W169 Air conditioning

[Biggles1957]

So when I got out of the car last Wednesday and it was colder outside (yes - last Wednesday!!) I thought there might be a problem with my air con. Although it's a 2006 car, it's only done 56,500 miles. I tend to leave the air con all the time to avoid seals etc drying out. Had it re-gassed last year and decided it most likely would be the condenser as it's 14 years old. However, brilliant mobile chap came over today and there are no leaks in the system but no gas either! So, my condenser is fine and it turned out to be the Shrader valve just in front of the bulkhead - when he'd gassed it all up you could just see the slightest bubbling down inside the valve. So a quick tweak to tighten the valve seat and all is well!

 

[ZZZZ]

That's great - certainly better, and I bet lot cheaper, than fitting a new condenser

I had mine replaced by Olly @ PCS five years ago (luckily, the new to me car was still under dealer's 3-month RAC Gold warranty) - brilliant job, as always: it didn't require a re-gas as yet, and it's ice cold. I too never switch the air con off.

I was going to fit a finer (6x9 mm) mesh for the lower grille, where the condenser gets hammered due to insufficient protection, but it was suggested that, the inevitable reduction in airflow might bring up more trouble than it fixes.
Decided to leave it as is, for now.

My A200 is the same age and [almost] the same mileage as yours - just getting to 52.5k ...

 

[gh3382]

MMMM a new condensor on mine tomorrow costing £503. Not happy but **** happens.

GH3382

 

[EmilysDad]

MMMM a new condensor on mine tomorrow costing £503. Not happy but **** happens.

GH3382

HOW MUCH?
The last condensor I bought was for my Omega ... can't now remember how much but I'm sure it was no more than about £150 inc a dryer. DIY fitting was very straight forward.