hi folks,

I have landed in California after buying a 2005 cdi E320 in houston and driving it here, I think it has at least one bad engine mount though.

When I start the engine it seems to 'kick' too much as if the engine is moving too much, same sometimes when I switch it off.

How can I tell which engine mount is bad? is it a visual thing or some way of identifying it?

Also have a plate light out and getting the warning message, put new bulbs in but suspect it is a chafed/worn wiring harness in the trunk. Where should I look first for this?

Thanks ahead of time for all the help!

__________________
Current Rides:

2004 BMW R1150GS Adventure
2005 MB W211 E320 Cdi

Look inside harness in bundle at lowest part of hinge mechanism on drivers side. Look closely at the engine mounts. Does one look shorter? Replace them both.

__________________
Jim

Determining engine mount wear is done by remaining thickness in their squatting down. Also, they may ooz medium brown colored hydraulic fluid that runs down the framework under them. Check trans. mount too.

Light bulb needs replacing? Check, and replace or adjust contact points.

I read this idea on another forum for checking engine mounts and it is too clever:

Get your big 2x12 piece of wood and floor jack.
Put it under the oil pan and lift it just barely enough to take the load off the mounts (maybe raise it a 1/4 inch).
Be sure you are totally spread out over the flat part of the oil pan.
Does the engine stop shaking - well there's your problem...

__________________
The OM 642/722.9 powered family
Still going strong
2014 ML350 Bluetec (wife's DD)
2013 E350 Bluetec (my DD)

both my kids cars went to junkyard in 2023
2008 ML320 CDI (Older son’s DD) fatal transmission failure, water soaked/fried rear SAM, numerous other issues, just too far gone to save (165k miles)
2008 E320 Bluetec (Younger son's DD) injector failed open and diluted oil with diesel, spun main bearings (240k miles)

1998 E300DT sold to TimFreeh
1987 300TD sold to vstech

Please, just change them both--
I did mine in January and the car is like it has a gas motor--PS they were both leaking at 100K

__________________
Mark
========
THE WHITE FLEET
2016 GLE300d 4-MATIC 38K BROWN!
2012 S350 Bluetec==94k WHITE

2007 ML320 CDI==166K WHITE (FOR SALE)

Under new management:
2005 E320 CDI--140K--WHITE
1995 E300-Diesel-133.5K--THE CAR IS BLUE
1986 300SL--97.5K (European) AND WHITE. Back in Europe!
1991 190E 2.3-73K California Perfect.--WHITE
1995 E320-Wagon-159K--WHITE (recently scrapped)
1987 300D Turbo-213K--WHITE
1987 190D 2.5 Turbo-288K--WHITE

Worn engine mounts are also a symptom of elapsed time (age), environment (in some cases), and service cycles of starting/stopping the engine. Not necessarily only the miles on the car.

Change 'em (2) both.

Be sure to check the trans. mount too.

Thanks everyone for the help; the car has 80k miles on it so I'll just go ahead and do both mounts while I'm working on it.

EDIT: so there are two engine mounts right? a left and a right, some places seem to say there are two on one side?

and just to confirm there is a single transmission mount? I need to order this evening to try and get these parts in ASAP so I can get my car fixed.

Thanks!

__________________
Current Rides:

2004 BMW R1150GS Adventure
2005 MB W211 E320 Cdi

Yes.

Yes.

AS I understand it (my 06 CDI) has the 3 mounts you mentioned. I changed out my 2 engine mounts @ 8-years and 59K miles - the right one was oozing the telltale hydraulic oil. My trans mount was good.

Slow down and ask around (here) for advise on where to buy the mounts at/from. I bought mine from an MB dealer and paid a tad over $300.00 for the 2 engine mounts with tax after my 10% MBCA Club discount! There's much cheaper places to procure from, as I later learned here from the DD forum members.

Are LEMFORDER mounts good quality and value? Seems engine mounts last 50-100k depending on environmental, start/stop cycles and driving characteristics (agressive/lots of road imperfections = more wear).

__________________
-- Chris

'95 E300, 216k miles, Silver Surfer
'05 E320 CDI, 138k miles
'07 S550 4matic, 69k miles

Gone but not forgotten:

'76 300D, 350k miles?, SOLD in 1995
'75 240D, 300k miles, SOLD in 1991