Hey everyone, I just got a 2011 C250, but I did mention that the air conditioning isn't working. The system can only maintain pressure for a maximum of two hours before the red AC button begins flashing again.
Despite replacing the condenser—the typical culprit—the problem persists: the pressure remains uncontained. I tried finding the leak using a do-it-yourself UV refill kit that I bought from Amazon, but the UV light just won't pick up anything in the engine compartment. The rate of pressure loss is so high that obvious leaks should be obvious.
Every indication is that the evaporator compartment is the one to go. I was hoping to find a way to check for that before I ordered a new evaporator and spent the weekend without a dashboard. Best regards
Posts: 35
Joined: Mon Apr 06, 2026
Posts: 35
Joined: Mon Apr 06, 2026
Since I'm just a little over four months into owning my 2012 C250, I'm sorry I can't provide any expert advice. However, I will be watching your progress closely!
You've done an amazing job fixing your air conditioner on your own; how challenging was it to change the condenser?
Additionally, may I enquire as to the price, if it is not too much trouble?
Up until this 31°C heat wave, my air conditioner worked perfectly. But now I see a strange thing: the vents on the driver's side are much colder than the ones on the passenger side.
I have a simple regas scheduled for tomorrow, so I'm crossing my fingers that it will fix it.
May yours be successful as well!
You've done an amazing job fixing your air conditioner on your own; how challenging was it to change the condenser?
Additionally, may I enquire as to the price, if it is not too much trouble?
Up until this 31°C heat wave, my air conditioner worked perfectly. But now I see a strange thing: the vents on the driver's side are much colder than the ones on the passenger side.
I have a simple regas scheduled for tomorrow, so I'm crossing my fingers that it will fix it.
May yours be successful as well!
Posts: 35
Joined: Mon Apr 06, 2026
The replacement of the condenser was as simple as sliding it out and inserting the new one with a little force; the most challenging part was gaining access to it. The bumper (which requires disengaging the parking sensors), the tray underneath the wheels, the wheel arch covers, a plethora of clips and bolts, etc., all need to be removed.
It appears the condenser has to go up, not down; if you try to force it down, you'll have an even harder time getting it back up; this one piece of advice could have saved me at least half an hour. In order to slide out the condenser, everything above it needs to be removed.
It was definitely doable in approximately half a day if you have some experience; I followed a video on the subject. I paid approximately £120 on autodoc for mine (a Nissens).
Unfortunately, you have a leak if it returns after a few weeks or months; however, I really hope it is just a regas. Although it's obviously more in my case, the condenser is typically the part that takes the brunt of road debris damage.
A lot of reading has led me to believe that automobile air conditioning systems aren't that complicated. Most leaks occur at the condenser's joints or in the evaporator, but the main components are the compressor and condenser. The remaining parts are essentially pipes.
I wish you the best of luck
It appears the condenser has to go up, not down; if you try to force it down, you'll have an even harder time getting it back up; this one piece of advice could have saved me at least half an hour. In order to slide out the condenser, everything above it needs to be removed.
It was definitely doable in approximately half a day if you have some experience; I followed a video on the subject. I paid approximately £120 on autodoc for mine (a Nissens).
Unfortunately, you have a leak if it returns after a few weeks or months; however, I really hope it is just a regas. Although it's obviously more in my case, the condenser is typically the part that takes the brunt of road debris damage.
A lot of reading has led me to believe that automobile air conditioning systems aren't that complicated. Most leaks occur at the condenser's joints or in the evaporator, but the main components are the compressor and condenser. The remaining parts are essentially pipes.
I wish you the best of luck
Posts: 35
Joined: Mon Apr 06, 2026
I appreciate your thoughtful response. After replacing them on a Toyota Celica and a Mk8 Honda Civic, I honestly thought that was it for condenser replacements.
The task of removing the bumper was actually rather enjoyable, but taking off the bumper on this E250 was a real challenge!
It sounds like you're right about the lower stub-style supports that seated those condensers when lowered, so they too had to be lifted out. Somewhere in my archives I even have a photo of the entire setup.
I had excellent experiences with Nissens condensers for both vehicles. Whenever I need a replacement, I will definitely go with them because they worked perfectly while I had each car.
In terms of where I am right now, I'm having the system re-gassed at ProTyre. When I got there, the temperature in the cabin was 32 degrees Celsius, so it's officially a heatwave today. The driver's side air conditioner didn't begin blowing cold air for at least ten minutes on the way here. It had been warm before that, and it had gradually cooled down to an almost bearable level. Something is obviously wrong because it is neither as cold nor cools down as quickly as my other vehicles.
The task of removing the bumper was actually rather enjoyable, but taking off the bumper on this E250 was a real challenge!
It sounds like you're right about the lower stub-style supports that seated those condensers when lowered, so they too had to be lifted out. Somewhere in my archives I even have a photo of the entire setup.
I had excellent experiences with Nissens condensers for both vehicles. Whenever I need a replacement, I will definitely go with them because they worked perfectly while I had each car.
In terms of where I am right now, I'm having the system re-gassed at ProTyre. When I got there, the temperature in the cabin was 32 degrees Celsius, so it's officially a heatwave today. The driver's side air conditioner didn't begin blowing cold air for at least ten minutes on the way here. It had been warm before that, and it had gradually cooled down to an almost bearable level. Something is obviously wrong because it is neither as cold nor cools down as quickly as my other vehicles.
Posts: 35
Joined: Mon Apr 06, 2026
Anybody got any advice for the OP on how to check or replace the AC evaporator? Got back on topic, though?
Posts: 35
Joined: Mon Apr 06, 2026
