Oil Cooler into 230SL

[cabrioletturbo]

So I am preparing my 230SL engine for the overhaul. As I have quite a set of extra parts to play with, I am thinking if I should add an oil cooler as found on 250 engines.
I have the cooler, hoses and the oil filter housing - all off 250, so me thinking it should be an easy add-on.

What do you guys think? Am I overthinking this? Should I just go with original setup and call it a day?

[Naj ✝︎]

I did this on my 230 in 2002/3.

A nice addition.

Both the oil and water compartments shud be pressure tested to ensure 'no leaks'.

naj

[mbzse]

.../...Both the oil and water compartments shud be pressure tested to ensure 'no leaks'

Yes, the brass casing is soft soldered and develops leaks after many years in service, due to verdigris or some other corrosion...
A re-soldering is advised, see attached (Picture courtesy of Waqas). Note: The device is to be painted semi-matte black.
/Hans S

[Benz Dr.]

Oil coolers were optional on late 230SL's so I would consider it to be a correct part of the car. I added one to my car quite a few years ago and after testing it with a hand held heat probe I found that the oil going into the cooler was about 25 degrees hotter than the oil coming out. So, they do work.

[JonathanB]

I saw this for $165 on eBay from Germany.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Oil-cooler-Oil-Cooler-for-Mercedes-W108-W113-W114-C114-W115-Stroke-8-NEW-/142083221016?hash=item2114d1e618:m:mOvZ0a7i28gdedTnI_9A2eA

What do you all think?  How many other bits are needed to retrofit the oil cooler to a manual 230SL?   How many hours labor is involved?

Thanks,

Jon

[DaveB]

That's the 280SL version and won't fit. The 230/250 version is discussed here:

http://www.sl113.org/forums/index.php?topic=4940.msg31192#msg31192

[waqas]

Here's my old thread about rebuilding one of these: http://www.sl113.org/forums/index.php?topic=11013

I knew I recognized that photo posted by Hans.. 

[waqas]

Just to clarify for everyone, the cooler mentioned at the top of this thread is the oil/water heat exchanger mounted on the side of the engine, and is used for the engine oil. It was standard equipment on the 250 S/SL/SE (I think from 1965 onwards) due to the M129 being more sensitive to heat. At that point they also made optional on the 230SL for hot climates, sporty driving, etc. On the 280SL, it was eliminated and this function was moved to sit next to the radiator as a more effective air-cooled device (that's the one shown in JonathanB's link).

[114015]

Yes, that's correct.
This oil-water heat exchanger appeared for the first time in the 230 SL parts list B (10097) as of November 1964 as an option for the 230 SL - 3/4 of a year before the 250 SE came into production ...

I had a hard time retrofitting it. Everything went in nicely with the exception of the long (250 SE) oil tube. The front bend was too wide and interferred with the cold start fuel line of the R11 pump.
 

We (well we ..., my friend Hans-Werner did that) had to adapt the front bend of the oil line (by heat), then it was okay.
On Waqas early pics you can see that the 230 used a different oil line composed of two metal elbow pieces and a center metal-mesh covered rubber hose instead of the all-solid metal line that the 250 SE had. Since the earlier 230 parts are NLA we had to work out something.

I am well aware that the 230/250 oil/water heat exchanger by far isn't as effective as the oil/air heat exchanger of the 280 set up, but it increases both, the amount of engine oil and water. And both helps the thermal health of the sensitive 230 engines for sure.

Achim
(trash parts collector)