E300TD (W210) Engine Vibration
 

Should I be able to feel any engine vibration at all through the steering wheel at idle on an E300TD? If not, then I guess I need to renew some mountings. 2 x engine and 1 x transmission are obvious candidates but I've read somwhere about a steering damper. What's that? Any other mountings I should consider (assuming teh vibration is not normal)? MIne's done 77k by the way.

Cheers.

does your car have dampners( shocks) on the motor mounts? i would replace/check those while your down in there.

my 99 210 4-matic wagon would vibrate going down the road until the michlens warmed up. 10 miles and she smoothed out.

i wish we could get that car over on this side of the pond.

Most likely the engine and transmission mouts are bad -- pretty normal to replace them at about 10-12 years and/or 150000 miles or so.

Not very difficult, either, much nicer than the older solid rubber ones.

It's easy to tell if they are bad, too -- they are filled with a glycol solution, and if it has leaked out it will both show on the subframe, and also allow the mount to collapse. If you cannot clearly see the tapered portion at the very bottom of the mount (where the attachement point is), they are shot. Ditto for the bottom part showing no tapered portion at all and evidence of "oil" on the subframe or mount.

new mounts will also raise the engine up an inch or so....!


Peter

Perhaps a bit of vibration is normal, but only a little bit. The mounts are certainly known to go bad. I had mine replaced when the car was perhaps 3 years old. It had been making an odd groaning noise during tight turns. Tremendously improved upon replacement. Done under warranty, so I don't know the cost. Couldn't be too bad - they turned it around in a fraction of a day.

- Jim

I think Jim's comment has made my mind up. I too get an occasional groaning noise when making tight turns (sounds like something rubbing against something else). Looks like I'm about to get my hands dirty :(

If you replace mounts,

Buy OE mounts. The aftermarket field is really horrible on fluid filled engine mounts. Many report failure within a year or so.

Mounts are inspected by checking clearance.

Michael

E300D with vibration
 

I have 74 k on my 210 E300D. Just developted vibration, worse when cold, and in gear. Almost gone in neutral or park. Almost gone when engine warmed up well. I rolled under today and the motor mounts look good, with no leakage or collapse. Could it still be motor mounts just going bad??? or maybe stearing shock?? Help!

Our 99 E300
At 55,000 mile needed new engine mounts. They are fluid filled and can collapse. I had a deep low frequency vibration while turning and acceleration from a stop. Not like the old Diesels, 10-12 years or 150,000 niles.

Dave

Mine disappears with acceleration, and have not noted any turning relation. Hmmmm. Almost gone when temp gets to 80+C. PSFred suggested pos. glowplug malfunction, but just changed them out, and the check engine light has not come on. There is no missing at startup. Hmmmm again. Will just let it get more obvious. Only thing not checked out is the stearing shock (if there is one on this model, as I do not see it listed in the parts list). Guess I will have to remove the rest of the underside covers and check it. Does this sound familiar to anyone out there??

I've noticed a low RPM vibration when coming to a stop.... I also occasionally hear a pop sounds when taking a turn or coming to an abrupt stop from creeping up.... My E has currently 137K on her....

Would ordering the motor mounts be of the same quality as ordering MB parts? I was thinking of ordering a pair of glow plugs as well.....

Yes it does, and this is a really off-the-wall answer. Check the level of your power steering fluid. That's what was causing mine.

michakaveli, I think you'll be fine with engine mounts ordered from Fastlane. If you have a question about quality, call Phil and ask him rather than ordering on line.

I have noticed the 98/99 turbo cars tend to have failures earlier
than the 94 to 97 n/a cars. Engineering services told me it is due to heat from the turbo and lots of low end torque.
I guess mounts are still a big concern with the new CDI's.
Lots of early failures from all that stump-pullin power.
Dr.D

People have asked about aftermarket mm qualit.

There have been problems- early failures, not being fluid filled etc. Don't care whom you buy it from, just suggesting you want to spend the extra few dollars and get a factory mount.

I've heard W124 owners (400E's) replacing mounts several times before cluing in on the fundemntal problem.


Michael

I have just re-inspected my mounts and they appear good. Nice and high at the base and no leakage. I suspect either early malfunction or problem is somewhere else. transmission mount looks ok. If nothing changes or if it gets worse, will go ahead and change anyhow since there is no record from previous owner of changing them out. Car has 74k on it.