H1LM002G55 - 11/16/2014 11:07 PM

Update Friday 14-November

-Received very kind message from Hartmut at Renntech:
By the way, I also want to show you the new adjustable shock system I have for the G-Class that improves on-road and off-road comfort...

H1LM002G55 - 11/17/2014 1:07 AM JoeM: What a great find. Thank you for sharing. I will speak with them today. Update Friday 14-November -Received very kind message from Hartmut at Renntech: ...Based upon your discussion with Mr. Aufrecht and the engineering department at AMG, please send me your lower radiator hose. We will make a scan of this hose to determine if we can possibly recreate it. Before we do this, I will provide you with a cost. By the way, I also want to show you the new adjustable shock system I have for the G-Class that improves on-road and off-road comfort... A Few Notes: - For those who do not know, Hartmut worked at AMG in the 1980s and spent something like 12 years there in the "Affalterbach area". He was then the North American technical director for AMG when AMG was still independent of MB (circa early 1990s). There was a gentleman's agreement made years ago that Hartmut would look after Aufrecht's U.S. customers also, in addition to representing the company in the U.S. (or something like this...) I believe he was also largely responsible for the production of the well-known "AMG Hammer"...I believe the fastest couple and sedan in the world at the time, depending on your W124 configuration. - Just to point this out, AMG Germany recommended to me that Renntech replace the no-longer-available lower radiator hose. I do not think it is possible to get a better endorsement than that if you are an independent company. - A few years back, I got a chance to have Hartmut tune the G55. It was a very enjoyable experience and his operation was highly professional and I enjoyed the tour and learning about their capabilities back then. I have seen some engine tuning projects go sideways from other "tuning companies". It was well known at the time that Brabus North America (pre CEC days) would fly in their technicians from Bottrop to do the work in California for the U.S. customers. They really did not have an on-site engineering or technical team. The fact that AMG is quite small and that Renntech has such close (and long lasting) relations with AMG internally gave me the peace of mind to have the work done knowing that the engineering was right and there would be support available in the future should an issue arise. So now we will learn about the possibility to make hoses and the costs...and I hope that this will benefit the community moving forward when others (perhaps with a M113 engine G500 or a G320) encounters a problem like this...and want to have a good solution.

H1LM002G55 - 11/17/2014 11:08 PM I read through some of the above on 500eboard. There is a lot of good technical information there regarding the cars which I am happy to see has been preserved as accurately as was possible with old records. However, memories have a tendency to fade with the passage of time, and there are some significant factual errors there regarding some of the relationships that existed during the AMG "pre-merger" days and the personalities involved at the time...and those who are still involved on the fringes many years later. There is a lot more to the story and much that was omitted (and much that is also factually wrong), but this is not the time nor place (and I am not the person directly involved) to set that record straight.

H1LM002G55 - 11/17/2014 11:08 PM Jono is great. He re-built my visco-clutch and I have recommended him on here for similar services. I ended up buying a new fan clutch but if I can rebuild and keep one as a spare, it is a good idea for the future. He contributes regularly to the MB community and is one of the few in North America with the capabilities to service many "youngtimer" MB classics.

gerryvz - 11/18/2014 7:37 AM

I can't comment as I'm not an expert on pre-merger AMG (or post-merger for that matter) AMG anything, but at least that information was relayed by someone who was actually involved at the time, which is better than typical Internet conjecture and assumptions that you typically see.  And that's why I cross-posted it to my forum.

Since it doesn't affect me really at all, I'll leave all that history to the experts like Jono to sort out. 

Thanks for the updates and research you've done on that hose. Although that doesn't affect me either, your persistence and determination are certainly an inspiration to me -- and that's what counts most.

mb230s - 11/18/2014 11:59 AM

Take the old hose to a good FLAPS with lots of inventory - one they'll let you wander around the back. Unlikely you'll find an exact match but you will find two hoses that can be pieced together w/ hose clamps and tubing. Will last just as long as the original hose and likely longer then one that has been sitting on a shelf for many years. Make note of the two "donor" hoses for future needs.

H1LM002G55 - 11/18/2014 10:40 AM I think if enough people remind them that the G is also a MB vehicle maybe they will begin to learn. However, in your case, if the walk-on hood is a current part, I would not buy it from the Classic Center. The oldest MB dealership in the U.S. is actually in Oregon. I think it is MB of Portland or Rasmussen Mercedes in Oregon...Something like that. They will have no issue ordering that for you if it is available. Though Eurotruck will likely have a better price.