Turbo remote thermostat?

[Smithy111]

If replacing the thermostat do you have to buy the whole housing or can the housing be removed and the thermostat inside replaced? £5 versus £65...

[Barrykearley]

Two nuts on the top - pull out the stat 👍

[drdoom]

I suspect the thermostat to which Chris refers is the early Turbo item which is remote located and does not disassemble. Common with many Mercedes of the  60's and 70's, I believe. 

[Smithy111]

Yep that’s the one. Ok so I’ll need the whole unit, I’m loathed to spend £65 for a thermostat so might look at alternatives

[PhilW]

Where is this?

[Smithy111]

Would this fit?

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.co.uk%2Fulk%2Fitm%2F273914223431

[CHANGES]

3 hours ago, Smithy111 said:

Yep that’s the one. Ok so I’ll need the whole unit, I’m loathed to spend £65 for a thermostat so might look at alternatives

I Just despair when i read things like this........ You have a multi £K classic car and you won't spend £65 on a crucial maintenance part......   You would rather shop around for a cheap alternative that may or may not work or even be compatible to save £50...   If the part was not available i could understand , to keep the car running.  But this is just cheap skate ....   Buy the proper part fit with confidence and enjoy the ride... The alternative could cost you sooooo much more..            

[TAR]

@Smithy111 can you tell me where you have found an original fitment thermostat for £65? 

[C8RKH]

30 minutes ago, CHANGES said:

I Just despair when i read things like this........ You have a multi £K classic car and you won't spend £65 on a crucial maintenance part......   You would rather shop around for a cheap alternative that may or may not work or even be compatible to save £50...   If the part was not available i could understand , to keep the car running.  But this is just cheap skate ....   Buy the proper part fit with confidence and enjoy the ride... The alternative could cost you sooooo much more..            

Which Cabinet post did Boris offer you? With logic like that you should be in government and heading up Infrastructure (and no, I'm not taking the piss - think about it).

[Smithy111]

Actually it’s not being a cheap skate and I resent that comment. It’s a poxy £10 stat on any other car and just seems overly expensive for what it is. There’s often an alternative which is identical for a fraction of the price and as soon as you say Lotus it’s triple had this on previous cars. It’s not a special or unique part in anyway.

PNM’s website says they can supply them that’s where I saw it unless that’s incorrect on their website.

[TAR]

Thanks I've found it. I'm trying to buy as many factory original parts as possible for my restoration and thats a reproduction. I'm sure it'll be fine but won't work for me. I'll keep looking for an original. 

[Smithy111]

It’s a crappy design which was rectified in the later cars but that means changing the water pump as well

[CHANGES]

11 hours ago, Smithy111 said:

Actually it’s not being a cheap skate and I resent that comment. It’s a poxy £10 stat on any other car and just seems overly expensive for what it is. There’s often an alternative which is identical for a fraction of the price and as soon as you say Lotus it’s triple had this on previous cars. It’s not a special or unique part in anyway.

I'm sorry if i offended you Chris it was not my intention..  What i was trying to get across , maybe a little bluntly,  is £65 for any part on a classic car , or any car for that matter is 'cheap'.   Yes you can buy thermostats for other cars for a few quid , but this is not any other car its a Lotus Esprit S3 turbo.. and the correct part appears to be  £65 ...  The price may seem inflammatory in comparison to similar units available, but until someone takes a similar unit and does comprehensive tests on flow capacity , temperature control, and construction compliance, then using one is a gamble..   I am sure Pete at PNM will have looked at alternatives as an option ,  he is extremely knowledgeable on this sort of thing, but does not seem to be offering the cheaper alternative part..  So there may be a reason for this ..... Phone him and ask why..                                                                                                                                                                     Beside all this, I can not help but come back to getting a correct major service part for a Lotus Esprit at only £65..,  even if its just a thermostat .   I feel this is the Bun and halfpenny syndrome, like so many you want the exotic classic mid engine'd super car but not the maintenance cost that goes with it..    I really do understand your gripe about similar parts being cheaper on other cars and it sucks, but it is what it is . Until someone of knowledge and reputation , tests and recommends a suitable alternative the use of such items will be speculation at best.. Far to many exotic classics fall foul of short cut cost saving parts ...         Good luck with what ever you choose to do .    My apologies again if passion puts the point over to strongly.      

