you plan to keep it -- them buy the radiator. While Alumaseal may work for a time, that sounds like a seam and it will ultimately fail...and then probably at the worst possible time. After all the diesel variants of these cars are known to go 3-4 times the mileage you have--again, when well maintained.
$300 is am awesome price, cheapest I saw online was $60 more than that, just be sure Rusty is putting in a quality unit.
Take care and enjoy the ride,
Greg
__________________ If the only prayer you say in your life is thank you, that would suffice. Meister Eckhart
When you learn from your own mistakes, that's experience.
When you learn from the mistakes of others, that's wisdom.
When you fail to learn from any mistakes, that's government.
radiator.com oem radiators or after market oe ones for great prices delivered from several warehouses around the country.
if you find a lower price they will beat it by ten percent
Leaky Radiator W210 E300TD 
Linear Mode
