My car has 183k and the radiator is leaking slowly - there is a small wet spot under the driver's side rear corner of the radiator every day. It is hard to tell if the leak is at the hose connection or at the joint between the aluminum and plastic; it is not leaking enough to see water spurting out and it seems to leak when cool as there are no drips when the car is running. I tightened the hose clamp but did no good.

I looked up the radiator and found there are more than one depending on whether the car has an oil cooler or not? I am not sure if I can trust the existing part number (if I could find it) because the current radiator was installed by the previous owner sometime before I got the car 2 years ago.

Is there a way to tell if the leak is the radiator tank or the hose?
How can I tell if my car has an oil cooler?
Does anyone know the correct radiator part number?
My VIN is WDBEA32E9RC148140

Thanks,
James

No, just one radiator for your model. Are you sure it's not the overflow elbow - very cheap and easy to replace.

Sounds like your previous owner may have installed an el cheapo Middle Kingdom sourced radiator.

Get an OEM replacement - Behr (Hella) - get the European one not the Asian knock off.

The transmission oil cooler is a part of the radiator itself.

Make sure you use genuine M.B. coolant or Zerox G05

Using only water in these M.B.'s will deteriorate the individual compnents of the cooling system very quickly

I've got a good one from a 95 e300TD...

__________________
John HAUL AWAY, OR CRUSHED CARS!!! HELP ME keep the cars out of the crusher! A/C Thread
"as I ride with my a/c on... I have fond memories of sweaty oily saturdays and spewing R12 into the air. THANKS for all you do!

My drivers:
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 560SL convertible
1987 190D 2.5-5SPEED!!!

1987 300TD
2005 Dodge Sprinter 2500 158"WB
1994GMC 2500 6.5Turbo truck... I had to put the ladder somewhere!

my 92 500SL is doing the same thing, hairline crack at the elbow (which was also replaced), and it's an original Behr.......common failure point. If anyone has a used one for my car that isn't leaking, shoot me a PM!

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former: 83 300D, 97 C230, 93 400E

current: 08 C300 Luxury , 92 500SL