SpannMan, yes I'm still monitoring this thread. I'm out of town and away from my tools at the moment, but the car is with me. So I can't remove the belly pan and check underneath. I'll look at lunch time and see if it is visible from the top.

Rick, I appreciate it. I want to order the cord but I want to make sure the block heater is there before I make the purchase.

Hi you should make sure your car has the block heater installed before you just buy the cord. I have a 1982 300SD that still has a plug in the block where the block heater is supposed to be! and a coupon in the glove box for a free blockheater if you bring the car to dealer within 1 year of purchase of car,Its past 1983 so I guess Im out of luck. The car is from florida so I guess the first owner didnt think he would ever need it installed. You have alot newer car so they might have done it another way for your car but I would check for a block heater before you buy anything

SpannMan - I found it
 

The heater is located on the passenger's side pretty high up near the back of the engine. It is directly below the exhaust for cylinder #6. If you peek through the exhaust manifold between #5 and #6 you should see it. Use a flashlight because it's pretty dark in there. The exposed portion of mine looks to be steel, not brass as shown in the pictures on this thread. If you like, I'll take a few pictures when I get home this weekend so you can see the routing of the cord.

Anybody else reading this, remember we're talking about a W210 with the OM606 engine. I can't help you with any other car.

Rick Miley, once again, thanks for the help. I will check this evening. I appreciate the offer for pictures but they will not be necessary if I locate it tonight. I will let you know.

Rick,

I went out after work, look where you tell me to look and feel where you tell me to feel. Still nothing. I get frustrated and close the hood.

After 30 minutes, I look again. This time, I notice a 6" piece of metal flex tubing about 5"-6" below the #6 exhaust. And guess what, it had a wire, wrapped in electrical tape, snaked towards the front of the car. It ends up somewhere almost directly below the passenger side headlights, but my hands are too big to locate the ultimate destination.

Perhaps tomorrow I will remove the plastic cover from the bottom to determine where it ends up. I am going to assume this is the block heater installed by the previous owner.

Thanks for the help. I will reply back with my findings, and post a picture, if possible, for others to reference.

You're gettin' warm!
 

Sorry, couldn't resist. The way the dealer installed mine, the cord ends behind the cover for the tow hook. That's the small removable panel below the front bumper on the passenger's side. Be careful removing that panel, or you could break it. Did that on my 300E. Press down and pry out on the top edge. Once it breaks loose, pull on both the top and bottom edges for about an inch. Then the top will drop down and it will still be tethered on the bottom. The cord should be in there somewhere.

One other thing, the plug on mine is covered with a plastic cap, so the prongs are not visible. If yours is the same, that may explain why you couldn't find it.

Well, the end of the cord was exactly where Rick suggested it would be. I have two additional questions. First, should I see the temperature guage rise while plugged in? Also, in the morning, do you tuck the plug back into the area behind the grill or do you leave it hanging while you drive?

It's been a while since I used it, but I think the temperature gauge showed about 60 when I turned the key on. Put the cord back where it belongs, please. Nobody wants to see you driving down the street with stuff hanging out! :o

Tucking in was my plan, I just like to see if I am following the norm.

Rick, do you have a similar heater on your Jetta? I am thinking about one for the Jetta for about $100. I think the link is http://www.tdiheater.com. It has been getting good reviews at Fred's

Don't need one in Florida
 

I spent last winter in Connecticut with the Jetta, and didn't need the heater there either. However, last year was not as cold as this year. I have to admin, though, that it would have been nice to have cabin heat right away. That little 1.9 is so efficient that it would take 10 minutes or so of driving before I got any heat at all. But I don't have to worry about that down here.