I was changing the oil on the diesel (124 609.9 engine 1995 E300D) and noticed a pair of flas on the driver side beside the A/C compressor and a single set of flaps opposite. The do not seem to have any actuator on them so far as I can see and have a fairly sturdy spring controlling them. I tried to open them and the spring seems quite strong. I would not think that air pressure could open them. Are they there for a different model? What is their purpose?

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Sent from an agnostic abacus

2014 C250 21,XXX my new DD ** 2013 GLK 350 18,000 Wife's new DD**

- With out god, life is everything.
- God is an ever receding pocket of scientific ignorance that's getting smaller and smaller as time moves on..." Neil DeGrasse Tyson
- You can pray for me, I'll think for you.
- When you understand why you dismiss all the other possible gods, you will understand why I dismiss yours.

I believe the SDL has the same flaps which open when the engine compartment gets to temp.

that strong spring you see is the thermostat, for the flaps to function your car should have both underbelly plastic panels in place. When the temperature increases inside the engine room these panels open up to exhaust the hot air quickly. MB went a little overboard with this car.

Im looking for the belly panels but have not come across them yet in a Jyard, New ones from MB are about 500 bucks.

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2012 BMW X5 (Beef + Granite suspension model)

1995 E300D - The original humming machine (consumed by Flood 2017)
2000 E320 - The evolution (consumed by flood 2017)

My '87 300D Turbo (W124, OM603) has only the double flaps on the driver's side. As Z. says, when the engine compartment gets good and hot, the thermostatic spring opens the flaps to vent some of the heat. Although Mercedes labels (in EPC) the belly panels as "antinoise capsules," it's clear that the engineers' intention was to help the engine get up to operating temperature as quickly as possible, for efficiency and smog reasons. Those of us who actually have belly panels on our cars know they're also good for catching oil leaks but I haven't noticed any difference in noise whether the panels are on or off.

Z., I hope you can find a set for your car.

Jeremy

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"Buster" in the '95

Our all-Diesel family
1996 E300D (W210) . .338,000 miles Wife's car
2005 E320 CDI . . 113,000 miles My car
Santa Rosa population 176,762 (2022)
Total. . . . . . . . . . . . 627,762
"Oh lord won't you buy me a Mercedes Benz."
-- Janis Joplin, October 1, 1970

Cool. The Thermostat thing make a lot of sense. My panel is still in place although I am fixing it now. The front passenger screw hole broke out so I am trying some JB weld on it. Im going to try and get it on before the wife foes to work tonight.

Thanks for the info.

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Sent from an agnostic abacus

2014 C250 21,XXX my new DD ** 2013 GLK 350 18,000 Wife's new DD**

- With out god, life is everything.
- God is an ever receding pocket of scientific ignorance that's getting smaller and smaller as time moves on..." Neil DeGrasse Tyson
- You can pray for me, I'll think for you.
- When you understand why you dismiss all the other possible gods, you will understand why I dismiss yours.

On my '99 E300TD while I have had the panels off for several days to do a drain, refill and check for leaks on the transmission I did notice an increase in noise. My factory noise absorbing layer has deteriorated and I replaced it with a layer of


I am happy with the results.

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1999 Mercedes E300TD daily driver sold at 238K miles 106K miles were mine, rust worm got it :-(
2006 Mercedes CDI new daily driver! 56,000 miles May 2016 now 85,625 Apr 2018 and Apr 2019 101,000 miles Apr 2020 109,875. March 2024 135,250, Dec 2024 145,000 miles