Collapsed Motor Mounts '85 Mercedes 300D
 

What are the implications of driving an 85 Mercedes 300D with collapsed motor mounts for another month until I have time to repair them?

How do I prove that I have collapsed motor mounts?
--Engine shakes, but its not that severe.
--The condition is such that the alternator pulley is "nicking" the Lower Radiator Hose
--Car has 250,000 miles on it.
--Exhaust system became loose and rattled like crazy a month ago. Replaced all donuts and the mounting washers and bolts where it attaches at the Transmission.

Carrameow,

From your description I would worry most about the likelihood the radiator hose will be damaged and fail while driving. In general, other than the extra shaking and vibration, running the car with worn out mounts is not likely to be catastrophic.
My daughter drives our 1982 240D and the driver's side mount failed completely - I mean it was split right through the rubber. The passenger side did not look as bad, but it was pretty much crushed. So, when the car was started the mounts would allow an inordinate amount of lifting on the driver's side. She did not report any problems until the car became particularly difficult to start.

In the end the starter had been damaged, and the exhaust mainfold fasteners were stretched from the constant beating, and I had to replace the starter, the exhaust gas recirculation tube, and the intake/exhaust manifold gasket in addition to the mounts. The car runs and starts better than it has in years, but the time with bad mounts probably cost me an extra two weeks of hand healing and a few hundred dollars (that little corrugated tube was $70!!).

I did not count any of that as catastrophic, but timely maintenance would have prevented at least some of the consequential damage. Good luck and hope this helps, Jim