The application relates to a heat exchanger and a connecting system for the heat exchanger. This subject matter includes a housing formed by a top part and a bottom part and a first connecting element and a second connecting element connected to these top and bottom parts. Specific embodiments of the subject matter are shown in which the connecting elements connect the housing top part and bottom part by a positive and/or material connection. The advantages of each embodiment over prior approaches are too numerous to include in this abstract, but will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art when reviewing the full specification.