EPC calls them "antinoise capsules" but I haven't noticed any difference in sound with the panels in place or removed. However, that is with the engine idling in the driveway; perhaps the noise pattern at highway speeds is different.

It's also possible that (as others have written) the panels aid the engine in warming up quickly, which is good for many things including emissions. Catching drips is good for keeping the garage floor clean but not so good for discovering you have a leak.

In any case, I don't see a risk in leaving the panels off.

Jeremy

__________________

"Buster" in the '95

Our all-Diesel family
1996 E300D (W210) . .338,000 miles Wife's car
2005 E320 CDI . . 113,000 miles My car
Santa Rosa population 176,762 (2022)
Total. . . . . . . . . . . . 627,762
"Oh lord won't you buy me a Mercedes Benz."
-- Janis Joplin, October 1, 1970

If you know some one who wants to sell some let me know!

__________________

1986 300SDL 440,xxx

On my W124's lower engine compartment?

124 520 27 24 Left
and
124 520 05 24 Right

Along with One (Each Side) ["Control Unit"]:
201 524 00 64

When the temperature inside the Engine Compartment reaches a certain level
the "Control Units" open the side Louvers increasing E.C. ventilation.
[Pre-Warm Up? 'Kinda Like the Three Stage Coolant Thermostat that allows
the engine to warm up to O.T. before opening?]

Shertex,

The "El Plastico" under Engine/Transmission "Anti-Noise" encapsulation provides
NO IMPACT PROTECTION from road debris.AND normal ATF will MELT the Rubberized inner covering.
However,there are Steel "Skid Type Plates" on some South African and European W124 s.
I've been trying for years to get some.

__________________
'84 300SD sold
124.128

I always assumed the vents were to keep the engine bay at a reasonable temperature. On hot summers days I arrive home to find the vents have opened. The "control units" are nice -- they don't require electricity to operate.

The presence of the vents also demonstrates that the belly panels do keep a certain amount of air around the engine. This helps a cold engine to warm up faster but when it gets too warm the hot air must be vented.

Jeremy

__________________

"Buster" in the '95

Our all-Diesel family
1996 E300D (W210) . .338,000 miles Wife's car
2005 E320 CDI . . 113,000 miles My car
Santa Rosa population 176,762 (2022)
Total. . . . . . . . . . . . 627,762
"Oh lord won't you buy me a Mercedes Benz."
-- Janis Joplin, October 1, 1970

Contray to what you might believe and yes, I understand and know about your previous experience:

Coda went to Chad with the engine panel intact. The transmission panel was missing when I acquired Coda.

The 87 Champagne has both panels; althought the engine one is off at present. The transmission panel is cracked and at least one bolt attachment location is non functional. Guess I need to put that on the "to do" list. Both panels will be included in the future sale ---- may be a LONG time though.

__________________
daw_two
Germantown, TN

Links:
Sold last car --- 05/2012 1984 300D Light Ivory, Red interior
No longer selling Cluster Needles Paint
No longer selling New Old Stock (NOS) parts

Past:
3/2008 1986 300SDL "Coda"
04/2010 1965 190D(c) "Ben"
& many more

Ha! Exactly! Where do they go? I have never seen one on any 300 series diesel both 123 and 126 but they all came with these yes? Would love to have one one day again . . . .

NO.

The W123 never had under body SOUND ENCAPSULATION PANELS.
The W126 added them in 1986 to the 300SDL, and a few other later models.

The W201 and newer chassis have them..

FYI:

Steel oil pan impact shields where available "special order" for the W123 and W126.

.

I have all of my panels on my car. I had all of them removed when I replaced my A/C compressor, and my guide rod mounts. I left them off for a few weeks while I made sure I had no leaks anywhere. I am sure when it left the factory, the panels were a nice tight fit, but 26 years later there are some gaps when they are installed. I also checked my side vents on either side of the motor and the panels do open when the temps in the engine compartment rise. My car is much quieter on the outside when idling when the panels are installed. Mercedes actually advertised in the 1986 S class sales brochure that these panels were designed for noise abatement, and that these were the quietest diesels on the market.
They are definitely a pain to remove and replace though. And they are still available from Mercedes, but are ungodly expensive!

__________________
John
1986 300sdl
1985 380se

the 124's also had them from the factory...
201 came out in 84 I believe, then in 85/86 the 124 came out, and the 126 got chassis updates including the panels and other refinements...

__________________
John HAUL AWAY, OR CRUSHED CARS!!! HELP ME keep the cars out of the crusher! A/C Thread
"as I ride with my a/c on... I have fond memories of sweaty oily saturdays and spewing R12 into the air. THANKS for all you do!

My drivers:
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 560SL convertible
1987 190D 2.5-5SPEED!!!

1987 300TD
2005 Dodge Sprinter 2500 158"WB
1994GMC 2500 6.5Turbo truck... I had to put the ladder somewhere!

I think the panel from my old 124 is still down at the indie's shop.

I talked with the PO of my SD a couple weeks back. At the end of the conversation he mentioned that he had the belly panels from my car, and did I want them? Of course!

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Chief

1991 350SD

Interesting. I do know that my 89 420SEL and 93 190E don't have them. I surmise they were removed by some previous owner. Not a concern to me though, I like to know if I have a leak when I do. I wouldnt want to have to remove the panel for an oil change.

I know my buddy has a 06 charger and that is somewhat a pain in the butt when it comes to doing oil changes.

__________________
Cruise Control not working? Send me PM or email (jamesdean59@gmail.com). I might be able to help out.
Check here for compatibility, diagnostics, and availability!

(4/11/2020: Hi Everyone! I am still taking orders and replying to emails/PMs/etc, I appreciate your patience in these crazy times. Stay safe and healthy!)


82 300SD 145k
89 420SEL 210k
89 560SEL 118k
90 300SE 262k RIP 5/25/2010
90 560SEL 154k
91 300D 2.5 Turbo. 241k
93 190E 3.0 235k
93 300E 195k

I'm not sure those cars had belly panels from the factory although EPC does show something in that section. All of the gasoline models I've seen in the junkyard have had their panels removed.

If you use a topsider for oil changes there is no need to remove the panels. In the diesel models, at least, only the front panel (4 screws) needs removal to drain the engine oil.

Jeremy

__________________

"Buster" in the '95

Our all-Diesel family
1996 E300D (W210) . .338,000 miles Wife's car
2005 E320 CDI . . 113,000 miles My car
Santa Rosa population 176,762 (2022)
Total. . . . . . . . . . . . 627,762
"Oh lord won't you buy me a Mercedes Benz."
-- Janis Joplin, October 1, 1970

My 1990 300D 2.5 Turbo has a hood pad and anti-sound panel underneath; my 1992 300D 2.5 Turbo has neither. They have the same OM602.962 engine, but the 1992 is so much louder! As soon as I can source panel and pad cheaply for the 1992 I'm going to do it. It makes a huge difference! I'm a believer.

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http://i284.photobucket.com/albums/l...aman/Fleet.jpg

Peach Parts W124.128 User Group.

80 280SL
85 300SD
87 300TD
92 300D 2.5 Turbo
92 300TE 4Matic

Thanks for clearing that up Hunter!

They are really good at that. I think it is. I would say keeping rich people's driveways and garages and neighborhoods clean were high on MB engineers' lists. You know some engineer got a big promotion over this one . They couldn't make the engines not leak and one day he comes in and says "Why don't we put a plastic belly pan on it with foam and it will absorb all the drips " Brilliant!

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What Would Rudolph Do?
1975 300D, 1975 240D, 1985 300SD, 1997 300D, 2005 E320 , 2006 Toyota Prius