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E500 radiator swap
- Thread starter ERASE
- Start date
Just get the OEM Behr. I have not been impressed with Nissens for the small cost savings. 500E radiator is part number 124-500-03-02. Dealer MSRP is $550, but you can get a new Behr from AutohausAZ for $231 delivered - can't beat that. The one vendor I found with Nissens actually had a higher price on the Nissens than the Behr! Go figure. The Nissens does not have metal reinforced necks.
Replace the upper radiator hose while you're at it, if it's not recent (124-501-92-82). ONLY get the OE hose, NOT aftermarket. $29.50 list, $20.12 from Parts.com. Good time to do the t-stat as well if it's 5+ years old...
Replace the upper radiator hose while you're at it, if it's not recent (124-501-92-82). ONLY get the OE hose, NOT aftermarket. $29.50 list, $20.12 from Parts.com. Good time to do the t-stat as well if it's 5+ years old...
You can get a factory MB radiator for $262.20 + shipping (likely to be around $20). If you care about having the year's factory warranty. Order through parts.com.
That's $40 more than the Behr. I've not heard good things about the Behr radiators in the past couple of years -- they are not being made in Germany any longer. I don't know if the MB units are, either, but at least you've got a guaranteed year's warranty on a factory unit. To me that's worth the extra $40-50.
Cheers,
Gerry
That's $40 more than the Behr. I've not heard good things about the Behr radiators in the past couple of years -- they are not being made in Germany any longer. I don't know if the MB units are, either, but at least you've got a guaranteed year's warranty on a factory unit. To me that's worth the extra $40-50.
Cheers,
Gerry
I've purchased a new OE/dealer radiator and a new Behr for a different W124 in the past year and they were absolutely identical, down to the fact that both were missing a mounting hole which had to be drilled for a trans fluid bracket. They were made in South Africa. Don't expect to get anything different from the dealer except a slightly different warranty, but I suspect the aftermarket Behr warranty is probably 1 year also. Might want to check with Autohaus, but I've never heard of a new radiator failing within 1 year anyway... might be a moot point. I'd save the fitty bucks and put it towards the hose/t-stat or beer.
grat advice about the OEM hose..I'd ahte to throw a hose on an aftermarket and have the warranty void.... whats the best t-stat part numbergsxr said:Just get the OEM Behr. I have not been impressed with Nissens for the small cost savings. 500E radiator is part number 124-500-03-02. Dealer MSRP is $550, but you can get a new Behr from AutohausAZ for $231 delivered - can't beat that. The one vendor I found with Nissens actually had a higher price on the Nissens than the Behr! Go figure. The Nissens does not have metal reinforced necks.
Replace the upper radiator hose while you're at it, if it's not recent (124-501-92-82). ONLY get the OE hose, NOT aftermarket. $29.50 list, $20.12 from Parts.com. Good time to do the t-stat as well if it's 5+ years old...
HELP! I just learned neither Parts.com or AutohausAZ will ship to Canada!! Anyone have other suggestions?
I think it has something to do with the particular parts I'm ordering, which are drop-shipped by an outfit that doesn't send North. I even called Arizona to ask if Autohaus would have the items shipped to their offices so they can forward to me...the answer was "no". They are off my Christmas card list!
Dean, had the same problem here in Ontario. Had the stuff shipped to a friend in Grand Island and brought the stuff across the border. Had to pay the HST though. The other thing I had to do was call my credit card provider and add my friends address as a secondary billing address. Just got a rad for my E420 and saved about $600. over the MB Canada stealership price.
Dave to the rescue...parts in the mail 
I may need a new radiator for my '94 E500 and per Dave's suggestion I checked the prices at AutohausAZ and Parts.Com. The Autohaus radiator PN was 124-500-1402 for a Behr priced at $214.00. The Parts.Com radiator PN was 124-500-0302 priced at $382.50. Should I be concerned about the different part number from Autohaus?
The part number as spec'd in the EPC is the latter: 124 500 03 02. However, it is interchangeable with the part number 124 500 14 02.
