Shock Mount? Time for a new one?
 

My 190e's shock mount failed a while ago. This is from my 300D. What do you guys think? The other mount is fine, no cracks in the surface.

http://i.imgur.com/jXRjCx3l.jpg

Easy job, not expensive. Why not go all out and replace both :)

That's the plan. Is an alignment needed afterwards? I am not remembering how the strut is bolted in there. I would think it would effect caster? Or is it all fixed?

Your in luck, I have my old ones in the garage - let me take a look....

You have the 2 bolts that hold it to the body and hole in the center for the shock. Doubt its made to the same tolerances your engine is, but I would think the replacement will be close to the original. If it were my car, I'd pass on the alignment.

The mounts are kind of easy to undo, they are attached to the strut by the single 22mm nut in the middle, and the mount is attached to the car with the three nuts on the periphery.

I did mine with the car raised with a jack only and did not unbolt the wheel, but be prepared for a little wrestling match as you try to align the strut shaft and simultanously compress it.

When I replaced mine the camber and also caster settings did come back to normal range of setting because my mounts were quite torn and sloping sideways a lot on one side.

If you plan on keeping it get Mercedes parts. If not then it doesn't matter.

If your struts are relatively new, then it is a real struggle to compress them. If the struts are older, no problem.