Main heater valve W116 -> W201

[ptashek]

During re-assembly, the main heater valve on my car started leaking. Lo and behold, it's NLA from MB. Neither is the vacuum element. Used ones cost anywhere from 20EUR to madness, and you have no idea if they're any good.

Turns out, the same part (vacuum element with valve!) from a W201 fits and works perfectly, and costs something like 15EUR + VAT.
The part number is A0008305784, and it looks like so under the bonnet:

[rumb]

Great tip,  looks so good that one would wonder why MB just doesnt list it as a substitute.

[UTn_boy]

That's really odd. Last week I ordered a new valve and a new vacuum element.  Both arrived.  Granted the price of the heater valve was over $200.00, but it's the correct metal one. 

The black one you're now using is what the online parts stores have been selling for a while.  Keep an eye on it, though.  The last two I bought split and spewed coolant everywhere.  That's why I went ahead an ordered the expensive one.  I certainly hope I didn't buy the last one. :/

[beagle2022]

Your new valve is the one that was fitted to mine by PO.  It fell apart at the join of the vacuum part and the supporting plastic frame.  No water leaks but it never fully turns on or off.  Not life threatening in Australia, but if I had to endure a European or Nth American winter I would want the real thing.

[ptashek]

Your new valve is the one that was fitted to mine by PO.  It fell apart at the join of the vacuum part and the supporting plastic frame.  No water leaks but it never fully turns on or off.  Not life threatening in Australia, but if I had to endure a European or Nth American winter I would want the real thing.

At its current price (OEM), even if I have to swap the valve out four times a year it'll still be cheaper than a used one on eBay. I can live with that.

[floyd111]

is this a part for automatic climate control only, or all cars?

[UTn_boy]

No, it's a part for all cars that don't have automatic climate control. 

[UTn_boy]

At its current price (OEM), even if I have to swap the valve out four times a year it'll still be cheaper than a used one on eBay. I can live with that.


I don't understand.....why would you spend north of $50,000 on your car and then not want to spend  $200-$300 on a part as important as a heater valve?  Don't you like the idea of replacing it once and being done with it?  What if one of the plastic ones bursts on the Autobahn or on the long trip you're planning to take?  You'll likely have another one with you, but man, what a job.  The aluminum cowl vent has to be removed, the rivets that hold it in are pretty much one time use unless you find the center pins afterward.  That's why I bit the bullet and bought a metal one.  Now, I haven't looked, but are there people really selling used metal heater valves for prices close to what a new one would cost? 

[ptashek]

I don't understand.....why would you spend north of $50,000 on your car and then not want to spend  $200-$300 on a part as important as a heater valve?

It's not a matter of cost - the part is listed NLA at my sources in Europe. At the end of the day, they all check back with Fellbach, so maybe they've ran out too.
Have you got a source with confirmed stock?

I just went with the second best option. The black plastic (late-W116 specific) variety came with my car when I bought it, and was on it for ~8 years before that.
Then the membrane developed a vacuum leak, so I swapped it with the metal one from my 350. No idea how old that one was, but it didn't last much

What if one of the plastic ones bursts on the Autobahn or on the long trip you're planning to take?

That trip already happened, no valve issues to report.

Now, I haven't looked, but are there people really selling used metal heater valves for prices close to what a new one would cost?

I've seen used ones anywhere from about 20EUR to close to 100EUR. New ones on offer are of the black, all-plastic kind.
Actually, maybe that's the ones that fail, not the W201 variety? It's definitely made of a different kind of plastic around the main valve body.

[rumb]

as mentioned above 000 830 57 84 is not the correct one for 450SEL 6.9.

107 830 05 84 fits better, has a different angle and 2 screw holes needed.

I have a spare new 000 830 57 84 if anyone is interested.

[floyd111]

The original valves still pop up regularly, but again, regular searches are a must.
Yes, asking price is often 150-250usd, but there aren't as many takers as you'd expect for that part. On 3 occasions I found a new one in 2017, and after a brief negotiation I bought all 3 of them between 75 and 120usd ex shipping.
I have given the tip before, but here it is, once again:
When searching eBay, do not simply use eBay.com. Actually, it is the worst eBay database worldwide when it comes to finding old merc parts. It seems only the most excessive sellers float to that site.
I use .com even less than .co.uk. (!)
One needs to use eBay's European sisters sites for the best results.
When using .com, select the "only north America" option, if you are outside north america
when using .de, select the "default" option when in Germany, and "Germany only" if you are outside Germany.
when using .co.uk.. etc etc.
The same logic applies to ebay.fr and ebay.it, be it that those 2 have the smallest assortment in Mercedes goodies.

Ignore the seller's shipping and payment settings. Simply bid or buy when you can, and negotiate the rest with the seller. I manage 99% of the time.

You could also check ebay-kleinanzeigen  but since it's super popular, things sell super fast there. Also, German is the language and 50% of the time there is no Paypal
25% of the time there is no shipping abroad.

Hope this helps.

[djenka018]

The proble with secondhand valves is that they are leaking and make warm air all the times. Not a nice proposition in warmer climate.

I got a few 2nd hand from wreckers and all leak. Going dry after years of soak, I guess. Plastic fantastic.

[alabbasi]

This is pretty smart. thanks for the tip!