It's a bit confusing, but the 03 02 part number is specified for both the .034 and the .036, while the 14 02 number is specified by the EPC as solely an .034 part number. In reality, they are interchangeable.
AutohauZ also sells the Nissens model for $197, which is just as good quality as the Behr.
I have a HOW-TO article on radiator replacement at this link. I replaced my original radiator two years ago with a Nissens unit, 124 500 14 02, which has worked just fine.
Please note the other parts that are required to do the radiator swap. It is not a difficult DIY task, with the most difficult thing being the removal of the two-piece radiator fan shroud (see my HOW-TO for more on this). I ended up buying a new bottom piece, which thankfully was fairly inexpensive.
Cheers,
Gerry
P.S. Dozens of E500E and E420-400E Nissens and Behr units in storage at my friend Robert Fenton's parts warehouse in San Rafael, CA. May, 2014.
It's a bit confusing, but the 03 02 part number is specified for both the .034 and the .036, while the 14 02 number is specified by the EPC as solely an .034 part number. In reality, they are interchangeable.
AutohauZ also sells the Nissens model for $197, which is just as good quality as the Behr.
I have a HOW-TO article on radiator replacement at this link. I replaced my original radiator two years ago with a Nissens unit, 124 500 14 02, which has worked just fine.
Please note the other parts that are required to do the radiator swap. It is not a difficult DIY task, with the most difficult thing being the removal of the two-piece radiator fan shroud (see my HOW-TO for more on this). I ended up buying a new bottom piece, which thankfully was fairly inexpensive.
Cheers,
Gerry
P.S. Dozens of E500E and E420-400E Nissens and Behr units in storage at my friend Robert Fenton's parts warehouse in San Rafael, CA. May, 2014.
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The radiator mount/bushing kit part number is 123 500 00 12.
The bushings can generally be re-used; I was talking more about the copper crush washers for the transmission cooler lines, which shouldn't be re-used. But yes, anything rubber is a great idea to replace.
I think they are aluminum crush washers on the radiator...
I would put a new lower hose on i too being a 20 year old car. Call me crazy. Both my cars I've had problems with the lower hose sealing on the resevior. Clean the condensor coil while you have the radiator out.
M
I would put a new lower hose on i too being a 20 year old car. Call me crazy. Both my cars I've had problems with the lower hose sealing on the resevior. Clean the condensor coil while you have the radiator out.
M
See the previous discussion starting here about copper vs. aluminum washers at the radiator's transmission cooler.
Both Vadar and I found copper washers at our original radiators. Certainly 100% copper is what came on my car, so that is what I replaced it with.
Cheers,
Gerry
Thanks guys for all the helpful tips.
Gerry (and others) - do you remember if your Nissens had the inside metal reinforcement collar for both upper & lower radiator hoses ?
The Nissens I just got, doesn't have it, so I just may return it.
:-( neil
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Another data point, a little over a year for a Nissens in my E420 with no issues.
RENNtech offered them. Probably made locally in FL somewhere. They are nice, but I'm not convinced they increase cooling capacity much. There is very, very little room to increase the core size in the E500E. But, you don't have to worry about plastic tanks cracking or leaking!
I've got a photo of a RENNtech 500E radiator, so I know they exist, and Hartmut did make some. Not sure if Jono ever did or not.
Failures with factory Behr are not any more of a problem than with any other 124 chassis Behr radiator. They're usually good for 10-15 years, maybe longer with proper maintenance / flushing.
Yup...we did one for a 6L... the old Renntech unit was tired. Did a triple pass with as much core as we could squeeze in there using dual low profile Spal fans w/ a custom shroud. Kept that car Cool even in Atlanta heat/traffic/AC cranked.
We did ditch the fan clutch in the process.
Jono
We did ditch the fan clutch in the process.
Jono
Jono, would that custom radiator fit with the stock fan clutch? Got any photos? What would it cost to buy one from you? (I'm not in the market, just curious!)
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