fintail and other models engine mounts setup

[vox_incognita]

Hi,
Prior to 65 the mounts included the so called "limit stop"(an extra plate,rubber buffer and bolt underneath the mount itself.You have to bolt the plate and rubber piece on the underside of the mount (there is a given distance to which the rubber must compress)and then you install the mount in the car...My question is was this setup simplified by the manufacturer for newer models(after 1965 like w110 200D for example) ??? What I see on my car now are just two regular mounts (maybe someone omitted the other pieces during repair...),the rep.kit includes no plate and rubber,the manual doesn`t say a thing about any change...That really makes me nervous,installing the mounts only will shorten their life I think...Any info??
Vengerov w100 200D 1967

[300SDog]

You can go to the parts catalogue where pics describe each part on the car. If you dont have a parts catalogue, then try the Polish website in the links folder.

The early style with underneath bit is on the list of nuts'n bolts that MUST be tightened every 20k miles or so. But since nobody did this, the earlier mounts generally shook themselves to death at an early age.

My guess is that MB went to the newer version because it requires zero maintenance, therefor more reliable although not necessarily better.

Also those metal plates on top (some had em, some didnt) will protect the mount from oil and fuel drippings on the engine's cold side, and exhaust pipe heat on the hot side.

[Mark DiSilvestro]

I think the limit-stops have a negligabe effect on motor mount lifespan. I consider them more of a safety feature, to limit the possibility of the engine separating from the chassis under extreme conditions - accident, rough roads, etc.... . That said, my '61 Ponton 180b didn't have them and neither does my '72 250 (nor those in an '87 300SE, that I replaced recently).
The replacement mounts for my '60 Fintail 220S didn't come with any limit-stop-related hardware, so I simply re-used the old limit stop plates and rubbers which were still in good shape. If mine had been missing, I might have gotten some steel plate, metric hardware and rubber washers to fabricate my own.

Happy Motoring, Mark