Pagoda SL Group

W113 Pagoda SL Group => W11x chassis cars => Topic started by: lorirobin on March 18, 2015, 20:24:45

Title: Mercedes 280SE 3.5 Behr Air Conditioning
Post by: lorirobin on March 18, 2015, 20:24:45

I have a question about the Behr A/C in a 3.5
Is it a separate part of the dash, or is it and the dash all one part?
I'm talking about the under dash pod, where the vents and dials are.
Thanks,

Title: Re: Mercedes 280SE 3.5 Behr Air Conditioning
Post by: JPMOSE on March 19, 2015, 11:28:18

It is separate from the dash and independent from the other climate control system.  My friend's 3.5 Cab has a Kuhlmeister system (since new) which I rarely see.

Title: Re: Mercedes 280SE 3.5 Behr Air Conditioning
Post by: GGR on March 20, 2015, 17:09:30

On the W111 Coupe/Cab it's a separate unit. On the W108 it's part of the dash, just like on the 4.5

Title: Re: Mercedes 280SE 3.5 Behr Air Conditioning
Post by: lorirobin on March 23, 2015, 19:04:32

I'd like to hear others opinions of the possibility of having a more or less original looking Behr unit fabricated
and installed. It's not going to be cheap and it's not going to be original, but what other options are there?
If you live in California as I do, a car without A/C just isn't practical, if you want to use it.
Thanks in advance.

Title: Re: Mercedes 280SE 3.5 Behr Air Conditioning
Post by: Rodolfo on March 23, 2015, 19:58:23

1) 20 years ago I had a modern car (1995) without Airco. After one year I decided it needed airco. They placed (independent company) a smaller radiator in front of the normal one and used the air vents to blow in cold air. You could not see it on the inside of the car. So no ugly Behr and no noise inside.

2) recently I drove a 300 SE from 1965 with a Behr unit in. They replaced the whole installation , but kept the Behr unit inside. So no noise like a Behr, but still the looks of it and modern efficiency.

Two nice possibilities.

Title: Re: Mercedes 280SE 3.5 Behr Air Conditioning
Post by: JPMOSE on March 24, 2015, 16:06:25

The Behr on a 3.5 W111 is hardly ugly.   It is leather wrapped with a wood face.   My 250SL is from Oregon and doesn't have A/C.  In this case I'm happy, as the hanging unit takes away the beauty of the otherwise beautiful dashboard.  Since it's a Sunday car that always has the top down in the warm months, I haven't missed it (so far).

Title: Re: Mercedes 280SE 3.5 Behr Air Conditioning
Post by: lorirobin on March 28, 2015, 00:16:25

Rodolfo may have been speaking of the earlier Behr units, which is no thing of beauty. Here's a link to one installed in a 300SE
 http://hymanltd.com/vehicles/5112-1965-mercedes-benz-300-se-coupe/
I agree that the later version, in the 3.5s  are quite nice looking. At least to my eye.