W210 '99 E300 skid plate/radiator brace - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

ROLLGUY · #1 01-11-2018, 12:03 AM

I did this job several months ago, but finally got a chance to post about it. My friend has "off roaded" his E300 a couple times (broke the oil pan once, had to have it welded), and bent up the core support. I finally had enough and had a piece of 1/8" steel plate cut and made a skid plate. I actually had it installed, when only a few weeks later he went over a dirt "speed bump" and tore the bolts right out of the rear of the cross member. It also shoved the radiator into the fan (again), so it got a new radiator and fan. But not before I made a heavy radiator brace out of 3" wide X 3/8" thick flat stock. I also added three more bolts on each side (8 total). The skid plate is held on by a bolt on each side in front and rear of the engine crossmember, and another bolt on the front and rear of the radiator brace. He can enter it in the Baja 1000 now, and not worry about thrashing the pan or radiator

jake12tech · #2 01-11-2018, 07:32 AM

tell him to quit drinking and driving.

ROLLGUY · #3 01-11-2018, 10:41 AM

I doubt drinking and driving have anything to do with it, but I will tell him anyway

The problem is that there is dirt roads on two sides of his property, and a school nearby. Sometimes the school traffic is so bad, he and others take the dirt roads to avoid traffic. Of course when he is in a hurry or late, he tends to drive like a rally driver on those roads. I think he has learned his lesson (an expensive one) though. The worst damage happened the first time when the oil pan cracked, the leverage of the fan hitting something and breaking the water pump housing off the block, and of course the radiator and shroud being damaged beyond repair. Even without off-roading, the radiator support on these cars is very weak. It is no wonder our sponsor has them listed in the catalog! #210-620-24-86

torsionbar · #4 01-11-2018, 10:33 PM

I wonder if anyone sells taller springs for the w210, to give it a "lift"? Maybe a set of E430 wagon springs would do the trick?

The rubber w210 spring pads come in varying heights, at a minimum he should be able to install a set of the tallest ones and gain ~1" of ground clearance, they are not expensive.

ROLLGUY · #5 01-11-2018, 10:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by torsionbar

I wonder if anyone sells taller springs for the w210, to give it a "lift"? The rubber w210 spring pads come in varying heights, he should be able to install a set of the tallest ones and gain ~1" of ground clearance, they are not expensive.

That is a great idea. A side note: I know these cars suffer from spring perch failure, and I have not checked them. I probably should......Rich