" and don't have an electric block heater " was included in my last question...

2. If you don't turn the engine off then the block heater is not needed either....

Does anyone know if the W124 gas engines came from the factory with block heaters, or just the diesels? I'm considering a W124 wagon, a 300TE, that is in Fla, so I wonder if it would have a block heater. Doubtful that it is needed in Florida... thanks, Bob

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Bob Roe
Lehigh Valley PA USA
1973 Olds 88, 1972 MB 280SE, 1978 Datsun 280Z, 1971 Ford T-Bird, 1972 Olds 88, 1983 Nissan Sentra, 1985 Sentra, 1973 230.6, 1990 Acura Integra, 1991 Volvo 940GLE wagon, 1983 300SD, 1984 300SD, 1995 Subaru Legacy L wagon, 2002 Mountaineer, 1991 300TE wagon, 2008 Murano, 2007 R320CDI 4Matic 52K, some Hyundai, 2008 BMW 535xi wagon, all gone... currently
2007 Honda Odyssey Touring, 2014 E350 4matic

Hello Rick and everyone else!

> the block heater was installed at the factory, but the cord was > not.

Does this also apply to a W124? There is a coupon in the service book, though with the car bought in 1992 I don't think it would still be of use, wouldn't it? Would you possibly know the part number for the cord? Where do I locate the heater on the engine? The heater should be visible I reckon. I should have a look if it's there before ordering anything I think. Also I presume the heater works with 110V.

> Anyway, check for the cord behind the door in the front bumper - right next to the passenger's side fog light.

Is it the same location for a W124?

Thanks for your answers!

I see a rubber tube, that looks almost lie a spark plug boot. It hangs down right under the bunper where the passenger side buper is. Is this the connection for the plug. If anyone has pics thaye can post, that would be great.

What you are looking for as far as a cord goes is a 120 VAC three prong grounded plug on the bumper end, and, on the engine block side, a two prong plug that looks like the TV end of one of those TV repair "cheater cords" that Radio Shack used to sell for repairing TV's.

It is also similar to the connector on a percolator that I have laying around somewhere. Basically two round prongs; the cord has the female ends, and the engine block has the male ends.

From what I understand, the block heater replaces one of the freeze-out plugs on the underside of the engine block. I'm going from memory of a W126 chassis block heater, but the W124 might well be similar. Mine was as simple as plugging the existing cord into the block heater and attaching it with a couple of ty-wraps. Amazingly, the cord was present but not attached to anything (!) ...

Hope this helps, Bob

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Bob Roe
Lehigh Valley PA USA
1973 Olds 88, 1972 MB 280SE, 1978 Datsun 280Z, 1971 Ford T-Bird, 1972 Olds 88, 1983 Nissan Sentra, 1985 Sentra, 1973 230.6, 1990 Acura Integra, 1991 Volvo 940GLE wagon, 1983 300SD, 1984 300SD, 1995 Subaru Legacy L wagon, 2002 Mountaineer, 1991 300TE wagon, 2008 Murano, 2007 R320CDI 4Matic 52K, some Hyundai, 2008 BMW 535xi wagon, all gone... currently
2007 Honda Odyssey Touring, 2014 E350 4matic

Not real sure where this factroy installed block heater came from... I have bought lots and installed them for the last 40 Years on Mercedes... The dealer just has or orders them .. They come with instructions as where to install them in different engines..

What we call freeze plugs in the US engines are threaded into the Mercedes engines.. You just pick up the block heater.. Unscrew the freeze plug.(For lack of the real name) that it tells you to and Screw in the block heater... Very minor work.. You do have to drain the antifreeze from the block..

Ken

Ken, Your statement about the freeze plugs is simply not true....

You are taking out a drain plug which is threaded...

These engines have EXACTLY THE SAME TYPE FREEZE PLUG AS ALL NORMAL ENGINES....

Two on one side , Four on the other....

Aside from not checking the book,,, or looking at the entire engine... how about the LOGIC of threading in something which you WANT to POP OUT under the proper circumstances ?

On all the Mercedes engines I have seen in the last 40 years they unxcrew.. with a very large allen wrench.. this in not the drain plug as its about 1 3/4 to 2 inches across.. and they are threaded.. and have a washer.. that needs to be replaced from time to time on the older engines.. Perhaps you should crawl under one and look some time..

Ken

I should add you are right about the newer gas engines.. and perhaps the newer diesel.. But the 4 and 5 cyl diesel engines are all screw in..

Ken

Ken, LOL

I will post a pic asap...

Related question--

My 82 240D came without a block-heater installed. On the 240D, the screw in plug is located behind the starter (this is on the 4-cylinder--on the 5 cylinder 300D, it's just ahead of the starter). It's impossible to get to without removing the starter.

My question: there's a similar screw in plug on the left (driver's) side of the engine, between the #1 and #2 cylinder. This plug is easily accessible. Anyone have an idea if the block heater could be installed there?

I believe it wouldn't be as efficient, since that plug is higher up on the block, but it would be a hell of a lot easier to install.

Thanks for any thoughts on this.

What everybody refers to as freeze plugs are actually core plugs that they use to remove the sand or media when casting the block.


It just so happens that when the engine is filled with water and it freezes the plugs pop out....thus the term freeze plugs. The funny thing is that the block will still crack even when the plugs are laying on the ground!

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87' 300sdl

Dweller, if it connects to the coolant cavity of the engine it could be used...I have a generic external heater and the instructions show several ways of hooking it up... if you have the water warmed in part of the block the rest of it will be pretty close to the same temp within a few minutes...certainly enough to help start the engine...

Edit, I am not saying the MB screwin block heater would fit there.. I am saying a connection with some type of block heater could be made there...

On the five cylinder there are two freeze plugs on the drivers side, one at the rear, and three on the passenger side...with an access hole in line and between number two and number three freeze plugs.

The Freeze plugs are serviced and operate just like all normal freeze plugs... to replace you hit is off center, it rotates and you grab it with channel locks and pull it out....

I have a 1976 240 with the 115 engine. Recently purchased a block heater, the instructions have a picture of the passenger side of the block, just above the starter are two drain plugs. Which plug should I pull for out for the heater, the one right above the starter or the one closer to the front of the block? Also what size is the allen wrench that's needed? I think it is 11mm, but before I order one I want to be sure.
Thanks, kchemers