Florida heat is no joke, and cruising in a classic Mercedes-Benz 230 S is far less enjoyable when you’re sweating through your shirt. We recently tackled the job of getting the air conditioning working again in our project car, a beautiful 1966 Mercedes-Benz 230 S. After returning from the Pinehurst Concours, it was time to address some comfort issues, and top of the list was reviving the 45-year-old A/C system. Here’s how we brought ice-cold air back to our vintage Benz.
Our first step in this A/c Rest Mercedes Benz project was to evaluate the original York compressor. To our surprise, after some careful wiring and reassembling the switches, the old unit sprang to life and started pumping. This was a promising start and saved us the expense of sourcing a new compressor right away.
Next, we turned our attention to the A/C drier. Finding a replacement proved more challenging than anticipated. Even the experts at the Mercedes-Benz Classic Center and our local parts suppliers admitted they had never encountered a drier quite like the one in our system. They also noted the Behr A/C system itself was quite unusual for this model, but undeniably “super cool” and worth preserving. We wholeheartedly agreed with their assessment.
The unique drier, unlike modern sealed units, was held together with four 10mm bolts. This sparked an idea: could it be serviceable? As it turned out, many A/C driers from the 1960s were designed to be opened and serviced. Our solution was to replace the desiccant bag inside. Desiccant is a crucial drying agent in A/C systems, and thankfully, we located a replacement locally for just $10. This discovery was a significant win for our budget-conscious a/c rest mercedes benz effort.
With the drier addressed, we moved to the under-dash A/C unit. We carefully cleaned and repainted it, preparing it for reinstallation. To ensure proper function and component identification, we used tape to mark connections and parts. This meticulous approach is key when working with older systems where documentation might be scarce.
The original A/C lines were showing their age, so we decided to replace them. We took the old, deteriorated lines to a local hydraulic hose shop and had them expertly replicated. This cost us around $200, but ensured reliable, leak-free connections for our revitalized a/c rest mercedes benz system.
Finally, armed with our own A/C gauges and a couple of cans of Freon (R12 in this case, though modern alternatives exist for systems requiring conversion), we recharged the system. The moment of truth arrived when wonderfully cold air began blowing – a sweet victory!
In total, for approximately $250, we successfully restored the original air conditioning system in our classic Mercedes-Benz. A month later, the system is still blowing cold, indicating a leak-free and successful a/c rest mercedes benz project. We were definitely thrilled with this result, proving that with some ingenuity and elbow grease, you can indeed bring vintage automotive air conditioning back to life.
