All three share the same subframe (front).

The Indy was speaking of a kit that braces the lower control arm mounts, welds in.

He showed me a 107 that had a broken control arm mount and a horrible repair job. He was looking for a subframe.

He said the kit is readily available? I could easily make one. But has anyone heard of this? Have a source?

The subframes are the same. If you install a W114/W115 subframe on a R107 you need to drill out two holes for access to the engine mounts.

The R107 had a problem with the lower control arm mounts breaking off the subframe. For some reason, the W114/W115 did not have this problem.

The kit is available from MB, costs about $100 and consists of gussets to reinforce the rear mount on the left and right lower control arms.

When the LCA tore off my 84 280SL, I used a W114 subframe and added the factory kit. While I was in there, I also installed new subframe mounts and all new ball joints and bushing in the suspension. All went well.

Supposedly, the factory will still install this kit if have a 450SL. No such luck on grey market or later SLs....

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/sl-forum/184432-dreaded-w107-cracked-subframe.html

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/sl-forum/309963-finally-fixing-subframe.html

Jim

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14 E250 BlueTEC black. 45k miles
95 E320 Cabriolet Emerald green 66k miles
94 E320 Cabriolet Emerald green 152k miles
85 300TD 4 spd man, euro bumpers and lights, 15" Pentas dark blue 274k miles

Maybe it's just the driving on the 107's? Light little fast car. I wouldn't be able to resist.

Is it worth it to spend $100? It seems like you could cut those brackets rather easily. But maybe that's the young and stupid talking.

I plan on it when it's already apart.

I fabbed up my own gussets on the 107. Nothing special and easy to do. The trick is to weld them slowly to keep things as cool as possible do you don't cook the rubber bushings. I did mine with the subframe off the car. Trying to do it on the car would be a bit of a challenge. Make sure you paint them after welding to prevent rust.

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Current Stable

• 380SL (diesel)
• Corvette C5
• Manx
• Baja Bug
• F350 Powerstroke
• Auburn Boattail Speedster replica

I've searched the DIY articles and threads and have found DIY sub frame mount replacement on all MBs except 280C. I have a '73 280C and have just bought a sub-frame mount kit. I just replaced all brake parts, bearings, hoses, ball joints and found the sub frame mounts bad. All DIYs I've read are not quite the same as what I am looking at. Is there an expert who can direct me to instructions for sub frame mount replacement on a vintage 114 280C? I have a service manual I work with but it doesn't even touch the subject.

Clarion-
I would suggest that you start a new thread with a very clear title. Folks may not open this thread and see your question because of the vague original title.

I am surprised that the coupe would have a different subframe than the sedans. Hope that someone can help you.

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1968 220D, w115, /8, OM615, Automatic transmission.
My 1987 300TD wagon was sold and my 2003 W210 E320 wagon was totaled (sheds tear).

thanks for the reminder, ran out of time yesterday. The best I could come up with was a '79 280sel, a 129 or something...very different than 114. I believe all 114 frames are the same, 280 or 280C, just can't find info on a 114...

Towards the end of the 107's run this was corrected at the factory. I am not sure but I think the 1986 and later had the different subframes with the repair built in from the factory. As is usual with Mercedes: To get it right you need to know the chassis number break.

These are not cheap. They show up on ebay in the $500 range. The good thing about them is they are a bolt in item and there is no chance anyone can mess up the welding on them.

You might bounce this off the folks on the 107 part of this forum.

And the 450sl, despite the 'light' in the name, weighs a little over 4,000 pounds. So there is about 600 more pounds riding on that subframe than the average 114/115 subframe.

And don't use one from an SLC. They are different that the ones in the SL.