Valeo radiator on 2004 C270 auto

[ralphk]

Hi everybody!

Last weekend the Telegraph Motoring section did a big thing on Valeo radiators in certain cars up to 2003. Apparently there was a fault which resulted in catastophic failure of the auto box neccessitating new box at £5000 +. Two questions.
How do i identify if my vehicle has this box
I need to check my VIN code against the build time and i saw a site on this forum which showed how to print out vehicle spec. from the VIN code.

Help please!

RalphK

 

[television]

Hi Ralf this affects the 203 up to the 30-09-03 and that is the build date, enter you full VIN here and you will get that date


http://old.mbclub.ru/mb/vin/?lng=eng

 

[Ellsy Tanners]

I wounldnt worry to much, ive been working on 203 since start of production and never seen one with this fault,, hundreds of 211 e-classes but i havnt seen a single case on 203, i am not saying they are not effected, just exceptionally very rare.

 

[ralphk]

Thanks guys!
Malcolm, I put my details in and my build date was 30/03/03.
Ellsy Tanner, I hope that your right about the W203 range

I need to find something else to panic about now.

Ralph

 

[jberks]

on here, I've rarely heard of a 211 but lots of 203s.
e.g. http://forums.mercedesclub.org.uk/showthread.php?t=31680&highlight=valeo
I guess it's that random. Bottom line, it affects both.

 

[BlackC55]

Oh and 209's too.

 

[television]

One answer is to change the rad, and that is not that expensive, around £120 was what the last guy said and simple to do

 

[type49]

I've seen loads of 203s + 209s but not one 211.

 

[Ralphiespal]

I've got an Eclass 270cdi built 20th August 2003. My warranty runs out Feb 2008 and I'm worried as I have had a vibration when accelerating at about 30 to 40 mph. This seems to be gearbox associated. The local MB franchisee sevice department have not heard of the problem and assure me my car is up to date with all updates. Any special tools needed to change the radiator and which one is the best buy. I'm due a sevice in Feb.
Ralphies pal

 

[television]

I've got an Eclass 270cdi built 20th August 2003. My warranty runs out Feb 2008 and I'm worried as I have had a vibration when accelerating at about 30 to 40 mph. This seems to be gearbox associated. The local MB franchisee sevice department have not heard of the problem and assure me my car is up to date with all updates. Any special tools needed to change the radiator and which one is the best buy. I'm due a sevice in Feb.
Ralphies pal

The leaking rad faulty symptoms are a humming or droning when accelerating up to 2k.

It is not so easy on a 211 as the air con has to be de gassed

 

[Ellsy Tanners]

Thats strange, wot i have said in my first post is wot ive seen in my experince,s. Weired how overs have noticed the opersite trend of cars.

 

[television]

Thats strange, wot i have said in my first post is wot ive seen in my experince,s. Weired how overs have noticed the opersite trend of cars.

I have found this in other things in life, even faults in TV set, faults that I never have, other dealers get, its weird