Mercedes-Benz CLS Radiator Replacement Parts

The CLS runs across two main generations: the first-generation C219 ran from 2004 to 2010, and the second-generation C218 ran from 2011 to 2018 with a facelift arriving around 2014. Knowing which generation you have is the starting point for sourcing a radiator, as the two generations are quite different mechanically. Check your V5 or run a VIN check to confirm your exact build date and engine code before approaching a breaker.

This question spans the C218 facelift boundary, which fell around 2014, so a 2013 car is pre-facelift and a 2015 car is post-facelift within the same C218 generation. Engine code is the key detail here — if both cars share the same engine code, fitment is more likely, but ancillary and mounting changes can occur across a facelift year even on the same platform. Confirm directly with the breaker against both registrations before buying.

The engine code matters more than the year, because Mercedes fitted several different engines to the CLS across both generations — diesel and petrol, four-cylinder and six-cylinder — and the cooling requirements and radiator dimensions vary between them. Two cars built in the same year could need completely different radiators if they have different engine codes. Your engine code is printed on your V5C or can be pulled from a VIN check, and it is the single most useful detail you can give a breaker.

Yes, fuel type matters because diesel engines typically run higher thermal loads and the radiators are engineered accordingly, so a diesel-spec radiator is not a straightforward swap onto a petrol car and vice versa. Gearbox type — automatic versus manual — can also influence cooling system design on some variants. Always tell the breaker your fuel type, gearbox, and engine code together for the most accurate match.

The badge on the back reflects engine size, and engine size directly affects radiator specification, so a 250 CDI, a 350, and a 500 are unlikely to share the same radiator even within the same generation. What matters is the engine code stamped on your V5 or identified via VIN, not the number in the model name. Give the breaker your engine code and they can cross-reference it accurately.

Trim level — for example AMG Line versus standard specification — does not affect radiator fitment, as the radiator follows the engine and cooling system rather than the interior or styling package. You may find that a part pulled from a lower-spec car looks slightly different cosmetically or comes with different brackets, but the core compatibility is driven by engine code, fuel type, and build year. Confirm any ancillary differences such as mounting points or pipe positions with the breaker against your registration.