Retrofit air conditioning on 1998 SLK 230

[slkgolfer]

Hi everyone

I've just bought a 1998 SLK 230 for my wife and foolishly got one without A/C :sad:. Can an air con system be fitted to it?

I assume that as it was an option when the car was new that the neccessary spaces are available under the bonnet for all the bits and bobs and that the wiring loom will already have the required connections. Can any confirm this?

Has anyone had an aircon system fitted to their SLK (or other Merc) and can any recommend a company to do it? I'm in North Essex but will travel.

What should I expect to pay for it? Is it worth hunting out a used system from a written off SLK?

Thanks in advance for any help..........Ken

 

[television]

Hi Ken and welcome, sorry to say that retrofitting AC is a massive job and the expense would put it out of reach as so many parts have to be changed, it would be cheaper to sell the car and buy another.

 

[slkgolfer]

Thanks Malcolm,

I sort of thought that might be the case. At least in the cold of winter she won't need it so much. I'll probably try to sell it in the Spring / early Summer. Shame 'cos it is a really great car except for the A/C...........anybody want a 1998 SLK 230, 58,000 miles, Silver with black/cream two tone leather interior, beautiful condition......only £5250. Ken - 01255 508799.

Thanks again Malcolm. Great forum!

Regards............Ken

 

[slkgolfer]

Hi again Malcolm (and anyone else who might know Alpinair)

Alpinair have quoted £1350+VAT for fitting an aircon system to my SLK 230. That seems like a reasonable amount, even for my 10 year old car. Does that price seems too cheap?

Does anyone else have any experience with Alpinair (West London based).

Thanks.............Ken

 

[television]

Are they offering climate control as against Air Con.

Climate control give you dry air in the winter and sets the inside temp to what ever you wish, Air con just uses a blast of air to take the temp down and no where near as comfortable

 

[Stu_CDX]

Are they offering climate control as against Air Con.

Climate control give you dry air in the winter and sets the inside temp to what ever you wish, Air con just uses a blast of air to take the temp down and no where near as comfortable

Malcolm... Air Conditioning DOES remove moisture from the outside air so "ALL" of my owners manuals say for my old cars (Cavalier, Omega etc...)

And the W124 has a dehumidifyer built in so it can't "JUST" cool the air...

Climate Control allows you to CONTROL THE CLIMATE. Meaning you can set it to a comfortable temperature, 22-23 degrees, and even on hot days, it'll blast through cold air until the temperature is reached, then slow the fan off and raise the temperature of the air to a happy medium.

 

[television]

Malcolm... Air Conditioning DOES remove moisture from the outside air so "ALL" of my owners manuals say for my old cars (Cavalier, Omega etc...)

And the W124 has a dehumidifyer built in so it can't "JUST" cool the air...

Climate Control allows you to CONTROL THE CLIMATE. Meaning you can set it to a comfortable temperature, 22-23 degrees, and even on hot days, it'll blast through cold air until the temperature is reached, then slow the fan off and raise the temperature of the air to a happy medium.

We have had many post on this subject of climate drying the air,,even on my 230 2 weeks ago when the AC was switched off when I had the faulty SAM it misted up badly,, it was out in the rain all day yesterday and not one trace on condensation, now that the AC is working again

 

[Lordjellybelly]

If it assists I bought my E320 cab at a price where I allowed for a retro fit of air/con and had a Merc approved system fitted last summer by Reader Air Conditioning of Woking @ £1500 ++ vat.. It works perfectly and having had air/con and C/C in many cars this system admittedly designed for W124 series with its manual control gives the driver exactly what he wants where he wants it and for me that is permanent [if the vents are open] cold air from the central vents and warm to the side vents with of course warm to the feet when required ,like now.

 

[keith100]

We have had many post on this subject of climate drying the air,,even on my 230 2 weeks ago when the AC was switched off when I had the faulty SAM it misted up badly,, it was out in the rain all day yesterday and not one trace on condensation, now that the AC is working again

Every A/C car I've owned certainly removed humidity, as you say, Malcom. The later CC versions just maintain the set temp., changing the fan speed etc, and move from cold to hot automatically, (but still dehumidifying). In theory you need never touch the controls for the life of the car. But of course the temp. is read via that little grill in the dash and "Your experience may not be the same", as the advertisers like to warn. So I still fiddle with them a bit, making an important executive decision!

 

[Bolide]

This question comes up regularly with W124 E300 Diesel estates as very few of them were fitted with a/c

My answer is, if you plan to keep the car for 5 years or more then it's probably worth it. If you're self-employed and/or VAT registered then the cost to you drops and it the plan becomes more attractive

Plenty of W124s were retrofitted by Lex Leasing immediately after purchase. That saved the Special Car Tax on the a/c installation and maybe the VAT as well

If a retrofit system is fitted professionally, uses quality parts and the switchgear is correct then I see no problem with it

Nick Froome
www.w124.co.uk