It's time to get some new engine mounts on 'Old Blue' and I have a question. I stopped by the local MB dealer in Arlington, VA - Arlington Service Center to inquire about pricing. I'm in no way a gearhead or in any way capable of doing this work myself. Anyway, I was quoted $330 for parts and another $312.50 for labor.

Now, when I look on this site's parts shop, I see these for $22.41 each -

KARLYN Engine Mount,W0133-1628636 - PeachParts

Is it as simple as buying 4 of these and seeing if the dealer will do the labor with parts I provide? I'd rather pay $88 than $330 for the parts as would anyone! Hopefully they will be open to this. I want to make sure these are the right parts before I ask though.

On another topic, I am looking to get the rear window rubber seal replaced, I still have the original and it is cracking up badly. I could have sworn I have seen this rubber before on ebay for $40 or so. It's not in stock on this site. I was quoted $191 for the rubber seal. That seems silly to me, nearly $200 for some rubber! Am I being unreasonable?

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In a way you are comparing apples with pears. The lower parts prices are for copies of the originals. The dealer only sells original - these as you have noticed are way more expensive (though that isn't always the case - so look out!).

I can't comment on the labour rate you've been quoted as I live in another part of the world. But there is no way a Mercedes dealer will fit any parts other than the ones he sells.

I can say however that after trying copy parts for the front and rear windscreen rubbers most people resort to fitting an original.

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1992 W201 190E 1.8 171,000 km - Daily driver
1981 W123 300D ~ 100,000 miles / 160,000 km - project car stripped to the bone
1965 Land Rover Series 2a Station Wagon CIS recovery therapy!
1961 Volvo PV544 Bare metal rat rod-ish thing

I'm here to chat about cars and to help others - I'm not here "to always be right" like an internet warrior



Don't leave that there - I'll take it to bits!

There is a reason they are called Stealerships. They tend to mark up everything pretty high. Though you are most likely getting genuine Mercedes parts. I'd find a local independent shop that works on Mercedes and use them. Dealers are expensive and tend not to know much about diesel or this vintage of car. A competent Mercedes mechanic could have the motor mounts changed in a couple hours tops. For most shops that less than $200 in labor. I also kind of doubt the dealer is going to let you bring in your own parts to install, but a small independent shop might, though they aren't going to warranty the parts. While changing the motor mounts sound intimidating, they really aren't too hard. All you really need is a floor jack and a few sockets. If you've got buddy to help with tools we could walk you through it pretty easily. You could also find another forum member here that is local to you that would be willing to help.

Oh and you'll only need two mounts.

For the rear window seal, all the aftermarket seals are know to leak shortly after install(within a few years). This is one of the few times I'd suggest the original Mercedes parts.

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Thanks guys. I'm hopefully moving back to the DFW area in the next few months and know a few of the local shops there that I trust, I think I can maybe hold out until then.

And definitely good to know on the window. Your point is made even further when I see that the original MB rubber seal has lasted now 34 years!

While I have no idea what's wrong with his car, there are 4 mounts in the 240D...
two side motor mounts, which are not terribly difficult to change, one lower oil pan engine mount, and one transmission mount.
all 4 should be changed.


OP. be aware, that once the dealer gets your car up on the lift, you could be facing several additional expenses...

the Driveshaft flex joints could be failing... figure another 400.00 parts dealer priced,
the center support bearing could be failing... figure another 500+ on that, as the driveshaft itself may need to be changed... if the u-joint is bad....

it's REALLY better if you take on a DIY position with this car.

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Your right there are 4 mounts, but only 2 of them are called engine or motor mounts, which is what the PO was asking about, so I wasn't addressing those. A bad trans mount can definitely add to engine vibrations. I forgot about the anti-vibration t-mount on the rear of the engine. But I personally think the t-mount is useless. It's a little flimsy piece of rubber that I can flex rather easily with my hand's, how is that going to change any vibrations. It was also deleted in later years I believe, and wasn't on the 5 cylinders. When I change the one on my 240 I noticed no difference.

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I went 6 months or so without the "t-mount", which is described in the fsm as an engine stop. I didn't notice much difference either when I finally did replace it. In any case, it clearly functions as a rotational stop. It provides no vibration damping, and in no way actually supports the engine. OP doesn't mention what his transmission type is, but that mount was only used on the manual trans version. If it was discontinued, it must have been very late in the series, as there is one present on my '83.

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'79 240D

Uh learn something new everyday. Maybe they didn't delete it. I thought they did. Though I think they stopped offering the 240 around 83, at least in the US.

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