Jacking a 190- No tubes?
 

So I noticed my 190 has the jack that you slide into the tubes on the side of cars and it says to do that in the owner's manual but there are no jacking tubes on the car that I can see. Is this normal? I'm really confused.

If they are not there I bet someone cut the rust out and welded a patch over them.

Well if that is so, I need to have it done again, I still have rust at the front jack point on the driver's side. It's not too much of an issue with them not being there because I have a rather lightweight floor jack in my trunk that is easier to use but the old jack is even lighter of course and now is somewhat useless except for beating people over the head with.

The earlier W201's had exposed running boards, the tubes are just covered with the round plugs:

http://images.hemmings.com/wp-conten...00-700x364.jpg
http://www.benzworld.org/forums/atta...jack-point.jpg

The later W201's had the body cladding and part of it covered the running boards. So naturally they had the square covers that hide the jack tubes/points:

http://www.pelicanparts.com/techarti...mall/pic03.jpg

I just went out and checked and there are no plugs to be seen. I'll get pics tomorrow

Here is a picture of the running boards with no tubes

oops, didnt seem to upload, ill try photobucket
http://i1230.photobucket.com/albums/...ps493caa17.jpg

Just like 04 Diesel said in post #2, right? So punch out the bondo to find the tube if you insist on finding it.

I would feel around in that area with a magnet to see if you can find any body filler.

That is definitely a patch job. Look at how the surface bulges/curves out unevenly.

The W201's have a floor jack/lift mount pads at each corner, beneath the jack points. I would use those instead if they are still present.

But you'll need a floor jack for these.

Do yourself a favor (like I did) and get yourself a small floorjack and a pair of jack stands and save yourself some grief. I have the jack tubes but like absolutley all of these cars- mine are rusting. I do NOT trust that they will not allow the car to shift if I am changning a tire on the side of a freeway, endangering me, my wife if she had to try to do this, and/or the underside of the car. So SAFETY FIRST spend $20 on a cheap pair of jacks stands, and $30 on a cheap floor jack from your "local importer of chinese tools" freight, and thank yourself for having them the FIRST time you have to swap a tire on your car. Not joking here Having changed the tires on the 190 a few times now, I can't even imagine the nightmare it would have been without my cheapo floor jack and jack stands (which stay in the trunk always!)

I posted a photo some years ago of the jack tubes with the rocker cut away. They are much more durable than you might imagine looking at a rotten rocker panel. The rocker has no structural bearing on the jack tubes themselves. However, dont take my work for it-- use jackstands by all means.

I too have seen unscrupulous sellers plaster right over the jack tubes. What fun when you show them the jack and ask where it should be inserted!

I have a floor jack and 3 of those pads are still there (need to order one to put on the driver's side in the rear). I was hoping I could just use the standard jack so I wouldn't have to lug around the weight of a bottle jack or my floor jack, especially when I'll eventually need the trunk for a subwoofer or two when I can get around to upgrading the sound system.
Should I go with a 2 ton or a 4 ton bottle jack?

sissor jacks were common in many american cars and weigh much less than a floor jack. check the junk yards to find a lighter weight option for when you are stranded with a flat. Keep the floor jack in your shop for 99% of the jacking.

Ahh I was thinking I could do that too. It would have to be a better jack than the one from our mercury, worst designed jack I have ever used, took me 30 minutes to get the car up enough off the ground enough to get off the tire. But I am thinking I can store a scissor jack or a small bottle jack under the rear seat along with other emergency replacement parts