New CLK320 Owner...need some advice

[Faz Choudhury]

Hi guys

New owner of a 2002 W209 CLK 320 Coupe in Obsidian Black

Love the car and is so comfortable to drive.

Been doing research on here for a while on the Valeo Rad problems...

I just wanted advice and clear cut way to erradicate this problem...

My car drives fine at the moment 66k miles, if I change the rad for a Behr rad before anything potentially happens then I can sleep at night right???

This site is a wealth of knowledge and hopefully I look to be an active member for years to come.

Thanks

Faz

 

[colechelle]

welcome Faz, not all CLK,s were fitted with the valeo rad, it was a certain batch, have a look at your rad to see if you can find a sticker with the make on there, normally on top, if yours is then a rad swap is stright forward!!

 

[Faz Choudhury]

welcome Faz, not all CLK,s were fitted with the valeo rad, it was a certain batch, have a look at your rad to see if you can find a sticker with the make on there, normally on top, if yours is then a rad swap is stright forward!!

Thanks for the welcome, I have been a senior member on various car forums but my first venture into the MB world

The rad top is covered, if i looked from under the car would I be able to see it?

Also how much does it roughly cost to swap a rad over?

 

[piestore]

valeo rad

Hi the only marking is a sticker on the top of the rad which you need to remove the slam panel to see ( very often no longer there) also on the plastic moulding clerly marked as valeo but rad needes to be removed to see it- sorry. There is also some identification possible by looking at the crimping of the plasitic sides to the core but you need a comparision picture to identify this

 

[Faz Choudhury]

Hi the only marking is a sticker on the top of the rad which you need to remove the slam panel to see ( very often no longer there) also on the plastic moulding clerly marked as valeo but rad needes to be removed to see it- sorry. There is also some identification possible by looking at the crimping of the plasitic sides to the core but you need a comparision picture to identify this

ok thanks for the reply...I think I may as well change the radiator if im gonna have to go to such lengths to see what it is

 

[jibcl500]

There should be a yellow dot on the right hand side at the top of the rad, if there aint your ok if there is start worrying.
jib

 

[Faz Choudhury]

There should be a yellow dot on the right hand side at the top of the rad, if there aint your ok if there is start worrying.
jib

nothing to worry about...just change the radiator

 

[DUNIT]

Hi like you i have just got a 2003 clk 270 cdi and was concerned about the rad issue, But my thoughts are that it has done 90k with no problems its prob allright. What i have done is get a gearbox dipstick so i can keep a eye on the auto fluid and also i presume when the rads go you must see the coolant drop as well,so i monitor that as well. At least if it starts leaking i can change before it damages convertor.

 

[OlafMaxwell]

Having seen the damage this rad issue can cause I would admit if it were my car and I had the Valeo rad I would take it out. I would not wait. Either way you pay for the rad replacement but by wating until it fails you get a second bigger bill.

 

[Mark Henry Freeman]

Aircondition - freezing pipes

Good day fellows,

My air condition pipes freezes when I travel long distance affecting the cooling performance. I was advised to change my thermostat which i did, it worked for a while but the pipes freeze after long journeys. I drive a 180 c class 2001 model.

I'd appreciate expert advice.

Kind regards
MHF

 

[Steve@Avantgarde]

Nissens radiators are also good quality.

The latest Valeo radiators are modfied similar to the Behr units so no need to worry about putting another valeo one in there either.....

 

[rifiki]

I some time think that Japanese are are better engineered. I use to have a Nissan Primera auto (01 Y plate) the gear box had separate radiator, nothing to do with engine cooling

 

[Graham_CLK]

I know I'm gatecrashing this thread but am new to the site and well here goes. I want to get a decent workshop manual for my recently purchased CLK 320 cdi anantgarde. I'm talking about Haynes or better & not one to put service stamps in. any ideas please