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Disconnecting the engine mounts – preliminary stage
Although I've not had any trouble with them – I understand from the vast numbers of threads on the subject that disconnecting engine mounts on a W123 can be a real pain in the backside. In principle, on the two front mounts, you have a large Allen head screw (one on each side) that you undo from under the car. It is as simple as that! Alternatively if this one bit is stuck, well then you need to consider some of the remedies that have been recommended before. I would attempt to drill the head off – but do a search to see if you fancy an alternative approach.
With the practical difficulties discussed above I recommend loosening the two Allen head bolts on the front engine mounts before tackling the gearbox mount. Once you've got the bolts on the front mounts loosened – BUT NOT DISCONNECTED – it is time to crawl under the car and loosen and remove the M8 adjusting bolt (sorry I don't have a photo – if I remember I'll take one when I put the engine back in). This runs horizontally through the rear mount into the rear of the gearbox casing. This bolt only stiffens the engine mount – it doesn't hold any weight.
Next you need to get a jack and take up the weight of the transmission. You can then remove the gearbox mount (sorry this photo has gotten lost - I'll try and find it). Don't let the gearbox drop as you could end up damaging the engine on the bulkhead and you'll not do your front engine mounts any favours either.
You can now remove the large Allen bolts from the front engine mounts. Keep an eye on the engine but it shouldn't move. It should sit quite nicely on the mounts so long as the gearbox is properly supported.
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