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  #1  
Old 11-12-2013, 04:24 PM
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98 E300D "Cross Bar" Rust...Concerned?

Sorry I don't know the correct name for it....but on my 98 E300D, when you remove the front panel beneath the bumper to drain the radiator, there is a horizontal piece of steel. Mine has a bunch of surface rust and I'm wondering how proactive I need to be in dealing with it.

So...what's it called? And how structurally important is it?

Thanks.

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14 E250 Bluetec "Sinclair", Palladium Silver on Black, 153k miles
06 E320 CDI "Rutherford", Black on Tan, 171k mi, Stage 1 tune, tuned TCU
91 300D "Otis", Smoke Silver, 142k mi, wastegate conversion

19 Honda CR-V EX 61k mi
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Old 11-12-2013, 05:22 PM
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I think you are talking about the lower support for the radiator and intercooler. If I remember correctly, it is green primer steel or galvy.

I'd clean it up and paint with POR 15 or similar.

The sound panel is also important, w/o it, that support takes the brunt of impact when parking nose in at tall curbs. Can be bent back such that the rad hits fan blades and the intercooler is also exposed to damage.
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  #3  
Old 11-12-2013, 07:38 PM
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that piece is notorious for rusting, the problem is that the bottom plastic panel traps water which cannot escape, best to paint it with POR15 then spray some body wax on it heavily. To aid water draining from the pan you can either use some thick plastic washers to create a space or make some holes.
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Old 11-12-2013, 08:12 PM
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Good to know it's a common problem....I'll go after it with POR-15 in the spring.
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14 E250 Bluetec "Sinclair", Palladium Silver on Black, 153k miles
06 E320 CDI "Rutherford", Black on Tan, 171k mi, Stage 1 tune, tuned TCU
91 300D "Otis", Smoke Silver, 142k mi, wastegate conversion

19 Honda CR-V EX 61k mi
Fourteen other MB's owned and sold
1961 Very Tolerant Wife
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  #5  
Old 11-12-2013, 08:32 PM
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Will it still be there in the spring?

Sixto
87 300D
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  #6  
Old 11-12-2013, 08:53 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by shertex View Post
So...what's it called? And how structurally important is it?
Thanks.
Don't know exactly what MB call it, but it is a cross member and it is structurally important.

I recall seeing rust on a cross member that is just below the front of the engine (My car is a 98 gasser) When I took the splash panel off underneath, I saw how water (and salt) would be trapped and why the corrosion has started.

Problem is that that it is a structural beam formed out of sheet metal. You can paint the outside, but not the inside. You may get away with painting the outside with POR and injecting a rust treatment like Fluid Film inside the beam. You might have to drill some holes and close them up afterwards with rubber plugs or short machine screws.

In my case, even with car out of warranty, my dealer contacted MBCanada and they paid the full cost of replacing that piece on goodwill program! And it had only just started rusting! They seemed to know about the problem!
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Old 11-12-2013, 08:56 PM
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lots of 3M body cavity wax helps - and a good dose of POR on the outside.
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  #8  
Old 11-12-2013, 09:00 PM
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Originally Posted by sixto View Post
Will it still be there in the spring?

Sixto
87 300D
Of course! After you et al told me what a fool I'd be to pass it up, how could I not keep it?
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14 E250 Bluetec "Sinclair", Palladium Silver on Black, 153k miles
06 E320 CDI "Rutherford", Black on Tan, 171k mi, Stage 1 tune, tuned TCU
91 300D "Otis", Smoke Silver, 142k mi, wastegate conversion

19 Honda CR-V EX 61k mi
Fourteen other MB's owned and sold
1961 Very Tolerant Wife
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  #9  
Old 11-12-2013, 09:01 PM
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Do you recall how old the car was when MB made the good will gesture?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Graham View Post
Don't know exactly what MB call it, but it is a cross member and it is structurally important.

I recall seeing rust on a cross member that is just below the front of the engine (My car is a 98 gasser) When I took the splash panel off underneath, I saw how water (and salt) would be trapped and why the corrosion has started.

Problem is that that it is a structural beam formed out of sheet metal. You can paint the outside, but not the inside. You may get away with painting the outside with POR and injecting a rust treatment like Fluid Film inside the beam. You might have to drill some holes and close them up afterwards with rubber plugs or short machine screws.

In my case, even with car out of warranty, my dealer contacted MBCanada and they paid the full cost of replacing that piece on goodwill program! And it had only just started rusting! They seemed to know about the problem!
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14 E250 Bluetec "Sinclair", Palladium Silver on Black, 153k miles
06 E320 CDI "Rutherford", Black on Tan, 171k mi, Stage 1 tune, tuned TCU
91 300D "Otis", Smoke Silver, 142k mi, wastegate conversion

19 Honda CR-V EX 61k mi
Fourteen other MB's owned and sold
1961 Very Tolerant Wife
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  #10  
Old 11-12-2013, 09:10 PM
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Originally Posted by shertex View Post
Do you recall how old the car was when MB made the good will gesture?
I had an extended warranty (7 years) and I think it was just after that. But for some reason, I don't have invoice. I usually keep everything!

Something else came to mind. Check this thread. Apparently MB made a modification so that the beam does not sit in water. I imagine the spacers drop teh splashguard slightly so water does not collect.

By the way, you may be looking at a different cross beam. The one I had rust was not under rad , but further back and the splash guard bolted to it. (All from memory and its been a while!). Best to pull splash guard and have a good look.

Just found some pics! Pictures are dated May 2005.



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  #11  
Old 11-12-2013, 09:22 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by shertex View Post
Of course! After you et al told me what a fool I'd be to pass it up, how could I not keep it?
That's funny and I didn't even see it. I meant will the cross member still be there in the spring.

Sixto
87 300D
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  #12  
Old 11-12-2013, 10:08 PM
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Originally Posted by sixto View Post
That's funny and I didn't even see it. I meant will the cross member still be there in the spring.

Sixto
87 300D
Ohhh.....yes, it's not that bad.

But you will of course understand if I thought that you thought that I couldn't hang on to a third Benz for longer than six months!

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14 E250 Bluetec "Sinclair", Palladium Silver on Black, 153k miles
06 E320 CDI "Rutherford", Black on Tan, 171k mi, Stage 1 tune, tuned TCU
91 300D "Otis", Smoke Silver, 142k mi, wastegate conversion

19 Honda CR-V EX 61k mi
Fourteen other MB's owned and sold
1961 Very Tolerant Wife
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