Couldn't watch the entire video but I do wonder if this is fixing a symptom rather than the malady.

I say this because my M104 temperature remains between 87 and 92 C, the 92 being reached only in 35 + C ambient after climbing a long hill with the aircon on max.

Just my thoughts.

Comments anyone?

RayH

 

Agree. The author talks like he has some authority but doesn't . He mentions that Mercedes states that the temp reaching 120 is acceptable but he "poo poos" that because I guess he knows more. He installed a resistor on the temp sensor but instead of making a permanent installation, he just wraps the resistor around the pins? Does he know what a soldering iron is? Who really knows what is true and what is not in this video. Is everything really "new" as he states it is? And what is "everything" ?

 

For lower summer temps (in the PNW), these upgrades aren't really necessary, as commented (in general) by the YT poster.
But if the temp readings do climb, I would be first inclined to check the condition of the cooling system before applying any of this.
And, if you do have the parts lying around, and you want like to play mechanic.....

 

Nice job explaining the problem and the fix.

 

Stole this thread and added it to a discussion we’re having in the w126 forum. I think the parts in his video will work nicely in my w126 with an m103 engine. Thanks!!

 

Would like to see this test on the Grapevine at 80mph on a 105*F day.

 

With a roofbox and a 2000lb trailer, and 5 sumo wrestlers onboard.

 

an alternative is to swap out the fan clutch for tropical version that fully locks at lower temp. Little bit harder to source the part but I was able to get a brand new Sachs couple of years ago.
see more here:

Tropical fan clutch really works - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Its really getting hot in this part of the world (Philippines) which is unusual for this time of the year. My 260E has been running on the hot side

www.peachparts.com

 

an alternative is to swap out the fan clutch for tropical version that fully locks at lower temp. Little bit harder to source the part but I was able to get a brand new Sachs couple of years ago.
see more here:

Tropical fan clutch really works - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Its really getting hot in this part of the world (Philippines) which is unusual for this time of the year. My 260E has been running on the hot side

www.peachparts.com

The problem is that tropical fan clutch has been sitting on a shelf in a warehouse for the last 20-30 years which allowed that oily goop inside to degrade with time. And just as importantly, was it stored on its back, on its front on its side? That stuff settles with time which affects the clutch's behavior. You really don't know what you're getting until you run it in the car. It's a gamble like pouring 20 year old engine it oil. It might be fine or it might not.

 

SO, are southern parts (tips) of the USA or other regions, now hitting regular tropical zone temps (comparable to the link location..) that warrant swaps like this? (asking....)

 

Not sure but it is an option especially when comparing a solution with parts from different models/years to the one that Benz put in for some locales.
I am in PNW and the part is sitting new to put in when the existing one goes. Couldn’t pass up on a German Sachs when even MB branded new one is Chinese Behr.

 

Nice work

 

Would love to see the results of how the car ran under identical conditions after the head gasket, radiator, fan clutch, etc were replaced but before the mods. Then we could actually see the differential rather than the theoretical differential. As for soldering the resistor, you can solder it on the connector and not have to worry about what to do if the temp sensor fails at some point - it will be plug and play.

 

While I don't have any video of how the car ran with new parts pre cooling upgrades I can tell you it was exactly how Mercedes specified it to be: too hot. The car would on more occasions than I felt comfortable with go above the 100C mark. Going up a steep hill on a warm day would get the temps close to 120C unless I ran the heater. Being stopped in traffic with the AC on 100C+, going through a drive through as well. The cooling system for these cars are inadequate, and no it is not just an issue with my specific car, I have a few friends with E320 sedans and convertibles and even an E500 that all run similar. The outside air temp plays a huge role and that is why if you are in a climate like Southern California you most likely have similar running conditions.

I do know about making the harness for the resistor, it is not possible on later 95+ cars with the 4 pin connecter, you will have to wrap it around the pins as detailed in my video. It is still much simpler and quicker to just wrap it around the two pins on the earlier cars than to solder anything. Once again I did this purely to demonstrate how quickly and easily the resistor can be used

 

You people worry too much as if this unmarked line on the gauge (the 100C mark) is the Berlin wall and crossing it is at your own peril.

Yes, air temp plays a role but humidity is a bigger factor.

Unless your are seeing 115C (fans on high AND A/C compressor cycling on/off) on a very regular/constant basis there is no need to panic.

Example: my W140 has essentially 2 M104s stuffed under the hood and the gauge varies between just above 80C to 100C or even slightly above depending on ambient temp, engine load, etc, etc, etc. One time I was stuck in traffic with a 36C (about 100F) ambient temp with the engine idling for a solid 90 minutes with the car in neutral. The gauge started climbing after about 30 minutes, hit 100C, exceeded 100C, hit 105C, 110C, and finally hit 115C after about 1 hour and stayed there when the electric fans kicked in and ran at full speed non stop. Once the car got moving, the gauge dropped after a few kms back to around 100C, and even slightly less at full highway speeds. Keep in mind that the V12 W140 has a coolant capacity of 20L, but otherwise is similar if not identical to the W124 (especially the later W124 with dual fans). Never bothered turning off the A/C and dumping hot air into the cabin.

This "drive through" test is not valid as there is not sufficient airflow going through your radiator.

Don't forget that MB tested these cars to breaking point all over the world, including Death Valley, before the age of "computer simulation".

 

With California having such a drastic temperature increase since the 1980s it is understandable, as I said previously, that those who choose to live there need to modify their cars to keep up. This set of mods seems to work but I suspect a larger radiator and/or a separate transmission cooler would be simple to achieve Thankfully the heaters in these cars are quite effective no matter where you are on the planet.