What is this Rubber thing by my oil pan?
 

Today I degreased and power-sprayed the underside of my '82 240D (4 speed) in an effort to track down and eliminate an oil leak.

I got under the car to look around, and noticed what appears to be some sort of rubber bushing that is falling apart.

This rubber piece is located between the oil pan and the transmission, near a cross member, and is held in by a brass colored metal bracket.

I took a couple of pictures to show it.

Can somebody tell me what this is? What does it do?

Thanks,

- Patrick

its your center engine mount. get rid of it and never look back!

You serious...? :confused:

Something like a "Center Engine Mount" sounds kind of critical. :eek:

Did you have to deal with this on your car?

Thanks,

- Patrick

looks like a serious sin of PO. Are your exhaust hangers made of clothes hangers? :D

That thing is there for a reason; if the PO put it there, perhaps he was trying to compensate for failing side mounts or something. Looks kinda weird, but I would exersize exteme caution in just arbitrarily pulling it... :eek:

Despite what the other wags say, that's the gin-yoo-wine Mercedes-Benz™ engine movement limiter that came with your car...the PO had nothing to do with it's installation. It prevents the engine from moving too far on the mounts when traveling over a sharp bump or making a sharp turn. The rubber on yours has deterioriated because of the engine oil leak.

You probably could just forget it. Allot of these cars seem to have a totally trashed front mount so its not unsafe I spoz but those MB designers musta had a reason to put it there. They are cheap and easy to change you, I would change it.

interestingly when i was recently replacing the engine and trans mounts on my 79 300D i noticed that my instructions mentioned that there may or may not be a rear engine mount.

Was there a year that they stopped using them or certain models only?

I wonder if this relates to my issue here:
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/122863-engine-shocks-what-their-real-function.html

either way - i am going to look into finding one at pick and pull if the weather ever figures out what it wants to do.

sorry, my bad. seems I didn't look at the picture for very long before I made an assumption. And when you make an assumption, I know what happens... :o

"there may or may not be a rear engine mount."

There I go assumming. :) ..did you mean "front mount"

I have only pulled one 617 which was a 82 Euro and it didnt have a front mount, Soo, some did ??

Ditto.......sling it ! :)

It stops the engine falling out of the engine bay when you roll the car over to wash the underside. ! :ban:

I had one on the 240D and the car shook like hell untill it was removed.
As far as I know it was only on 240D's.

Does anybody know the part number for this center motor mount for an '82 240D w/manual? I searched, but didn't find it.

Interestingly, the maintenance records that came with my car include a receipt that shows that the other two motor mounts were replaced about 3 years ago.

Thanks,

- Patrick