question about Lemforder engine mounts om606 w124
 

Hi yet again!
So I was planning in doing engine mounts several weeks ago but then had my.p/s pump disaster.

So mark from c&m hydraulics fixed me up with a pump that looks better than I'd even pictured in my head. Those guys are awesome.

So, back to the original plan.
I've got 2 brand new lemforder mounts I figure I'm going to install or attempt to install today. I'm waiting for it to get above 35 so I can lay under my.car without sticking to the cement.

I got both from pelican as I'm.sick of other parts places being idiots. Pelican knows the cars well enough they don't send the wrong stuff 4 times in a row.

I however noiced one of them is oozing a bit of some sort of oily substance out the bottom. I really don't want to do this job twice if I can help it.

Its not like draining out but there is a drop or 2 worth that came out. I'm trying to attach a picture so you can see the amount I'm mentioning.

Is this OK? If I install it is this mount going to fail in a month?

I would call pelican back and ask them, but all the mounts I've ever installed were dry...

Jarod, I am doing the exact same job and just came on line to post a question. I ordered separate left and right Lemforder mounts for my 95 E300D. Pelican delivered two of the exact same mounts, PN 201 240 4317. I am not able to confirm that the same mount will fit both sides, and in fact this PN is not the same as what is called out on my Pelican order sheet. I see in your photo you appear to have the 4317 part - did you get L&R the same with your order?

Rgds,
Chris W.
'95 E300D, 434K

Chris! I wondered the same thing. Both mounts are Identical, part number and everything.

I assumed that mercedes had decided to update them to simplify service and cost reduction.

Pelican lists these part #s
Right: 124-240-19-17-M69
Left: 201-240-52-17-M69

But as you mentioned and I noticed and failed to mention, those are not the same as what I received.
Possible the wrong parts were sent? or maybe it is a newer universal part?

Well, I just went ahead and installed them. They fit, but the passenger side is definitely different with a smooth top rather than the top with ridges. Kind of a PITA job for an old guy. Up and down, up and down, on the cold garage floor. But hey, at least I have a garage floor! Impact wrench helps for the bottom bolts. Top driver's side is difficult access but it came free. And you have to jack the engine up cringingly high to get the new ones in, but that's what it takes.

Anyway, as usual (my third set at about 100K miles each) the improvement is dramatic!

Rgds,
Chris W.
'95 E300D, 434K, running smooth

Leaking is not a good sign. Where were these mounts made? Lemförder has been getting some stuff made in China lately; I would tend to be cautious and if possible buy rubber parts only from Mercedes.

These mounts are hydraulic so leaking is not good at all. I wouldn't have installed them and sent them back for replacements or a refund. With the weight of the engine and cornering forces, that is probably going to spew out the remaining hydraulic fluid and fail very quickly. The fluid is supposed to be under pressure in order to absorb the vibrations of the engine as well as stay stiff so the engine doesn't move around when it revs or starts..

Both mounts say made in German on the label on the box, there is no indication of where they were made on the actual mount.

I thought lemforder was considered to be the best of the best, or even they were the OE supplier.
When you say buy only from Mercedes Jeremy, you think I should just go to the dealer and get the mounts?

My mounts are beyond gone. The whole car shakes, the airbag and steering wheel vibrate violently at idle so I'd like to get this project in gear fast, although its kinda cool having massage seats at traffic lights. ;)

I think Lemforder mounts are fine, they are the OEM supplier. You just have to realize even with strict quality control, once in a while, a bad part goes through. I bought new brake discs from the dealer for my 190E (were much cheaper than any decent aftermarket brand actually) and one of them was warped. I just told them about it and they ordered another for me and exchanged it. This is why some people buy a well rated car like a Camry or something and it turns out to be a lemon, maybe because a solder joint didn't come out right when the ECU was manufactured or the wiring harness was accidentally damaged by a worker having an off day.

OK, well I'll see if pelican will do an exchange for me, holiday weekend and all that so I'll hold off doing anything for now.

I'll let you all know what happens and how it turns out

Ok, I called and spoke with Dina at pelicanparts, She was super helpful and I sent the picture of the fluid to her and she forwarded it to Lemforder to request a replacement.

They replied by saying they put a small amount of oil in the threads and mounting holes when they leave the factory to prevent rust and ease installation, the part is not damaged, its ok to install.

So that's what I did. And WOW!!! what a difference!! It may be hard to tell from a video, I'm uploading the before/after and pictures of the comparison old vs new and a before and after video to youtube now, I'll edit the post with the link as soon as its done!!

Video of Before/After

Parts is not always parts
 

My earlier post was indeed a suggestion to buy rubber parts from a Mercedes dealer. That said, I don't always do it myself. A lot depends on timing—can I afford to have the car down while I return a new part that turns out to be bad? Not that dealers have a lock on good performance, of course. If I can get a gen-U-wine Mercedes part somewhere else at a discount, I often go that route. It also depends on the criticality of the part and the ease (or not) of replacement. There are some jobs I just don't wanna do again!

Personally I've always been suspicious of boxes labeled "Made in Germany." Do I care if the box was Made in Germany? For example, some cabin air filters I just installed were in a box labeled "Meyle—Germany" but I believed the little paper label stuck on that said "Made in Taiwan."

I haven't replaced OM606 engine mounts since 2007 and don't have notes from then showing where they were made. The upper front strut mounts that I replaced a couple of years ago were labeled "Germany" on the box but inside, on the plastic bag, was an ominous tag reading "China." So far (20,000 miles) they've been OK but I keep an eye on them.

In your case, should the motor mounts fail, you have a chance of getting them replaced, since you reported the "leak" and were told it was OK. Please revisit this thread in a year and bring us up to date.

Jeremy

Absolutely. If I have any problems I'll certainly be back, otherwise I will update after a reasonable amount of time or miles.

I edited my earlier post with the link to the video, for completeness sake, here it is again, and I've attached the pictures.

http://youtu.be/Sj18h6pBTqw

those are seriously shot mounts..

No kidding! I doubt they have ever been replaced. 370k they were certainly due.

I'm still in shock every time I start it or go anywhere. nothing shakes. all the weird vibrations inside the car are gone.

It feels like a different car. shifts dont feel as harsh, the whole car acts different. I'm going to have to get used to it. I've driven it for close to 5-6k like this, and my brother drove it for nearly 30k like this before he got fed up with the car and gave it to me.

I've nearly given up a few times on it, but then I toss some cash at it and it wins me back over.