That's my theory, and think I read it somewhere long ago - that the belly pan was to raise engine temps. It makes intuitive sense - box up an engine and the temps are going to rise. 100 degree op temps may well be good for emissions, but the heat can't be good for the engine over the long term. And I've always passed emission tests with flying colors - often at one-third or one-quarter of allowable standard, and feel no ecological guilt over it.

Emissions had nothing to do with the belly pan...
The M103-12V world market cars had no cat, air pumps, nothing... only a closed loop crankcase vent system...

Note you own a 190SL....
On this car if there are original parts missing would it lessen its value ?

__________________
http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b1...c/GOWIDE-1.jpg
1971 280SL ROADSTER
1988 300CE TWIN TURBO WIDEBODY
1994 E320 CABRIOLET
1999 C43 AMG
2005 G55K AMG
2008 CLK63 AMG BLACK SERIES

Oh, certainly, but that isn't the subject of the thread. The subject of the thread is old, basically worthless sedans. BTW, the 190SL is gone, now have 94 E420 and 95 S320, both without belly pan, the former removed by me, the latter never installed by the factory.

These "originality" debates are great fun, on all kinds of forums, but never really resolve anything. I still contend these questions are really just personality indicators - people fall into either the "I want to think" catagory, or the "I do as I'm told" catagory. Trusting MB implicitly must be a great time saver, but there's also significant evidence of engineering buffoonery over the last 15 or 20 years.

I think it's safe to say your in a minority with your "opinion" regarding encapsulation panels.

Since your not in the "automotive trade" I value your opinion even less if that's possible.

Safe to say I don't agree with anything you have to say.

Of course I only base my opinion on 30 years of experiance as a MB technician..

__________________
1993 400E


Mercedes Benz technician since 1982

ASE Master technician to 12/2015

That's the great thing about these forums. And thanks for that substantive response.

Your most welcome. .

substantive: possessing substance; having practical importance, value, or effect:

__________________
1993 400E


Mercedes Benz technician since 1982

ASE Master technician to 12/2015

Good job, but it's "you're".

I think its more an aerodynamic aid/ engine sump protector than an emissions tool. In Africa we had steel sump guards; they were more open on the sides, i.e didnt completely seal the bottom of the engine bay, but made of much sterner stuff. We scoffed the Euro and American imported models with the plastic bellypan when they came in. Marginal rotection for our conditions.

Although, now that I think about it, the tropical fan and the more open sides of the steel sum guard would also have been standard spec for African models. Together with taller springs.

__________________
'O=00=O'
bmw 2002.
long live the legend