after market rubber - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

twinockchef · #1 01-01-2010, 12:32 AM

So I have found that it is more expensive to by after market rubber (sub-frame and engine mounts). They degrade rapidly. In the past three months I have had to replace both sets. I replaced them with Mercedes parts. It is cheaper in the long run. By the best and you will get the best.
I know many people will disagree but when you consider the amount of money I have spent in restoring my 280 SEL. The cost is less than a third than my wife's new Mercedes.

Graham · #2 01-01-2010, 03:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by twinockchef

So I have found that it is more expensive to by after market rubber (sub-frame and engine mounts). They degrade rapidly. In the past three months I have had to replace both sets. I replaced them with Mercedes parts. It is cheaper in the long run. By the best and you will get the best.
I know many people will disagree but when you consider the amount of money I have spent in restoring my 280 SEL. The cost is less than a third than my wife's new Mercedes.

Who was the manufacturer of the rubber parts? How long did they last?

There are some aftermarket parts that are made by the same factory as the MB parts. MB don't make those parts themselves. So although some aftermarket rubber may not be good, it is hard to say that it is all bad.

In the past, I have bought rubber parts made by Lemforder, Febi, Uro and Meyle . No problems.

More recently, I wanted to buy my engine mounts from MB, but for our '72 SL, the prices were crazy - About 10X as much. But the aftermarket (Karlyn) ones were so cheap that it made me wonder. I did subframes with aftermarket rubber too (Febi).

wolf_walker · #3 01-01-2010, 04:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Graham

Who was the manufacturer of the rubber parts? How long did they last?

In the past, I have bought rubber parts made by Lemforder, Febi, Uro and Meyle . No problems.

Of those URO is usually the only one you have to keep an eye on. They make a TON of euro car parts, largely volvo and saab, but others as well. Some rubber I've used from them has been dodgy. The others are more traditional brands, I don't trust anyone these days but they are usually alright.

Graham · #4 01-01-2010, 06:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wolf_walker

Of those URO is usually the only one you have to keep an eye on. They make a TON of euro car parts, largely volvo and saab, but others as well. Some rubber I've used from them has been dodgy. The others are more traditional brands, I don't trust anyone these days but they are usually alright.

I bought my window and door seals from ******** Arizona. Some of the parts were from Uro - Door seals, I think. They seemed to work out fine. Not a critical part like a suspension or engine part.

http://tinyurl.com/y92o5po

79Mercy · #5 01-01-2010, 07:10 PM

I replaced my front windshield seal in my W115 and used a Febi, I am happy with it. Dunno how long it will last.

Im in the middle of doing my rear windshield seal right now, I bought a OEM Mercedes seal, i'll let ya know how I like it compared to Febi.

mak · #6 01-01-2010, 11:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by twinockchef

So I have found that it is more expensive to by after market rubber (sub-frame and engine mounts). They degrade rapidly. In the past three months I have had to replace both sets. I replaced them with Mercedes parts. It is cheaper in the long run. By the best and you will get the best.
I know many people will disagree but when you consider the amount of money I have spent in restoring my 280 SEL. The cost is less than a third than my wife's new Mercedes.

Where would be a good place to get quality door seals ,rubber mounts etc for a w109 . would be troublesome to redo it .
mak

thebenzbar · #7 01-02-2010, 12:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mak

Where would be a good place to get quality door seals ,rubber mounts etc for a w109 . would be troublesome to redo it .
mak

Call the MB Classic Center... here, if you decide to:
Tom Hanson
Supervisor, Parts Operations
Mercedes-Benz Classic Center USA
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC
949-598-4842 direct

alabbasi · #8 01-02-2010, 12:24 AM

As far as engine mounts and sub frame mounts, I would like to know who was the manufacturer.

I have used Febi suspension parts and replaced the sub frame mounts on five W107's without any problems.

We;re lucky to have a great dealer in Dallas that offers parts to mbca club members at wholesale pricing so many genuine items are affordable.

jerryyoung · #9 01-02-2010, 11:20 AM

Alabbasi,
Which dealer in Dallas?
Thanks
Jerry

alabbasi · #10 01-02-2010, 04:46 PM

Park Place in Dallas, they will give huge discounts to MBCA club members.

twinockchef · #11 01-02-2010, 05:44 PM

The sub-frame was a Febi and the engine was a Meyle. When I removed the sub-frame mounts they were fractured and collapsed. The engine mounts were just collapsed.
I started the 'how many miles thread' to find out if it has to do with the amount of miles driven a year. I put a lot of miles on the car each year. I also have to drive two miles of gravel road and three miles of sub-standard county road a day. Which I do not drive fast on. Thus, I cannot believe that they would only last about three years.
It has to do with the quality of the rubber.
Ali is right, the prices at Park Place are excellent for Mercedes club members. I paid $128 after a $32 discount for the engine mounts.

alabbasi · #12 01-02-2010, 05:50 PM

Britton, you said the magic word, from what everyone has told me (certainly with the W107's which have the big iron v8's), the sub frame mounts will collapse in 3-5 years regardless of whether you drive the car or not. If you do 15,000 / year, then 45,000 miles is not bad going for suspension bits.

Meyle has a "heavy duty" line that is now guaranteed for four years.

twinockchef · #13 01-02-2010, 06:18 PM

So I guess it is something I will have to live with. I don't mind the sub-frame mounts as much as the engine mounts. The sub-frame is easy compared to the engine.
The up side, this time, was that I was able to get to the oil pan and replace the seal. It has been oozing out oil for years. I also put in new bushings on the engine shock.

Mike D · #14 01-02-2010, 10:58 PM

Invest $80 into an engine cradle. It makes the engine mount replacement sooo much easier! It also helps on the front sub frame mounts by relieving much of the engine weight from the process.

It's a little bulky to store but once you use it, you'll never go back to the jack stand and wood block set-up.

You can get an "el cheapo" at Honk Kong freight for about $75 or a good one from a quality tool supplier for about $120.

wolf_walker · #15 01-02-2010, 11:49 PM

Ok I'll bite, what's an engine cradle? I've usually just put a cherry picker on to hold the engine up for stuff like that. Figured I'll have to do that for the sub and engine mnts on the w114 one day.