China engine replacement 1980 240D - Page 10 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

JimmyL · #**136** 03-28-2008, 10:12 PM

Good Lord did I have a close call today in poor China, although she did not come through it unscathed.

All of a sudden on the fwy the car in front of me swerved out of the lane. Uh oh, I know what that means. So in that millisecond, check left:car. Check right: small opening. Swerve last second around something that was level with my hood ornament {

} and the WHAM!!! I never saw what I ran over but it was obviously some very large piece of metal. Sounded like the bottom of the car was torn out!

I worked my way to the right as I see smoke behind me {from the other traffic, not from China} and took the next exit. I was sure I was fixing to change a tire at the very least. Was watching oil pressure and it was OK. As was temp. Kept pumping brakes in case a line was torn. Still OK.
Got out of the car and I immediately noticed the back driver's side hubcap was gone!

Didn't see any other damage. Went to passenger side. Dang! That rear hubcap was gone also!

No other damage, but I am not missing to China blue hubcaps. Looked awful driving around all day with steel wheels. Got home and put both blue on driver's side and 2 silvers on the passenger side.

So, anybody have a couple China blue hubbies?? {will also add to the parts section}

Chad300tdt · #**137** 03-28-2008, 10:49 PM

Glad to hear you and China are OK.

Here's an Ebay auction for some blue hubcaps:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/3-Blue-Mercedes-Wheel-Cover-Hub-Caps_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ140745QQihZ022QQitemZ350039714732QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWDVW

I can't tell if they're the right blue or not.

bgkast · #**138** 03-28-2008, 11:01 PM

Poor China.

Hatterasguy · #**139** 03-29-2008, 12:58 AM

Wow that sounded brutal! I'd jack that car up and take a look, that chunk of metal had to have hit something!!

JimmyL · #**140** 03-29-2008, 01:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hatterasguy

Wow that sounded brutal! I'd jack that car up and take a look, that chunk of metal had to have hit something!!

Yep. Gonna lay under it this weekend. The exhaust hangs down just a bit low, but it appeared OK. I'll pull it up on ramps, get a light and lay under it for awhile. It is always good to lay under 'em from time to time anyway.
Geez it was just an awful sound/feeling!!!

Whiskeydan · #**141** 03-29-2008, 11:44 AM

Dang!

sunnyintx · #**142** 03-29-2008, 01:38 PM

I'm glad you're OK, and hope China's really OK, too. It's kinda wet today for laying under anything!

A big chunk of metal on I-30 was how I lost the engine in Ilse, my beloved silver 300D. She got me off the highway safely, but while the engine was still running, it was croaked from oil loss. She's STILL not the same, 14 months later, even though she's had an engine tranplant. I'm hoping the electrical and vacuum problems are soon to be fixed, so I can have her back on the road again.

I saw some blue hubcaps at a Dallas boneyard recently -- now, if I can just remember which one! I'll be checking in at one or two this coming week between appointments, so I'll keep an eye out for you. I'm told there's also an older MB over in New Boston, so I'll call and ask them to have a look.

Let us know what you learn when you come out from under.

Sunny

sunnyintx · #**143** 03-29-2008, 01:48 PM

Congratulations, any one you can walk away from, no? Sunny told me about your incident, which as you can see recalled Ilse's disastrous incident for her.
Told Sunny I mourn the loss of two of your hubbies because since the first time I saw one I've considered them little works of art: Mercedes cloissone if you will.

Be sure to thoroughly go over the frame and anything in the way of an oil, fuel or hydraulic line, which you probably have. Roy maintains that any dented oil pan must be replaced. If you need one please let us know. Past that, it only remains to note something all of us now know. These are the most survivable automobiles on the road. Ours have treated us well in the worst of circumstances. Hope your girl is truly OK.

John for Sunnyintx

JimmyL · #**144** 03-30-2008, 02:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sunnyintx

Be sure to thoroughly go over the frame......

John for Sunnyintx

Very good advice John! {Thanks for the kind words too Sunny}

This is copied from a separate thread I created for this.

Houston, this is Odyssey {China}, we have a problem!!!

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimmyL

Quick review: Yesterday was driving down the freeway when cars started swerving in front of me. Something huge in the middle left lane, so I went right, got around the monstrosity, but slammed over something metallic that whammed the bottom of the car violently and blew both rear hubbies off!
Well, I didn't put China up on ramps today, but before I went to work I crawled kinda under the sides and just gave a cursory inspection. It wasn't hard to spot!

This is the drivers side rear trailing arm:

Well, I certainly see the impact spot. Well, I can't fit under the car so I just stuck the camera under there as far as I could and snapped a couple other angles. Those are the ones that show the extent of the damage, and it ain't pretty:

No big deal you say? Well, it gets worse.

Dang!!

Still driving her.......

**I asked for opinions on the other linked thread. Just put it here also for my China diary....**

**edit**
BTW, went back by that way today on the way to a job and saw one of China's hubbies. Was on inside median! The dumbest thing I have done in a long time was exit fwy, go back a few miles and turn around, then pull over on inside median, get out, walk about 20 feet back, pick up cheap hubcap whilst risking my life I suddenly realize, then hi-tail it back to car! Uh, it ain't easy in a 240 pulling off of inner shoulder into FAST LANE! Geez what a stupid move.....

Whiskeydan · #**145** 03-30-2008, 10:12 PM

She still driving straight?

JimmyL · #**146** 03-30-2008, 10:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Whiskeydan

She still driving straight?

Yep, still pulls to the right the same amount as before the incident.....

JimmyL · #**147** 04-13-2008, 02:53 AM

Well, oil change today and tried a diesel purge too. China had a ferocious nailing. Sounded like a gasser with the timing out or with bad gas. We'll see if she stays quiet, but it made a huge immediate improvement. Hopefully there will be staying power.......
Been getting 28-31 mpg, mosty 29-30. We'll see if that changes in any way.