[910Esprit]

19 minutes ago, CHANGES said:

major service part for a Lotus Esprit at only £65

To be fair mine is stil working correctly after 35 years, which is pretty good value compared to the price as a tank of petrol, which I'll be using today.... 

[C43]

I have to admit I would go for the correct part. The reason it is on the slightly expensive side is probably to do with the numbers made. You would be amazed at how prices goes up as quantities go down. 

BTW good luck fitting it, it its the same as my turbo its a complete PITA!

[Smithy111]

It’s not so much the overall maintenance costs it’s just annoying when simple generic parts are expensive for what they are and do.

The one I posted above won’t work I’ve found as different flow directions and is also a pressure relief stat.

probably have to just get the pnm one which I believe is oem but they are obsolete I believe so don’t know what happens when they run out?

[Smithy111]

1 hour ago, C43 said:

I have to admit I would go for the correct part. The reason it is on the slightly expensive side is probably to do with the numbers made. You would be amazed at how prices goes up as quantities go down. 

BTW good luck fitting it, it its the same as my turbo its a complete PITA!

Yes it looks like a total pita where it’s mounted! Fortunately I know all those hoses were disconnected not more than a few years ago so hopefully nothing corroded on. I’m not even completely sure it’s the problem as it does work but I suspect it’s not opening to the radiator fully and some coolant is still bypassing.

Edited July 26, 2019 by Smithy111

[drdoom]

65 quid doesn't look so bad in 2019, perhaps something to grump over in 1999. Check what has evolved in the world of spare parts for mundane cars, they're quite costly, often of marginal design and won't be offered by the car manufacturer beyond any period of time not mandated by law. Gaskets, for example, plastic cam covers for another. Pro mechanic mate spoke not long ago  of OEM oil pump for Kia in the order of $2000. Attached is a link for a similar, if not identical, Wahler T-stat out of Italy via Ebay.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/THERMOSTAT-MERCEDES-W120-W121-W128-180-180B-190D-190B-190DB-220-THERMOSTAT/183701437325?hash=item2ac5757b8d:g:~RsAAOSwkvFajfOK

[TAR]

I believe that the Lotus specification for opening is 82 degrees. There are lots around that have different operating temps so beware. Wahler 4332 is the correct part number. 

[Smithy111]

So today it’s decided to dump it’s coolant for the 2nd time this year, but it did wait till I got home and pulled on to drive so I can’t be totally annoyed!

This time it was the heater return hose at the front of the engine that connects the alloy heater return pipe to the pump housing. It’s been rubbing on the pump pulley and sliced through down it’s length. Is this what it looks like just an ordinary strait hose or something special? Also what diameter is it?

I’m also taking the opportunity to replace the water pump return hose (the wiggly shaped one) that’s currently made up of a number of silicone elbows joined together instead of the one piece item and the thermostat which I’ve ordered from pnm.

[Smithy111]

Can anyone confirm what size the reducer coupling should be at both ends for the water pump return hose to curved bypass/return pipe?? It’s missing from mine as has silicone hoses

[Smithy111]

Well I’ve fitted the correct water pump return hose now and reducer and cut down the bottom hose and elbow to suit and replaced the cut through heater hose. What a mate of job that was down the front of the engine!

ive managed to obtain one of the very few original remote stats but was wondering if I should flush with the old stat in or just fit the new one and then flush??

[TAR]

where did you get the original stat from?

[Smithy111]

Classic Mercedes parts place in Belgium, £84 with postage not sure if they have any more left?

[Smithy111]

Classic Mercedes parts place in Belgium, £84 with postage not sure if they have any more left?